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The MIMO-Blade waterproof LTE MIMO blade antenna is an excellent solution for LTE applications where a MIMO antenna is be mounted outdoors or in an environment where moisture is present. This antenna is housed in an IP67 waterproof, low-pressure moulded and durable material and can be mounted onto non-metal surfaces via suction cups (2 supplied as standard), velcro, cable ties, adhesive tape or adhesive.

Particularly-suited to mobile applications such as trucking and transit where the antenna could be installed exterior to the cab onto or underneath a non-metal surface or covering etc, the MIMO-Blade waterproof LTE MIMO blade antenna offers excellent RF performance in a compact package. Complementing LTE routers and radios with 2 x LTE antenna connectors, this antenna can aid stealth or covert installations where antennas should be functional, but not seen.

Fed by 2 coaxial cables that can be terminated in SMA, CRC9, TS9, FME and other connectors, the MIMO-Blade is a a very flexible solution because it can also neatly address applications such as vending, utilities telemetry, monitoring, CCTV and security.

More information on the MIMO-Blade can be found here.

For customers in Europe, you can purchase low volumes of the MIMO-Blade via the Connex webshop.

EAD also supplies LTE MIMO puck and LTE MIMO Magnetic puck antennas which between them offer a flexible solutions to complement LTE routers and terminals.

Low Loss RF240 cables from EAD are ideal for longer cable runs from LTE antennas to routers, modems and radios. These cables have excellent RF properties whilst having an overall diameter of 6.1mm and being flexible enough to route easily during installation. Typical cable runs for RF240 measure up to 15M to 20M in length.

As an alternative to LMR240, low loss RF240 cables represent an excellent price performance offer. EAD builds RF240 cable assemblies to order in-house. With automated measuring, cutting, stripping and crimp tools, we can tailor the cable configuration to suit your application.

The most common connectors we fit to RF240 cables include SMA-Male, SMA-Female, TNC-Male, N-Male, RP-SMA. Many other connectors are possible.

Some example part numbers for reference are:

RF240-NM-SM-10M – 10M RF240 with N-Male / SMA-Male

RF240-SF-SM-15M – 15M RF240 with SMA-Female / SMA-Male

RF240-SM-TNM-5M – 5M RF240 with SMA-Male / TNC-Male

Please contact us for your RF240 requirements.

For longer cables again, RF400 cable from EAD is an excellent solution. Some RF400 cables can be purchased via our webshop.

868 MHz LoRa antennas are becoming a hot topic in our markets. Using the licence-free ISM frequency bands, LoRa is a long range, but low power wireless technology that is increasingly being used for IoT technology. By wirelessly enabling devices and terminals to operate using LoRa technology, applications can be developed for control and monitoring without the need to use mobile cellular networks such as GSM, 3G or LTE. All of the LoRA enabled nodes will need an antenna of some description and here we look at some options to help enable your 868 MHz IoT environment.

There are many choices of 868 MHz LoRa antennas, but we’ll focus on internal, terminal mount and outdoor omni antennas to cover requirements for remote devices and hub/concentrator applications.

In areas of low signal or for concentrator applications where a higher gain antenna is required, an outdoor omni antenna is often a good choice. Especially if you can select an antenna with good gain figures, the nature of an omni-directional antenna in radiating in a 360 degree pattern allows communication with other devices and hubs in every direction. These outdoor antennas can be wall or pole mounted and can be supplied with various levels of gain depending on the antenna size – see the DMO8684 for a 4.3 dBi gain in a compact package or the WMO86916 for a 5.8 dBi gain version which is a bit larger.

For external mount antennas where the following terminal antennas cannot be deployed, sometime a compact wall-mount antenna offers a useful alternative. Perhaps the radio is housed in a metal enclosure or a cabinet and a terminal antenna will not fit directly onto it. An antenna like the Wall-Blade which has a small footprint might well solve the problem.

