Fleet telematics combines cellular data backhaul, GNSS tracking and increasingly C-V2X into a single low-profile vehicle antenna that survives wash bays, vibration and weather.
Overview
This guide explains how fleet telematics and vehicle antennas are engineered, where they are deployed, and how to choose the right model for a real installation. Vehicle antennas trade absolute gain for an omnidirectional pattern and a stable ground plane on the roof; combination antennas integrate cellular, GNSS and Wi-Fi elements while maintaining isolation between them.
Frequency Bands and Spectrum
The bands most relevant to fleet telematics and vehicle antennas are listed below. Each band brings different propagation, regulatory and antenna-size implications.
| Band | Range (MHz) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Wideband (700-2700 MHz) | 700-2700 | Multiband / all-cellular |
| 700-900 MHz (4G Low Band) | 698-960 | LTE Band 12/13/5, cellular |
| GNSS / GPS | 1176-1606 | GPS L1/L2/L5, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou |
| 5.8 GHz ISM | 5725-5850 | ISM / point-to-point |
Recommended Antenna Types
The following antenna classes are best matched to fleet telematics and vehicle antennas:
Magnetic-Base Mobile Antenna
Magnetic-mount vehicular antennas for telematics and mobile connectivity.
GNSS / GPS Antenna
Active GNSS antennas for positioning, timing and high-precision survey applications.
Embedded FPC / PCB Antenna
Internal flexible-PCB and PCB-trace antennas for embedded modules and tracking devices.
Applications and Use Cases
Fleet Telematics and Vehicle Antennas support a range of deployments. The most common are:
- Telematics / V2X
- GNSS Positioning
- Vehicle-Mounted
- IoT / M2M
Mounting and Installation
Magnetic or bolt-through roof mounts give the cleanest ground plane and sky view; adhesive low-profile shark-fin housings suit fixed installations.
Lightning Protection and Grounding
Vehicle antennas do not require lightning protection but should use weather-sealed connectors and routing that resists chafe.
Standards and Compliance
Designs and deployments in this area commonly reference:
- 3GPP LTE/5G
- GPS/GNSS
- C-V2X (3GPP Release 14+)
Selection and Comparison
When narrowing down a model for fleet telematics and vehicle antennas, weigh these trade-offs:
- Combination vs. single-function
- Magnetic vs. through-hole
- Shark-fin vs. whip
Typical gain for this category is 2-5 dBi, usually terminated in a SMA / FAKRA connector, though the interface can be customized.
Recommended Antennas from astronwireless.com
The following models from our catalog match the requirements discussed above:
AW-FPC0827-3
- Band: 0.7-2.7 GHz
- Gain: 3 dBi
- Polarization: Linear
AW-FPC2458-4
- Band: 2.4-5.9 GHz
- Gain: 4 dBi
- Polarization: Linear
AW-GP1575-28
- Band: 1.6-1.6 GHz
- Gain: 28 dBi
- Polarization: RHCP
AW-MG0960-3
- Band: 824-960 MHz
- Gain: 3 dBi
- Polarization: Vertical
AW-MG1880-3
- Band: 0.9-1.9 GHz
- Gain: 3 dBi
- Polarization: Vertical
AW-MG2400-3
- Band: 2.4-2.5 GHz
- Gain: 3 dBi
- Polarization: Vertical
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