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 a quality MIMO antenna for 5G routers:

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.

5G MIMO omni antennas to complement 5G/router applications can be mounted outdoors. Installed on a wall, pole or in some cases a rail, these antennas offer durability and performance to help maximise signal reception.

What features are needed for outdoor MIMO antennas?

Considerations should be UV-resistant housing or radomes, waterproofing to prevent ingress of moisture and flexibility of mounting options. Additionally, consistent gain across the bands and the ability to hook up to customised low loss coaxial cables are key.

In some applications, low profile and more discreet antenna solutions are required. Therefore, the antenna radomes should be compact and aesthetically pleasing. Ease of installation is also important, antennas that can be deployed quickly and securely mean that applications can be online in short time.

Most 5G/4G routers today have multiple antenna ports – MIMO (mulitple in, multiple out). Therefore, outdoor antennas need multiple antenna elements inside to maximise functionality. Some routers have 2 antenna ports, some may have 4 or more. The three 5G MIMO omni antennas we’ll look at here, have either 2 or 4 antenna elements inside.

The LPO-Max is a 4 port, high gain, MIMO, 5G outdoor omni antenna. Housed in UV-resistant radome, the antenna can be wall, pole or rail-mounted via an optional bracket. Connecting to 5G routers, the LPO-Max supports most 5G worldwide frequencies from 600-6000 MHz. Combine with low loss cables such as RF240, to customise the installation to the requirements of the application.

The LPO6938-4P is a 4 port, medium gain 5G outdoor omni antenna. Similiar to the LPO-Max, it radome is UV-resistant and weatherproof and uses the same bracket for mounting. Its overall height is less than the LPO-Max and whilst it only supports 690-3800 MHz for 5G frequencies it is a lot more discreet, ideal where low visibility is important.

With its own bracket for wall-mounting, the LMO6138 is a 2 port 4G/5G antenna. Waterproof and housed in UV-resistant radome, the LMO6138 antenna offer robust gain across a frequency range of 600-3800 MHz. Combine with custom low loss cables to customise the installation.

Whichever of these 5G outdoor omni antennas is most suitable for your application will depend on factors such as your 5G router, mounting requirements, available cable choices, but all three are designed to give you a long-lasting and stable signal when mounting permanently outdoors.

Some of these antennas are available at the Connex webshop.

Sirio external antennas are ideal for outdoor 4G/5G applications requiring compact directional or omni-directional access antennas.

The SMP-4G-MIMO is a compact directional 4G panel with 2 directional antenna elements. Supplied with either 2x5M cables or 2x30cm cables (to which to connect custom low loss cables), the SMP-4G-MIMO offers consistent gain across the bands for applications where maximising reception is critical.

The SMP-5G is a compact directional 5G panel antenna covering 700-2700 /3400-3800 MHz. Withe competitive gain figures in a discreet, compact enclosure, the SMP-5G is an ideal outdoor directional antenna where a low profile solution is required.

The HGO-4G is a high gain omni-directional blade antenna support 4G across the bands from 700-2700 MHz. Wall- or pole-mounted, the HGO-4G is supplied with a 5M cable and SMA-Male connector as standard. Ideal for access applications where a high performing, outdoor, and omni-directional antennas is required.

The Sirio external antennas are proven in hundreds of installations and offer robust performance and build-quality. They are usually in stock here in the UK and available for immediate shipment.

Our new LPO-Max 5G MIMO outdoor omni is shipping from EAD now. A 4 Port wideband 600-6000 MHz MIMO antenna, the LPO-Max can be wall, pole or rail mounted offering access to 5G networks.

Ideal for wireless CCTV, security, commercial, industrial and leisure marine applications, the LPO-Max antenna supports most worldwide 5G frequencies. Supplied with 4 x SMA-Male pigtails, the antenna can be combined with low loss jumper cables to be tailored to every installation.

Housed in a proven UV-resistant ASA radome and available with an option multi-function mounting bracket, the LPO-MAX antenna is designed for continuous outdoor deployment.

For quotations, please contact us.

The L-Mag 5G/4G magnetic mount antenna is a proven solution to complement 5G/4G applications where a compact, reliable mini magnetic antenna is required. Operating in the 700-2700 / 3400-3800 MHz frequency bands, the L-Mag antenna offers a non-permanent, easy and flexible installation.

The L-Mag antenna is in stock and shipping now. Please contact us for quotations.

The LPO-Max 5G antenna can be wall, pole or rail-mounted via the LPO bracket. Using the LPO bracket for pole or rail-mounting, the LPO-Max can be installed either vertically or horizontally.

Ideal for leisure marine, wireless CCTV and security, commercial and industrial 5G access applications, the LPO-Max is a wideband, high performance omni antenna offering 4 antenna ports housed in one UV-resistant ASA radome.

For more information on our LPO-Max 5G antenna, please contact us.

Introducing helical anti-interference antennas from Harxon.