For terminal mount antennas i.e. antennas that mount directly onto the device or terminal, typically you can go with a small stub antenna like the WS868 and the MW868 or a dipole style antenna similar to the BKR868 or HWD868. The stub antennas are smaller, however usually offer lower performance than the longer whip or dipole antennas. The selection of the terminal antenna depends on the environment in terms of space available and the desired performance. Captive mount terminal antennas are also possible where the antenna is locked in placed with a nut so it cannot be removed and the antenna is connected via an integrated coaxial cable and connector – for an example see the W868-FLY.

For internal mount antennas, a simple solution is a groundplane independent PCB such as the IoTa or  Morava antenna. These antenna mount inside a non-metal enclosure or terminal housing with a minimum of 15mm clearance from any metal components or surfaces and can provide a discreet way of enabling 868 MHz communications without the need for external antennas.

Hopefully the above information has given you some food for thought about possible LoRa antenna solutions and offered some suggestions on how to enable antenna solutions with your application. For customers not using 868 MHz, for example in the USA or New Zealand, many of the above antennas can be re-tuned for 915 MHz if required or have 915 MHz options.

For customers in Europe, the some of these antennas including the WMO86916, DMO8684 and IoTA can be purchased via the Connex webshop. For other questions, requests and quotes for 868 MHz LoRa antennas, please feel free to contact us.

For applications requiring LTE power dividers, EAD can recommend the Wevercomm 2-way and 4-way SMA-Female RF power splitters from Wevercomm. A compact,well-engineered solution, these power dividers cover all the 4G/LTE, 3G and GSM frequency bands from 700 MHz to 2700 MHz.

The WVV-0.7T2.7G-2WS01 is a 2-way power divider for 700-2700 MHz with SMA-Female connectors.

The WVV-0.7T2.7G-4WS01 is a 4-way power divider for 700-2700 MHz with SMA-Female connectors.

For more technical information, you can visit our sister site www.specialistantennas.co.uk  

The Wevercom power dividers can be purchased from the Connex webshop. For higher quantity quotations or application requiring more ports (i.e. 8-way) or alternative frequencies, please contact us.

EAD can also provide RF feeder cables for these LTE power dividers.

EAD is introducing a multi constellation magnetic antenna for RTK GNSS applications. The MP-RTK antenna is based on the popular MP (Magnetic Puck) platform and supports GPS L1, L2, L5, GLONASS 1, GLONASS 2, Beidou 1 and Beidou 2 frequencies.

Fed by a single RG174 cable for all frequencies, the MP-RTK antenna has an integrated LNA with approximately 37 dB gain thereby offering high gain performance. With a strong magnetic in the base of the antenna, it is ideal for vehicle or non-permanent mounting applications.

Alternatively, if required the MP-RTK antenna element could be housed in the CPx permanent mount enclosure when a through-hole mount solution is required.

For pricing and availability of the MP-RTK antenna, please contact us.

EAD’s new DMO868-4 antenna is now shipping.

Designed for continuous outdoor deployment for IoT, LoRa and Sigfox applications, the DMO8684 can be pole or wall-mounting using the dual mount bracket. Offering 4.3 dBi gain, the DMO8684 is housed in a fibreglass sheath that measures approximately 500mm in length. Terminated in a N-Female connector, this outdoor 868 MHz omni antenna can be used with a variety of jumper cable types to tailor cable lengths and connectors to each individual application. It can be used with cables such as BWL195, RF240 and RF400.

For European customers, the DMO8684 antenna is now shipping and can be purchased online via the Connex Webshop.

The MP-2L LTE MIMO magnetic puck antenna is a low profile, permanent puck antenna offering two multi-band LTE elements to complement LTE routers with two antenna ports. Ideal for vehicle roofs, metal enclosure and cabinets, the MP-2L antenna is housed in a robust radome and is mounted by way of a high pull strength magnet at the base of the unit. Ideal for applications where drilling a hole for a permanent mount antenna is undesirable.

The antenna is fed by two coaxial cables and cable length and/or connector type can be customised.

The MP-2L is one of a range of puck antennas designed for a wide breadth of fixed and mobile 4G access applications.

A permanent mount version of this antenna called the CMO is also available.

