Is Telit GE864-GPS the smallest Quad-band GSM/GPRS module with integrated GPS worldwide?
GE864-GPS
The Telit GE864-GPS promises to combine the field approved GSM/GPRS core with the latest SiRFstar IV high sensitivity single-chip A-GPS receiver in same package. The Telit GE864-GPS is flat like a pan cake and eliminates the costs for board to board connectors. The embedded GSM antenna as below worked fine with GE864-Quad. We assume it will support the GE864-GPS nicely as well.
embedded GSM antenna
We are not sure if a ceramic chip antenna or a fractal antenna as PCB track will give a better result. Anyhow, other SiRF Star IV GPS modules I used before, was happy with a passive GPS antenna (chip or patch). Anyhow, the size of a combied GSM/GPS module does not matter anymore. Today the size of the GSM/GPS module is already smaller than the the embedded GSM antenna. To shrink the device further you have to use some tricks and customistion.
Everybody who is interested in further details and information on a concept with Telit GE864-GPS or another wireless M2M concept is welcomed to send me an e-mail to harald.naumann (at) gsm-modem.de .