GPS Navigation Antenna System Added to Land Rover Discovery Series II

    ORLAND PARK, Ill.--Aug. 28, 2001--Andrew Corporation announced that Land Rover, part of Ford Premier Automotive Group, will use an Andrew roof-mounted GPS antenna system to enhance the navigation features of the new model Land Rover Discovery II. The GPS navigation system pinpoints the Land Rover's location to within one meter and also supplies route information for easy direction finding during off- or on-road journeys.
    "This is an exciting Land Rover first for us," said Robert Wood, European Business manager for Andrew Corporation's Wireless Products Group. "Working with their UK-based design team, we created and tested the GPS antenna prototype and were able to deliver the finished antennas within just six months. We also optimised the antenna mounting system for speed and ease of factory fitting."
    The Land Rover Discovery II's GPS antenna has a very low profile, just 16 mm high, and is easily mounted on the vehicle's roof. The antenna includes a GPS module consisting of a ceramic patch that receives the GPS satellite signal and a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) that boosts the signal.
    The GPS antenna has a proprietary Andrew mounting system designed for speed and ease of installation at the Land Rover assembly plant. The integrated mounting gasket forms a weatherproof seal that gives full protection even in the harshest environmental conditions.
    The GPS navigation system is available as a factory-installed option on the Land Rover Discovery II from July 2001 in the UK and October 2001 in North America.
    Acquired by Ford Motor Company in July 2000, Land Rover is the world's only company producing exclusively full-time 4x4 sports utility vehicles. Land Rover exports around 77% of its production to 140 markets worldwide.