Novatel 531 User Manual

WARRANTY POLICY

NovAtel Inc. warrants that its Global Positioning System (GPS) products are free from defects in materials and
workmans hip, subject to the conditio ns set for th below, for the follow ing periods of time:

Date of sale shall mean the date of the invoice to the original customer for the product. NovAtel's responsibility
respe cting this war ranty is limited s olely to produc t repair at an a uthorized NovAt el location only. D etermination of
repair will be made by NovAtel p ersonnel o r by technic al perso nnel expressly author ized by NovAtel for this purpos e.

THE FOREGOING WARRANTIES DO NOT EXTEND TO (I) NONCONFORMITIES, DEFECTS OR ERRORS IN
THE PRODUCTS DUE TO ACCIDENT, ABUSE, MISUSE OR NEGLIGENT USE OF THE PRODUCTS OR USE IN
OTHER THAN A NORMAL AND CUSTOMARY MANNER, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS NOT
CONFORMING TO NOVATEL'S SPECIFICATIONS, OR FAILURE TO FOLLOW PRESCRIBED INSTALLATION,
OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES, (II) DEFECTS, ERRORS OR NONCONFORMITIES IN THE
PRODUCTS DUE TO MODIFICATIONS, ALTERATIONS, ADDITIONS OR CHANGES NOT MADE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH NOVATEL'S SPECIFICATIONS OR AUTHORIZED BY NOVATEL, (III) NORMAL WEAR
AND TEAR, (IV) DAMAGE CAUSED BY FORCE OF NATURE OR ACT OF ANY THIRD PERSON, (V)
SHIPPING DAMAGE; OR (VI) SERVICE OR REPAIR OF PRODUCT WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT
FROM NOVATEL.

IN ADDITION, THE FOREGOING WARRANTIES SHALL NOT APPLY TO PRODUCTS DESIGNATED BY
NOVATEL AS BETA SITE TEST SAMPLES, EXPERIMENTAL, DEVELOPMENTAL, PREPRODUCTION,
SAMPLE, INCOMPLETE OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION PRODUCTS OR TO RETURNED PRODUCTS IF THE
ORIGINAL IDENTIFICATION MARKS HAVE BEEN REMOVED O R ALTERED.

THE WARRANTIES AND REMEDIES ARE EXCLUSIVE AND ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, WRITTEN OR ORAL, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXCLUDED.

NOVATEL SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS, DAMAGE OR EXPENSE ARISING DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY OUT OF THE PURCHASE, INSTALLATION, OPERATION, USE OR LICENSING OR PRODUCTS
OR SERVICES. IN NO EVENT SHALL NOVATEL BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE DUE TO ANY CAUSE.

There are no user-serviceable parts in the GPSAntenna and no maintenance is required. When the GPSCard status code
indicates that the unit is faulty, replace with another unit and return the faulty unit to NovAtel Inc.

You must obtain a RETURN MATERIAL AUTHORIZATION (RMA) number by calling GPS Customer Service at
1-800-NOVATEL (Canada and USA only) or 403-295-4900 before shipping any product to NovAtel or you local dealer.

Once yo u have obtaine d an RMA numbe r, you will be a dvised of prop er shipping proc edures to re turn any defect ive
product. When returning any product to NovAtel, please return the defective product in the original packaging to avoid
ESD and shipping damage.

© 1999 NovAtel Inc. All rights reserved
Unpublished rights re served under International copyright laws.
Printed in Canada on recycled paper. Recyclable.

15 June 1999
OM-20000032 Rev. 2

NovAtel Inc.
1120 – 68
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2E 8S5

http://www.novatel.ca

GPSAntenna™ Modules One (1) Year
Cables and Accessories Ninety (90) Days

th

Avenue N.E .

NovAtel L1 GPSAntenna™

Model 531 Rev 2

– User Information –

DESCRIPTION

The Model 531 GPSAntenna is intended for surveying and other
kinematic positioning applications. The sealed radome allows the
antenna to be used in severe weather and hostile environments, and
the unit’s compact size and light weight ensure its portability.

The Model 531 GPSAntenna is an active antenna designed to operate
at the GPS L1 frequency, 1575.42 MHz. The microstrip receiving
elements are coupled to filters and a low-noise amplifier (LNA). The
unit is optimized to receive right-hand-circularly-polarized signals, and
its radiation pattern is shaped to reduce signals arriving at low
elevation angles; these features decrease the errors associated with
electromagnetic interference and multipath.

Both the input DC power and the output RF signal flow over a single
coaxial cable that is connected to the unit’s TNC female connector.

The antenna baseplate features a permanent adaptor that accepts a 5/80
x 11 threaded bolt; this allows the antenna to be used on a tripod.

Ï Caution: overtightening a bolt into the base may damage the base.

GPSAntenna Model 531 Rev 2

Mechanical Drawings

Technical Specifications

- ELECTRICAL -

3 dB pass band: L1: 1575 ± 5 MHz
Out-of-band rejection: f

f
f

Antenna elev. pattern: θ = 90°: + 6.8 dBic (typical)
(90° = zenith) 20° ≤ θ < 90°: - 0.7 dBic to 6.8 dBic (typical)
5° ≤ θ < 20°: - 4.5 dBic to 1.0 dBic (typical)
0° ≤ θ < 5°: - 7.0 dBic to -2.0 dBic (typical)
θ = 0°: - 7.0 dBic to -2.0 dBic (typical)

LNA gain: 26 ± 2 dB
Polarization: Right-hand circular
Noise figure: 2.2 dB

Axial ratio: θ = 90°: 2.0 dB max.
(90° = zenith) 30° ≤ θ < 90°: 5.0 dB max.
15° ≤ θ < 30°: 8.0 dB max.
5° ≤ θ < 15°: 11.0 dB max.
0° ≤ θ < 5°: 12.0 dB max.

Nominal impedance: 50 Ω
VSWR: ≤ 2.0:1
Power requirements: ≤ 25 mA @ + 4.25 to + 18.0 V DC

Power handling: ≤ 1 W

- MECHANICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL -

Finish: Weatherable polymer
Weight: ≈ 375 g
Altitude: ≤ 3 658 m (12,000')
Temperature: -40 °C to +70 °C

- 50 MHz: 18 dB fc + 50 MHz: 56 dB

c

- 100 MHz: 36 dB fc + 100 MHz: 44 dB

c

- 150 MHz: 45 dB fc + 150 MHz: 44 dB

c

18 mA (typical) @ 5.0 V DC

79

MAX



178

LOGO
(ALIGN TOWARDS NORTH)

PHASE CENTRE

L1=51 MM

PHASE CENTRE LABEL

(Illustration only, may change)

3

NAMEPLATE

L1 Antenna

Rev.N

51mm

Top View

Side View

Phase Centre Offset

AeroAntenna TechnologyInc.

Chatsworth,Ca. U.S.A

GPSANTENNA

P/NAT2775-19NK S/N

Bottom View

Note: All dimensions in millimetres except for thread size.

PHASE CENTRE

GROUND PLANE
LEVEL
(BLUE LINE)

TNC FEMALE

CONNECTOR

5/8 - 11 UNC ADAPTOR