# GM862 with GPS-00178 antenna?

**URL:** <https://community.sparkfun.com/t/gm862-with-gps-00178-antenna/18860>\
**Category:** Development Boards\
**Created:** [January 11, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/gm862-with-gps-00178-antenna/18860 "2011-01-11T18:21:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![lawernceadunn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecd19e/32.png) [@lawernceadunn](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/lawernceadunn)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/gm862-with-gps-00178-antenna/18860/1 "2011-01-11T18:21:31Z")

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Hi,

I am using a GM862 module’s GPS capability. The GPS works OK with the antenna supplied in the Sparkfun eval kit, but is large for an embedded application. I purchased the GPS-000178 antenna that is listed as working with the Lassen HQ. This antenna does not seem to work with the GM862 module. Could this just be a connector problem (although the the plug seems to work), or is there a basic incompatibility?

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**Author:** ![donquad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@donquad](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/donquad)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 11:49pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/gm862-with-gps-00178-antenna/18860/2 "2011-01-11T23:49:33Z")

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check to see if your chip requires a active or passive ant.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lawernceadunn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecd19e/32.png) [@lawernceadunn](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/lawernceadunn)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/gm862-with-gps-00178-antenna/18860/3 "2011-01-12T03:12:51Z")

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The GM862 can be set to use either an active or passive antenna, but the manufacturer recommends an active antenna for better sensitivity.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lawernceadunn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecd19e/32.png) [@lawernceadunn](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/lawernceadunn)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/gm862-with-gps-00178-antenna/18860/4 "2011-01-14T02:02:37Z")

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I found the answer. They are compatible. However, both the GM862 connector and the GPS-00178 connector are female connectors. The GM862 looked like a male connector, but the “male” pin was really a split tube designed to fit to a male plug. Oddly, the two female connectors snapped together pretty well. I bridged the female couplings with an 0.12" length of narrow gauge wire and they work.