Cisco Cisco 1800 2800 3800 Series 16-Port Async High-Speed WIC
© 2014 Cisco and/or its affiliates All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information. Page 4 of 21
Antenna Guide for ISR and CGR with Verizon Wireless 4G LTE
Below is a comparison of these two location-based technologies, followed by 3 use case examples.
Characteristic
Satellite-Based GPS
Cell Tower Triangulation-Based
Method of obtaining coordinates
Received signals from multiple
satellites
satellites
Signal strength from device to
multiple cell towers
multiple cell towers
Calculating entity
The end device (ISR/CGR)
The cellular wireless network
Accuracy
10-30 feet
50-150 feet
Applicable while on-the-move
Yes
Yes
Applicable to stationary devices
Yes (requires antenna with line-of-
site to the sky, e.g. antenna at
window or outside for indoor device)
site to the sky, e.g. antenna at
window or outside for indoor device)
Yes (requires sufficient signal
strength/quality to 3 towers, via LTE
device’s indoor or outdoor antennas)
strength/quality to 3 towers, via LTE
device’s indoor or outdoor antennas)
Storage location of GPS coordinates
Initially in the end device, can be sent
via the IP network to any service
via the IP network to any service
Initially in the cellular network, can be
sent to any service or device with a
relationship to the service provider
sent to any service or device with a
relationship to the service provider
Requires an antenna
Yes (GPS satellite)
Yes (LTE)
Common reason for coordinate loss
Direct line of sight to sky inhibited
Access to at least 3 cell towers
inhibited
inhibited
Affected by weather issues
Possibly, but not common
No
Affected by cellular network issues
No
Possibly, but rare
Method to purposefully disable GPS
Blocking or removing GPS antenna
Cell signal jamming
When to use
When there is a system to collect and
process the GPS coordinate data
When more coordinate accuracy is
needed
When the device may be out of
cellular wireless coverage
process the GPS coordinate data
When more coordinate accuracy is
needed
When the device may be out of
cellular wireless coverage
When the LTE provider offers GPS
services that process the data
When the accuracy provided is
sufficient
When the LTE device has no satellite
GPS ability
services that process the data
When the accuracy provided is
sufficient
When the LTE device has no satellite
GPS ability
When not to use
When the LTE device has no satellite
GPS function
GPS function
When the LTE device may be out of
cellular wireless coverage
cellular wireless coverage
When to use methods together
Whenever possible, for high
availability of GPS coordinates.
availability of GPS coordinates.
Whenever possible, for high
availability of GPS coordinates.
availability of GPS coordinates.
Challenge to using both methods
together
together
Integrating/combining the data into
one GPS application or service
one GPS application or service
Integrating/combining the data into
one GPS application or service
one GPS application or service