The JH003 is a Full-Band Helix Antenna for Land/Sea/Air Applications.
The JH001 is a Dual-Band Helix Antenna for Land/Sea/Air Applications.

They are designed to mitigate co-frequency signal interference, high-power signal interference, and multiple radio communication system interference, ensuring high-precision positioning in complex electromagnetic environments. The antennas employ beamforming technology to enhance signal strength and quality, and utilizes advanced pre-multiple filtering to effectively suppress out-of-band noise and multipath signals, significantly improving anti-interference capabilities.

These features make them ideal for use in drones, aviation, vehicle-mounted, and shipborne devices.

Please contact us for more information, pricing and availability on these high precision anti-jamming antennas.

U.FL SMA adapter cables from Embedded Antenna Design are used to connect 4G and 5G cellular modules to external antennas. Based on a Hirose U.FL connector, these 50 Ohm coaxial cables mount via SMA-Female panelmount connector.

Assembled using 1.13mm coaxial cable, our U.FL to SMA adapter cables are stocked in 100mm and 200mm lengths. Other cable lengths can be specified to order. The SMA-Female connector is typically mounted through an enclosure so that an external antenna with a SMA-Male connector can be attached.

Other options are available, such as using a SMA-Female with a O-Ring in the mounting flange making a watertight seal. Alternatively, the SMA can be replaced by a RP-SMA, TNC, FME or N-type if the external antenna has other connectors.

These U.FL adapter cables are part of range of coaxial cables that EAD offers. Please contact us with your cable specifications for quotation.

Five innovative 5G antennas for outdoor deployments are featured in this short summary. For 5G applications, quality antennas are necessary for optimal reception and network performance. For applications where the use of fixed directional antennas are not possible or undesirable, high performance omni antennas are often required.

A combination of consistent RF performance across the bands and reliable gain figures are a cornerstone of many outdoor antenna applications. Along with robust design, omni antennas should be weatherproof to resist the elements. They should also be compatible with the wide range of 5G routers and radios in the market.

We have selected five innovative 5G antennas that meet the criteria. From world-leading manufacturers, these omni antennas combine excellent mechanical design with robust RF performance.

Innovative Antenna 1 – the AllDisc – a low profile 5G/4G dome antenna encompassing superior RF performance across the 4G/5g bands. The  AllDisc is a permanently mounted via stud at the bottom of the antenna through which the cable exits. It can be enclosure, vehicle roof or bracket mounted. For discreet, low profile applications requiring a single feed 5G antenna, the AllDisc is definitely worth considering.

Innovative Antenna 2 – the Medallion II – a low profile 5G NR MIMO antenna a permanently mounted rooftop, enclosure or kiosk antenna. It is housed in a white rectangular radome. Fed by two SMA cables for MIMO 5G operation, the Medallion II also has a GNSS option for positioning, ideal for mobile applications.

Innovative Antenna 3 – the RO600/71N –  a compact 5G NR outdoor omni antenna for pole/wall-mount. Housed in an UV-rated radome, this antenna offers exceptional RF figures across the bands from 617-7125 MHz. Ideal for 5G access applications such as smart metering, utilities and IoT devices, the antenna is comes with bracketry and is terminated in a N-Female connector. This antenna can be purchased from our sister company’s webshop here.

Innovative Antenna 4 – the MHO5GFRI – a compact outdoor omni antenna.With options for integrated N-Female or N-Male connectors, this antenna can be radio or pole-mounted. Measuring less than 27cm in height, this antenna is truly discreet for an outdoor omni and ideal for IoT and access applications where visibility is a critical consideration for deployment.

Innovative Antenna 5 – BMLPV5000 – a low profile 5G NR antenna with options for magnetic or permanent mounting. This antenna offers truly consistent wideband performance when mounted onto a groundplane. It is very robust and durable and mounts via a NMO connection to your choice of mount. Ideal for mobile applications and IoT deployments where a truly tough antenna is required.

These are five innovative 5G antennas that offer excellent RF performance and each one address a slightly different antenna requirement. In our portfolio, we have other 5G antenna such as the LMO6138 MIMO or the LPT600-71DMN direct mount antenna which address MIMO outdoor and low profile permanent mount applications respectively.  For more information on the antennas including pricing and availability, please contact us.

Some of the antennas can be purchased in low volume via the Connex webshop.

The CLO 5G Puck antenna is now shipping from EAD. Based on our proven CPO puck platform, this low profile puck covers 4G and 5G frequencies from 700 to 3800 MHz.

IP67 rated when mounted on a flat surface, the CLO is installed via a 20mm hole and fed by a single 2M cable through the threaded stud at the bottom of the antenna. Ideal for 5G/4G access, security, kiosk as well as fixed and mobile applications requiring a single port, robust antenna.

For more product information, download the specification sheet from the CLO product page.

Single units of the CLO 5g puck antenna can be purchased from the Connex webshop here.