Antennas for Industrial IoT Applications

 

Antennas are a fundamental component of any wireless RF solution. Both, the most complex and the simplest wireless RF applications rely on antennas for end to end communication. The quality and performance of the antenna is critical to the correct operation of any wireless system, and it pays to specify it wisely.

Selection is normally left to the last minute, but design integration is key to getting the best deployment performance.

 

Visit our complete Antenna Product page to see the full range of Adhesive, Direct, Embedded, Magnetic, Through Hole, and Wall/Pole Antennas.

The 3 Antenna Design Solution Available to Engineers

Outdoor Antennas

Outdoor Antennas are larger than product based varieties and provide significantly more gain, they are especially suitable for remote sites or in difficult terrain with unreliable cellular network coverage.

They can be directional (Yagi) or omnidirectional types depending on whether line of site to one mast is better than picking up multiple masts with a weaker signal, thereby providing resilience against a single mast failure.

External Antennas

If a metal enclosure has been specified which will block the RF signal as it creates a Faraday cage effect around an internal antenna. To overcome this, an internal cable assembly linking the wireless module to a bulkhead connector can bridge the gap allowing an external antenna to be fitted directly onto the bulkhead connector on the outside of the enclosure.

An external antenna generally performs better than an internal antenna. Therefore unless there is a strict requirement in the specification for an embedded antenna to be used – such as a vandal-resistant or high IP rated environment, then increasing the likelihood of good wireless communications has to be the highest priority using an external antenna solution.

PCB antennas

PCB antennas answer the need for a pluggable solution which can be easily integrated into the system utilising a micro RF connector. Many existing wireless modules incorporate a micro connector which can be connected directly to an embedded PCB antenna and provides a very simple method to incorporate an antenna into a system.

Embedded PCB antennas are designed are easily attached to the inside of the enclosure via an adhesive pad allowing quick connectivity, offering reliable performance and flexibility of fitting away from other components prone to RF interference.

4G Antennas

Antenna networks and technologies are changing at a fast pace, so ensure your designs are implemented with the future in mind. 2G and 3G technologies have a limited life with the migration to LTE 4G and upcoming 5G already undergoing city tests.

The 4G to 5G technologies will migrate over time within the mid-band frequency spectrums (1GHz – 2.6GHz and 3.5GHz to 6GHz) from 2020 to 2021. 3G, however, will cut off from the low band (sub 1GHz) by the end of 2020.

The Antenna Selector Tool is a configurable filter that narrows selection, providing the closest match to your requirements. Find your ideal Antenna today!

Antenna Selector Tool