[2024] Yarbo core RTK antenna: Low Mount vs. High Mount

Yarbo Product Talk
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Guide to Using Yarbo’s Antenna Mount for Optimal Year-Round Performance

To keep your Yarbo operating at peak performance throughout the year, it’s
important to understand which antenna mount is best for different seasons
and situations. Here’s a quick guide on when to use the low and high antenna
mounts, along with the reasons behind each choice and practical scenarios.

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Summer: Use the Low Antenna Mount

When to Use

In the summer, your yard may be full of lush vegetation like shrubs, flowers,
and other obstacles, such as trampolines or low-hanging branches. During this
time, the low antenna mount is the optimal choice.

Scenario

Imagine Yarbo navigating your yard, trimming the grass, or edging around flower
beds. The low mount keeps the antenna closer to the ground, which reduces the
chances of snagging on low branches or getting tangled in dense vegetation. This
allows Yarbo to move smoothly through tight spaces without interruptions.

Reasoning

The low antenna mount keeps Yarbo’s height minimal, allowing it to efficiently
navigate around plants and yard decorations while maintaining a strong signal. By
lowering the antenna, you reduce the risk of interference from summer foliage,
enabling smooth operation.

Winter: Use the High Antenna Mount

When to Use

Winter presents unique challenges, especially due to snow accumulation. Snow
can easily block a low-mounted antenna, which impacts Yarbo’s signal reception.
To address this, use the high antenna mount during snowy conditions.

Scenario

Picture a snowy day with Yarbo working to clear the snow. With the high mount,
the antenna stays above the accumulating snow, ensuring Yarbo maintains a clear
signal even when the ground is covered.

Reasoning

The high mount lifts the antenna above the snow, keeping the signal strong and
unobstructed. This setup ensures Yarbo performs effectively during winter tasks
like snow removal, without interference from snow buildup.

Quick Guide to Choosing Your Antenna Mount

Low Mount : Use during summer or in environments with dense, low-lying
vegetation or obstacles. This mount helps Yarbo avoid getting caught on branches
and improves maneuverability around plants and garden decorations.

High Mount : Use during winter when snow is present. The high mount keeps the
antenna above the snow, ensuring consistent signal reception and optimal perfor
-mance in snowy conditions.

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If we have nothing in the way, is it better reception to just leave the high mount on year round?

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It’s not better reception. Just easier and less wear and tear with the constant swapping.

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Feel free to use whichever option you prefer. The high antenna is essentially the low RTK antenna with an add-on mount to raise it. This helps prevent snow from covering the antenna and affecting reception in the winter. In the summer, if there’s no risk of the high antenna getting caught on low branches or tangled in dense vegetation, you can leave it as is and let the high antenna continue to work year-round.

There’s no difference in signal reception performance between the high and low antennas themselves. The difference lies in the types of interference they are exposed to, so each is better suited for different conditions.

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I’ve had horrible reception with the low mount antennas all summer. Finally decided to trim a few bushes and try the high antennas, and I’ve had 0 gps issues. I’m honestly shocked how much of a difference it actually made.

So, if you’re having gps issues (most people are) don’t write off the high antenna without trying it first.

@Yarbo-Forum when will the flex antennas be shipping?

@Yarbo-Forum you seem pretty confident it doesn’t make a difference, low or high. Care to get some sample data from my core to see why I’m getting a noticeable difference? Feel free to reach out. If it helps with getting closer to a gps solution I’ll be happy to help

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I haven’t noticed a difference switching from high to low. If I had to hazard a guess you may either have a marginal RTK antenna and by nature of swapping it your moved the marginal one to the right side (secondary antenna) or your low mounts weren’t making good contact into the SMA connector (fully seated). I noticed a considerable difference in the low mount redesign. To be fair, I did not install the screws into the plastic clips of the 1st gen low mount brackets so that could’ve been a factor in what I was observing. It wasn’t impacting my signal at all, just seemed like it had more thread for the antenna to attach to.

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Just for kicks, I reinstalled the low mount antennas again this evening. Properly seated, all was good. When docked I get no signal. There are a few key areas in my yard where I also don’t get signal. All same results tonight. While running a job, Yarbo will often stop and wait to retain signal. Movement of the satellites and all.

Swapped back to the high mount, and I have signal on the dock, and all my “dead zones” now work.

I have one replacement low mount antenna I had purchased a while back. I used that one for the left antenna, just to see if a “new” low mount antenna would make any difference. Nope.

Idk, man, either something is weird with my low mounts, or raising that antenna a few inches makes a difference.

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Weird. Do you have relatively flat areas or lots of slopes, hills, etc?

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Thank you for sharing your experience — it’s very helpful.

Regarding the flexible antennas, I’ve initiated the delivery process, and you should receive a tracking number soon.

As for the signal reception differences between the high and low mount antennas, I really appreciate your observations. I’ll share this with our team so they can further evaluate whether there is a consistent difference. Your offer to help with data is also much appreciated.

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I’ve used the high mounts since day one and haven’t had any GPS issues (except a couple areas where I’d fully expect it). I’ve always kept my greenery trimmed up so hitting something hasn’t been an issue for me.

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