RS’s Ask The Expert series taps into the experience and expertise of key thought leaders and subject matter experts from the more than 550 global suppliers we work closely with to bring customers solutions for their most challenging problems (and the daily ones, too).
In this edition, we talk with Juan Verenzuela, Vice President of Product Management and Strategy for PCTEL, Inc., a global provider of purpose-built antennas, Industrial IoT devices, and network testing and measurement solutions that enable wireless connectivity. Juan explains how application needs influence antenna design and what factors to consider to ensure reliable 5G connectivity in harsh environments.
When designing products for the outdoor environment where failure of connectivity or the product components could result in serious consequences to public and user safety, what factors are absolutely critical?
The antenna is a critical component for the optimal performance of any wireless network, as it provides the connectivity for the communications equipment being used. We design antenna platforms for public safety and intelligent transportation markets, where unreliable connectivity could result in injury or loss of life in many circumstances. In cases like this and other applications requiring outdoor exposure, the antenna’s mechanical design is critical for maintaining reliability in harsh and changing weather conditions.
Antenna housings must be made of durable, UV-stable materials to eliminate the possibility of cracking or discoloring under sun exposure. Equally important are the ingress protection features of the antenna design to keep moisture or dust from filtering into and compromising the performance of the electronic components inside of the antenna. Going the extra step and considering how and where it will be placed is important. For example, we designed our new Trooper Max 5G FR1 antenna with a double-walled compression gasket to provide extra protection against water around the perimeter of the antenna. This protects the antenna and keeps moisture and humidity from filtering into the mounting surface through the installation hole. In addition, using high-quality transmission components, including connectors and coax cables, will provide long-lasting support for the antenna’s RF design.
In addition to being IP67-compliant, the Trooper Max features rugged, high-impact, UV-stable housing tested to MIL-STD-810G environmental specifications to ensure long-lasting performance in high shock and vibration transportation applications.
The antenna also incorporates low-loss cable pigtails and connectors for optimal durability and RF efficiency.
With the Trooper Max platform, you were designing mainly for first responders as well as intelligent transportation systems. Tell us how audience and application help determine product design.
PCTEL services the Intelligent Transportation Systems vertical in four primary segments:
- Roadways – fleet management, including mass transit and heavy equipment fleets
- Railways – related to rail networks
- Traffic Systems – fixed transit systems
- Public Safety – primarily for emergency response communications, which also include fleet management and asset tracking capabilities
These four segments require the support of more complex RF communications and installation needs. Cellular standards, for instance, have been expanded to provide faster broadband connectivity and failover support. Wi-Fi technology is often used to provide Wi-Fi hotspot coverage in and around first responder vehicles to connect to tablets, handheld radios, and body-worn cameras. In addition, asset tracking and location are now available through all major cellular router devices to facilitate more efficient fleet management control of transportation systems. The combination of these technologies and applications has become more complex with the implementation of multiple port devices and expanded frequency ranges.
We designed the Trooper Max to be a full 5G FR1 multiband antenna platform covering multiple frequency bands from 617 MHz up to 6 GHz without field tuning. The antenna also includes high-rejection GNSS capability for precise location and asset tracking in transportation applications. The platform not only includes two high-efficiency cellular ports and two dual-band 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi ports but also adds an external port for either TETRA or UHF land mobile radio (LMR) frequency bands. The result is an antenna that supports the leading 5G cellular routers, in addition to interoperability with P25 public safety LMRs. Many multi-band antenna systems used to support cellular routers now require the ability to add LMR systems connectivity to reduce the number of antennas installed on vehicle rooftops.
Why is form factor so important in relation to the antenna’s application?
Using the Trooper Max and the public safety application as an example, new police and other public safety vehicle rooftop designs now offer fewer installation surface options to mount antennas. Added ridges aimed at strengthening the rooftop of the vehicle for safety reasons have created a challenge for antenna installers. As a result, the market demands antenna systems that offer innovative installation approaches and/or slender footprints to accommodate the new narrow-ridged vehicle rooftops. In the case of the Trooper Max, PCTEL created a sleek, slim shark fin housing with optimally placed cellular and Wi-Fi ports to accommodate these mechanical requirements without sacrificing RF efficiency and network performance. The shark fin aerodynamic profile also makes it suitable for intelligent transportation applications with strict aesthetic requirements.
As adoption of 5G continues to evolve, what are some of the challenges inherent in antenna design for 5G connectivity, and how do you overcome them?
As wireless network standards evolve for both cellular and Wi-Fi technologies, they often require expanded frequency range coverage coupled with higher efficiency requirements across those frequencies. At the same time, users demand more compact, lower profile antenna designs to eliminate the need for multiple installations on a limited surface, which can be difficult to maintain and expensive to install.
New multi-band antenna systems must be versatile to accommodate the various installation application requirements and the multi-port configuration mix of the leading industry communication devices. This must be accomplished without sacrificing the RF performance needed to support critical communications. These antenna systems must also be low profile to mitigate theft or vandalism and durable enough to withstand weather exposure, harsh vibrations and the environmental strain caused by these applications. The result is a delicate balance of aesthetic elegance and tough functionality that requires truly engineered solutions.
Additional Links:
- PCTEL Trooper Max 5G Antenna Platform at RSElec.com
- PCTEL Trooper Max Platform Landing Page
- Trooper Max Platform for Public Safety and Intelligent Transportation Video
- PCTEL Products at RSElec.com
PCTEL® and Trooper™ are trademarks of PCTEL, Inc. © 2021 PCTEL, Inc. All rights reserved.
