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MHF4 cable assemblies. Why do you need them? Many compact GNSS and cellular modules are using MHF4 coaxial connectors onto which to attach an antenna cable. To begin, let’s look at why MHF4 is being used by module vendors:

Very small footprint – MHF4 is significantly smaller than other connectors, making it ideal for compact PCBs and space-constrained devices.

Low profile – The connector sits pretty flush to the PCB, which is useful in thin products such as routers, laptops, gateways and tracking devices.

Good RF performance – MHF4 connectors are designed for high-frequency applications and can ably support the frequencies used by modern cellular, Wi-Fi and GNSS systems.

Lightweight – The small connector and thin coaxial cable are useful where weight matters.

Easy assembly – The cable simply snaps onto the PCB connector, making it practical for production assembly.

Widely used in wireless modules – Many 5G and GNSS modules have MHF4 miniature RF connectors.

Because the MHF4 snaps on to the mating connector, it is designed for semi-permanent connection unlike SMA, for example, which lends itself better to repeated connect and disconnect actions.

I want to connect my antenna to a MHF4 connector on a module, what options are there?

The first option is a Direct PCB-to-antenna connection – An MHF4-to-MHF4 cable can connect a PCB-mounted radio module directly to an internal antenna without needing a larger connector. The cable length in this scenario is often very short, perhaps 40 or 50mm in overall length and connectors may face the same way or one may face up and the other down.

The second option is a MHF4 to panel mount connector which is mounted through the wall of an enclosure (or device).  This enables attachment of an external antenna. A common example is MHF4 to SMA-Female Panel mount connector enabling the connection of highly available SMA-Male terminated antennas and antenna cables to the module via the MHF4/SMA cable.

For a standard MHF4 to SMA-Female panel mount configuration, cable lengths of approximately 200mm are very popular. However, cable lengths can be customised to application requirements, 100mm, 150mm and 250mm are also frequent requests

It might be also worth considering if the SMA-Female panel mount connector might need an o-ring to make a watertight seal against the enclosure wall enabling a level of ingress protection standard SMA-Female panel mount connectors do not offer. Check out our M2MAC-MHF-20-SFPNOL cable for example.

The MHF4 cable assemblies can offer limited other coaxial connections included RP-SMA, FME and TNC. Please contact us for more details on this.

Need help in selecting the right MHF4 cable for your application? Talk to EAD.

When installing a 5G (or 4G) outdoor antenna often the antenna might have an integral 5M or 10M cable or alternatively you might need to use low loss coaxial cables in longer runs to connect the antenna to the router. Whichever option you are using, analysing the cable type and the length of the cable to ensure you are introducing too much loss into the system is important.

We often see that 5G and 4G outdoor antennas with integral 5M cables use lower quality coaxial cable that exhibit losses per metre far in excess of better quality cables. In some cases, the coaxial cable used on the antenna might almost negate what the antenna can deliver in gain. For example, an outdoor antenna with 3 dBi gain at 900 MHz that uses a typical 5M RG58 cable will have 2.1 dB to 2.6 dB loss across the cable run, leaving an effective gain of 0.4 to 0.9 dB. Using a 10M integral RG58 cable would mean that the cable losses would exceed the antenna gain in this instance.

At higher frequencies such as 1800 MHz, the losses across RG58 are much greater than at 900 MHz meaning that it is also good to know which exact bands your 5G / 4G system is running on so you can better calculate the effectiveness of your antenna installation.

Using a RF240 low loss cable over 5M, the loss across the cable is approximately 1.25 dB and over 10M 2.5 dB. RF240 is 1mm larger in diameter than RG58, but the electrical properties are far superior especially for longer cable runs or higher frequencies. Therefore, it might worth considering an antenna with a coaxial connector termination (check our FGO-Max as an example) and using a hjgher grade extension cable to maximise the effective gain in the system.

Furthermore, for even longer coaxial cable runs, you could deploy 400 type cable. This is typically 10.2mm in diameter, but the loss per metre specifications are very good. Particularly ideal for 15M, 20M and 25M cable runs, RF400 cables would exhibit approximately half the losses of RF240 at 900 MHz i.e. 0.66 dB for a 5M cable run. Therefore, at 15M you would need to factor in approximately a 2 dB loss at 900 MHz.

