Refine results by selecting a filter or click on 'All results' to search the whole site.
Skip to main content
RACELOGIC Support Centre

02 Installing the VBOX IISL – Dual Antenna in your Vehicle

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF

Dimensions

Antenna Placement

The GPS antennas supplied with the VBOX IISL are 3.5 V active antennas. For the best possible signal quality, it is important to maintain a clean connection between the antennas and the VBOX. Before you fix the antennas to the VBOX, make sure that there are no dust particles in either connector. Replacement antennas are available by contacting your VBOX distributor.
 

The antennas are the magnetic mounting type for quick and simple mounting to the vehicle roof. For optimum GPS signal reception, make sure that the antennas are fitted to the highest point of the vehicle and away from any obstructions that may block satellite reception. The GPS antennas works best with a metal ground plane underneath (eg. Vehicle roof).
 

Please also note that when using any GPS equipment, a clear sky view is important. Objects in the surrounding area such as tall buildings or trees can block the GPS signal causing a reduction in the number of satellites being tracked or introducing reflected signals that can decrease the accuracy of the system.
 

 

 

  

Single Antenna Placement

GPS antennas require a ground plane to operate correctly. Usually, the metal roof of a vehicle performs this function. However, if a test requires an antenna to be placed off of the vehicle, you need to use a special ‘mushroom-style’ antenna. These antennas are capable of operating without an additional ground plane as they have an internal one. The Ground Plane Mushroom-style Antennas (RLVBACS065) are available from your VBOX distributor.

RLVBACS065 Mushroom-style Ground Plane Antenna

 

Dual Antenna Placement

While it is fast and simple to install and use the VBOX IISL - Dual Antenna, you must pay careful attention to the placement of the two antennas.
 

Note: It is essential that the separation of the two antennas is exactly the same as the value set on the unit’s configuration screen. If the separation is incorrect, you may not get data or the data may be inaccurate. The measured distance between the antennas should be the straight line between the antennas regardless of the mounting angle. It is not the 2D distance between the antennas as viewed from above.
 

The picture above shows a typical antenna placement for the measurement of Body Slip Angle and Pitch angle.
 

Antenna A is the primary antenna, from which the unit bases all calculations. If you want to measure overall slip (at the centre of the vehicle), you should place the primary antenna rearward of the secondary. The alignment of the antennas is not absolutely essential as the Slip Angle Sensor has the ability to calculate any offset.

See the Slip Angle Offset page.

However, if you wish to measure Pitch or Roll, the alignment of the antennas must be in line with the vehicle or at 90o, and as accurately as possible.
 

The picture below shows a typical antenna placement for the measurement of Body Slip Angle and Roll angle.


 

When measuring slip at a specific point on a vehicle (for example over a given wheel), you must place the primary antenna over this point on the vehicle and the secondary antenna towards the centre of the vehicle.

GPS antennas require a ground plane to operate correctly. Usually, the metal roof of a vehicle performs this function. However, if a test requires an antenna to be placed off of the vehicle, you need to use a special ‘mushroom-style’ antenna. These antennas are capable of operating without an additional ground plane as they have an internal one. The Ground Plane Mushroom-style Antennas (RLVBACS065) are available from your VBOX distributor.

If you only want to place one antenna ‘off-vehicle’, then you only need to purchase one Ground Plane antenna.
 


 

Antenna Separations >2 m 

When the antenna separation is >2 m, we advise you to, where possible, mount the antennas as level as you can so that you can enable the ‘LEVEL’ option, otherwise the RTK lock is not very reliable and the Slip and Roll/Pitch data can drop out or become intermittent.

The VBOX IISL - Dual Antenna must only be used with the supplied antenna unless instructed otherwise by Racelogic.

  1. Back to top
  • Was this article helpful?

Recommended articles

  1. Article type
    Topic
  2. Tags
    This page has no tags.