Precision Agriculture Antenna Solutions: RTK GNSS, LoRa and Rural 4G
A precision farming system combines three radios on one machine: GNSS for position, a cellular link for RTK corrections and telemetry, and often a LoRa network for sensors spread across the field. Each has a different antenna requirement, and on a tractor they share the same roof space and the same vibration environment. RF element builds combined GNSS and cellular antennas, LoRa omni antennas and rural 4G/5G antennas for this mix.
Three radios, one roof, very different requirements
RTK corrections are latency-sensitive
The GNSS antenna receives the satellite signals, but the correction stream arrives over cellular or radio and must keep up with the vehicle. A marginal cellular link does not just slow the display; it degrades the position fix. Antenna gain and a stable ground plane matter more than the modem specification.
LoRa needs range, not bandwidth
A soil sensor at the far edge of a field may be several kilometres from the gateway. LoRa spreads a narrow signal over time, so the antenna should be omnidirectional, vertically polarized and mounted clear of the crop canopy and metal structures.
Dust, vibration and seasonal installation
Equipment is fitted in a hurry before the season and removed afterwards. Connectors are mated in the field, often in poor conditions, and the antenna spends the season under dust and vibration. A sealed base and a clearly marked connector interface reduce failures more than any electrical improvement.
Antenna selection by deployment case
Start from the service, not the band. RTK guidance needs a GNSS antenna with a stable ground plane and a cellular link with enough margin at the field edge. Telemetry needs range and duty cycle. The table below maps the four common farm use cases to antenna families we build.
| Antenna type | Frequency range | Gain | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| GNSS + cellular puck | 700-3800 MHz + 1575.42 MHz | 3 dBi / 28 dB LNA | RTK guidance and vehicle telemetry |
| LoRa omni | 860-870 / 902-928 MHz | 5-8 dBi | Field sensors and gateway coverage |
| MIMO dome | 800-2600 MHz | 4-6 dBi | Cab-mounted 4G for telemetry and tracking |
| Yagi | 824-960 MHz | 14 dBi | Long rural backhaul from a fixed mast |
Band, gain and polarization trade-offs
At 868 and 915 MHz the antenna is electrically small, so gain comes from the ground plane and the mounting height rather than from the element itself. A 5 dBi omni at 4 m on a clear mast will outperform an 8 dBi unit at 2 m beside a metal shed, which is why the installation drawing matters as much as the part number.
GNSS gain is not a selection variable in the usual sense. The 28 dB figure in our combined puck is low-noise amplifier gain, included to overcome cable loss; the antenna gain itself is close to unity by design because the satellite signal is already weak and the noise figure dominates.
Recommended antennas
The combined puck is the usual choice for a guided vehicle; the LoRa omni is for the sensor network. The GNSS figure quoted is the LNA gain, not antenna gain, which is why it is listed separately.
5G IoT Antenna
LoRa Omni Antenna
4G LTE MIMO Omni Antenna
900MHz Yagi Antenna
Frequency, gain, beamwidth and connector values are taken from the linked product specification tables. Confirm the final configuration against the datasheet before ordering.
Installation and deployment notes
Field installation is less controlled than a building site, so the practical points below tend to matter more than the data sheet.
- Mount the GNSS antenna on a flat metal ground plane of at least 100 mm diameter; the roof of the cab is usually better than a plastic panel.
- Keep the cellular and GNSS antennas at least 150 mm apart to avoid desensitising the GNSS front end.
- Raise LoRa gateway antennas above the crop canopy and keep them clear of the metal shed roof.
- Seal every field-mated connector with self-amalgamating tape, not electrical tape alone.
- Check VSWR after installation; a crushed coax under a panel is the most common cause of a weak link.
Frequently asked questions
Which GNSS band does the puck antenna cover?
The combined antenna covers 1575.42 MHz with a 5 MHz bandwidth, which is the L1 GPS centre frequency. That is the band used by most RTK guidance systems; if your receiver also uses L2 or a second constellation band, tell us and we will confirm whether a different model is required.
LoRa at 868 or 915 MHz?
It depends on the region: 868 MHz is used in Europe and 915 MHz in North America and much of Asia-Pacific. Our LoRa omni covers both 860-870 MHz and 902-928 MHz in one model, so the same part can serve either market.
Does the antenna determine RTK accuracy?
No. Accuracy comes from the receiver, the correction service and the satellite geometry. The antenna contributes phase-centre stability and multipath rejection, which affect repeatability between passes, but it does not set the centimetre-level accuracy figure.
Can the antennas survive a wash-down?
Our outdoor models are sealed for dust and water, and the connector interface is the limiting point in practice. Use a sealed connector and a drip loop, and avoid directing a pressure washer at the base of the antenna.
Related technical reading
Related industries
Fields are wide, power is scarce and the machine keeps moving. These deployments solve the same coverage problem.
What to send for an antenna shortlist
Send these five items and we can propose models with pattern data instead of a catalogue list.
- Machine type and roof material
- GNSS receiver bands and correction service
- Sensor count and field spread
- Gateway position and height
- Regional LoRa band and duty-cycle limit
Send your layout, get an antenna shortlist
Tell us the machine type, the receiver band and the sensor network layout, and we will propose a combined antenna set for the vehicle and the gateway.
Request a quotation