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74 Part I — Hardware Hacks<br />

fixed to the GPS close to the antenna on the device. Usually, it is fastened on with Velcro<br />

fasteners and can be removed when needed.These antennas are great for in-car use or other<br />

applications for which you only want the signal to be transmitted over a short range.<br />

Communal Reradiating Antenna<br />

The communal reradiating antenna reradiator can transmit the GPS signal over a larger range<br />

than the personal reradiating antenna. Usually, these reradiators are capable of transmitting<br />

over a range of three to four meters.<br />

Reradiating Antenna Considerations<br />

The following sections describe some considerations for you to bear in mind when you are<br />

choosing and using reradiating antennas.<br />

Power<br />

Reradiating antennas require power. This power supply usually needs a 12-volt DC source, and<br />

a lead-acid battery is normally ideal. In a car or on a boat, you can tap into the existing electrical<br />

system. This will give you an almost unlimited power supply (given fuel and no mechanical<br />

failure). If you are on the move, you can use a portable 12-volt lead-acid battery. If your antenna<br />

uses AA or 9-volt batteries, then make sure that you have an ample supply of these.<br />

You don’t have to use a lead-acid battery the whole time. You can use other batteries, such as<br />

AA or even D cells in series, which enables you to make a lighter and safer pack. If you use<br />

rechargeable batteries, it isn’t as wasteful and you don’t need to have a 12-volt charger.<br />

Another power option is to use a solar charger to top up a battery pack. One such system is the<br />

SmartSolar solar panel and battery pack shown in Figure 4-14.<br />

The 10 NiMH batteries provide a 12-volt power supply and can deliver 1 Ah of power. This is<br />

enough to keep a reradiating antenna working for several hours without recharge.<br />

Range<br />

If you want to use a reradiating antenna with more than one GPS unit, you will need the communal<br />

type that can serve more than one GPS. Technically, there is no limit to how many GPS<br />

receivers a single reradiating antenna can serve — as long as they all fall within the range of the<br />

re-transmitting antenna.<br />

Remember that reradiating antennas can mask the proper GPS signal for those around you<br />

who may need to use it.<br />

Tidiness<br />

Reradiating antennas are made up of a lot of cables, including the cable taking the power to the<br />

reradiator and the coaxial cable to the antenna. Keep these cables tidy to prevent damage and<br />

tangles.

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