Just thought I would share with you a link to what’s inside the Acer Iconia A500. Bill Detwiler Head Technology editor of TechRepublic has done a marvellous job of opening up the A500 16GB Iconia Tablet and providing 68 images of his exploration. I was interested in where the GPS antenna was located. Image 25 shows the Antenna, a long copper colour box with a thin cable connecting near the GPS chip (Broadcomm BCM47511) which is located in under the square tin shield half way between the Antenna and the connector on the PCB same image. Image 59 shows the GPS chip.
As you will see the GPS Antenna is on the left hand short side of the Iconia A500 just offset from below centre line. This means if you are holding it in landscape mode and you are right handed. Then your left hand is holding the tablet and covering the Antenna. You may get a stronger signal if you rotate tablet to Portrait (rear camera to top right) mode or through 180 degrees. I have observed little difference.
The GPS chip from Broadcomm supports the Russian GLONASS, SBAS & QZSS navigation systems. Maybe we will see the Android OS support these other systems in the future, to give a faster more accurate fix. Did Acer use this chip for a reason or just because it’s the latest and best price point?
Oldtimer.