I'm designing my own GPS logger and yes, I know you can buy them for relatively little money, it's more an project to bring my soldering skills up to the next level with QFN/DFN ICs and 0402 components and 1.5 layer routing, and I've selected the Fastrax UP500 module which has an integrated ceramic patch antenna.
I cannot find any information on with what I can cover the antenna with, metal would clearly be out of the question, but how thick can a plastic cover be? Is the antenna already compensated for some plastic covering? The module datasheet has no info on this.
How sensitive are these kind of modules to internal EMI, should I go through the trouble of completely encasing the processing module in umetal, or would just a shield underneath the module be enough? The module will not be fitted onto the PCB but wired to it with a little wiring loom; the device form factor is a little canister (like for example the Holux M-241), so it can hang off my camera or tripod with the antenna pointing up.