Much heartache is to be saved by using an off-the-shelf design, and only the foolhardy ... and for [Adam Gulyas] that start came with a 2.4 GHz patch antenna. His write-up is a fascinating tale ...
His design uses a Low-Noise Amplifier between the Venus634FLPx GPS receiver and the antenna. After populating the board he was getting no satellite fix. He tried replacing the antenna ...