Another issue with integral cables on external antennas is what to do with excess cable? What do you do if you only need 3M or 7M cables, but the standard configurations for the antennas offer 5M or 10M cables? Excess cable in the installation means unnecessary loss (and also coiled excess cable looks very unsightly!). Using custom length low loss cables means using only the exact cable length you need thereby improving efficiency in the system.

Need further help with your 5G and 4G antenna installation and low loss coaxial cable selection? Talk to EAD. We will be happy to help you make the right selection.

Remote water monitoring is crucial for protecting a critical resource. From managing remote reservoirs and pumping stations, environmental monitoring and flood alerting systems, the ability to use telemetry via wireless communications is now standard practice.

Remote water monitoring systems using sensors to collect information, such as water level, pressure, flow, pollution levels and pump status, transmit over wireless networks.

However, even the best monitoring equipment depends on a stable wireless connection.  Whether using cellular, LoRWAN or other wireless networks, a poorly installed or unsuitable antenna leads to ineffective communications including weak signal, intermittent connections or costly return site visits.

This is where our team at EAD Antennas can help.

We supply a range of antennas ideal for water monitoring applications, helping engineers and installers deploy the right antenna for each installation.

For remote installations, we consider factors including such as antenna gain, frequency range, cable length and mounting location which are critical in arriving at the correct antenna for the job. Getting these details right can help maximise signal reliability and keep monitoring systems working when they are needed most.

Whether monitoring a water tank on a farm, a pumping station, an industrial water system or a remote reservoir, dependable wireless connectivity can provide valuable real-time information without requiring unnecessary site visits.

A good antenna installation is often only a small part of the remote water monitoring system, but it can make a big difference to its reliability and effectiveness. Whether it is a surface-mount antenna for manholes or an antenna for pole-mounting, we have a solution.

If you’re designing or maintaining a remote water monitoring system and need help selecting a good and dependable antenna, we can help you in choosing the right one for your installation. Contact us for help today.

If you’re not sure what antenna you need for 4G, 5G, IoT, GNSS, or WiFi applications, talk to EAD. Across our portfolio, we have pole-mount, wall-mount, magnetic mount, rail-mount, surface-mount, enclosure mount and terminal mount antennas.

Typical applications for our antennas include:

Remote water monitoring

Wireless CCTV

Security Systems

Vehicle Telematics

Industrial Telemetry

Utility street cabinets

Leisure marine

We can assist you with making the correct antenna selection for your application. When identifying the correct antenna it is helpful to understand the following:

Frequency / technology
Radio/modem used
Indoor or outdoor
Required cable length
Connector
Mounting method
Application

Armed with this information we will endeavour to offer an antenna that is a good fit for your application from our own portfolio or one from one of our antenna partners.

Please feel free to contact us at sales@ead-ltd.com

The GNSS Multi-Constellation Antenna HIGAIN-RTK has been relaunched by EAD. Suitable for surveying, measurement and positioning applications, the HIGAIN-RTK multi-constellation antenna is housed in a revamped white UV-resistant ASA radome with a black ASA base.

The HIGAIN-RTK multi-constellation GNSS antenna is designed for high accuracy positioning applications supporting GPS L1, L2 and L5, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou.

Designed for pipe-mounted, continuous outdoor applications, the HIGAIN-RTK antenna is waterproof to IP67 and terminated in a N-Female connector. In the base of the antenna, there is a 1-14 UNF thread for mounting. The antenna can mount onto a threaded pipe or a deck, pole or rail mount that has the matching 1-14 thread.

The updated GNSS Multi-Constallation antenna, the HIGAIN-RTK, is shipping now.

The FGO-MAX 5G Omni is a new high gain antenna from EAD. Expanding our 5G omni antenna offering, the FGO-MAX is a single port, wall- or pole-mountable fibreglass omni.

Based on our proven FGO (4G omni) design, this new antenna operates across a wide frequency range from 600-4200 MHz. Supplied with its own wall/pole mounting bracket, the installation is made more robust by way of 3 M3 screws attaching the antenna to the bracket. With gain in the low band of 3 dBi and 6 dBi in the upper bands, the FGO-Max delivers superior performance across the supported frequency range.

Ideal for 5G access, utilities, telemetry and remote access, the FGO-Max is designed for continuous outdoor deployment based on a design that has been deployed for years with great success.

The FGO-Max antenna is terminated in a N-Female connector and mates to low loss coaxial cables such as RF240 and RF400.

For more information on the FGO-Max and other EAD 5G antennas, please contact us.

Since 2003, EAD has developed into an established name in the antenna market both in the UK and worldwide .

As EAD has grown over the years, our product portfolio has evolved significantly. Considering the breadth of our available product lines and our exit from the internal/embedded antenna market more than two years ago, the rebrand to EAD Antennas better reflects our current business.

Under the new branding, we aim to develop our activities in 5G, IoT and GNSS antenna applications.

EAD is keen to reassure customers that there will be no changes in business operations, contacts or support due to our change in branding.

The company continues to be registered as Embedded Antenna Design Ltd but will now trade as EAD Antennas.

For any questions, please contact us

Why are Harxon precision GNSS antennas so good for drone applications?

Harxon precision GNSS antennas are ideal for drone applications due to their compact helix design. They are very lightweight, a critical factor for UAV installations, and offer high accuracy positioning. Critical for drones to maximise flight time and range as well as handling, the small helix antennas can either be built into a done design or used as a after-market standalone antenna attached to the drone by a connector.

Precision helix antennas are able to receive signals from multiple satellite constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, etc.) facilitating robust and consistent positioning even in locations with more limited satellite visibility.

Enhanced features of lightweight GNSS helix antennas including strong anti-interference, filtering and out-of-band rejection capabilities help to ensure a solid and reliable GNSS signal.

For example, the HX-CH7609A weighs only 30.5g with compact dimensions of 43.6×40.8mm (dxh) offering a high gain and high accuracy solution and to integrate into many precision positioning products.

We have a full range of GNSS antennas for drone, autonomous vehicle, surveying, precision agriculture, anti-jamming, and marine applications. Please contact us for more information.

The best 5G outdoor MIMO antennas for your 5G router

When using a 5G router, the location where the router is installed is not always the best for network signal. There are two options, either move the router to a location with a better signal or use an external antenna where signal is better and connect to the 5G router via low loss coaxial cables.

If moving the router to a new location is not practical or desirable, then selecting a good quality antenna and low loss coaxial cables is key to a successful installation.

5G and 4G routers have multiple external antenna ports, often 2 or 4 depending on the router type, therefore you will need to select either multiple antennas or a single antenna with multiple ports (known as a MIMO antenna).

Some pointers on the selection of best 5G outdoor MIMO antennas for routers and your application:

1. Ease of mounting – the antenna should facilitate mounting on a pole, wall or rail and be straightforward to install
2. Weatherproofing – the antenna should be sealed and waterproofed to resist the elements for outdoor longevity
3. UV-Resistant – the antenna radome (or cover) should be UV-Resistant so as not to degrade in sunlight over time
4. The electrical performance of the antenna including gain and efficiency should be robust, consistent and reliable.
5. Customisation of low loss cables – the antenna should be able to easily accommodate low loss coaxial extension cables of any length without incurring signal losses (too many antennas have fixed 5M cables meaning for longer cable runs “daisychaining” cables is necessary).

For the low loss extension cables connecting the antenna to the 5G router, it is worth considering the following:

1. Use a quality RF coaxial cable, minimum 195 or 240 type for cable runs from 5-15M. Check out RF240 for a good quality low loss cable that’s only 6mm in diameter
2. For cable runs beyond 15M, then using a 400 type cable like RF400 is necessary otherwise there will be excess signal loss across the cable between the antenna and the 5G router
3. Use the exact length of extension cable needed, coiling extra cable means additional signal losses across the excess cables
4. Avoid high loss cables such as RG58 as the loss at higher frequencies is too high for a successful external antenna installation

An excellent 2 port MIMO antenna is the LMO6138 antenna. Housed in a UV-resistant, weatherproof radome and offering flexible mounting options, the LMO6138 offers excellent gain figures for optimal signal reception whilst its two short SMA pigtails at the base of the antenna lend themselves well to the fitting of custom low loss coaxial extension cables.

For a 4 Port MIMO antenna the LPO-Max is a good choice. A waterproof and UV resistant radome housing 4 elements offering exceptional gain across most worldwide 5G bands, this antenna can be wall, pole or railed mounted. 4 short SMA cables allow connectivity to customised low loss extension cables.

In summary, in selecting the best 5G outdoor MIMO antennas there are many factors to consider to maximise your 5G installation. Taking care to ensure that both mechanical and RF factors are considered when choosing the antenna will typically lead to a successful 5G outdoor deployment.

For UK customers, 5G MIMO antennas can be purchased online at Connex.