For European customers, small quantities of the MP-2L LTE MIMO magnetic puck antenna and the CMO antenna can be purchased via the Connex webshop.

EAD has today announced a new outdoor 868 MHz omni antenna for IoT things applications. The DMO8684 (DMO – Dual Mount Omni) has been designed for continuous outside use and can be either pole or wall-mount using the same innovative bracket. Ideal for remote sites using ISM band frequencies including networks using LoRa and Sigfox, this new 868 MHz omni antenna is a flexible solution enabling fast and clean installations.

With 4.3 dBi peak gain, the DMO8684 offers exceptional performance in a fibreglass sheath that measures approximately 500mm in length. Terminated in a N-Female connector, this outdoor 868 MHz omni antenna can be used with a variety of jumper cable types to tailor cable lengths and connectors to each individual application. It can be used with cables such as BWL195, RF240 and RF400.

The zinc plated mounting bracket supplied with the DMO8684 antenna allows for mast/pole mount and can be reversed and used for wall-mounting.

The DMO8684 antenna should start shipping from the end of June 2018. For more information, please contact us.

A higher gain wall-mount 868 MHz omni antenna is also available called the WMO8685.

For small orders once released, the DMO8684 will be available via the Connex webshop.

So you have sourced your LTE router and are looking for an antenna, here are four LTE MIMO antennas that you might want to consider depending on your application.

The antenna choice you make will very much depend on your application and on how/where you want your installation. The four antennas we look at here will cover an outdoor pole or wall mount omni antenna, a permanent mount puck antenna, a magnetic mount puck antenna and internal/external blade antenna. All four of the these antennas offer LTE connectivity in the frequency range 690-960/1710-2690 MHz (basically North American and European LTE bands excluding the 450 MHz LTE band) and all four LTE MIMO antennas are MIMO solutions i.e. they incorporate two LTE antenna elements that operate simultaneously.

Outdoor Wall/Pole Mount MIMO Omni Antenna – LMO7270
Housed in an aesthetically pleasing ASA radome, the LMO7270 is designed for both fixed and mobile applications included fixed broadband access, leisure marine, wireless CCTV and security system deployments. Combined with a robust white L-bracket, the LMO antenna is supplied with clamps and mounting for both wall and pole mounting (an option marine mount adapter is also available to connector to 1″ marine mounts).

Offering dual polarisation with one vertically-polarised LTE and one horizontally polarised LTE antenna element, the LMO is an ideal product to combine with 2 antenna port LTE routers and is widely installed across commercial, industrial and leisure marine applications. Available with a combination of low loss jumper cables such as BWL195 or RF400, the LMO7270 is a flexible solution for outdoor antenna installations.

The LMO7270 can be purchased online via the Connex webshop.

Low Profile MIMO Puck Antenna – CMO
A durable low profile, permanent mount puck antenna solution is required in a number of applications where the antenna should ideally be covert, discreet and mitigate the risk of damage. The CMO antenna ticks these boxes. Mounted by way of a threaded stud from underneath through a 20mm mounting hole, this antenna offers two LTE elements in a reduced height, reduced diameter package without compromising on performance. Once correctly installed the CMO is waterproof and is IP67 rated.

For small quantity requirements for Europe, the CMO can be purchased via the Connex webshop.

Low Profile MIMO Magnetic Puck Antenna – MP-2L
When a magnetic mount antenna is required instead of a permanent mount puck antenna, a very good solution is the MP-2L. Offering two LTE antenna elements housed inside a robust radome, the MP-2L has high-pull strength magnet in its base and it is fed by 2 cables which exit at the side so as not to interfere with installation. This antenna is ideal should drilling a hole in a vehicle skin or enclosure wall is not desirable or should the application demand that the antenna be moved frequently.

LTE MIMO Blade Antenna – MIMO-Blade
For an antenna that may not be permanently mounted, one option is to use a blade style antenna to mount onto a window or non-metal surface. The MIMO-Blade is one such antenna that is IP67 rated and so can be mounted inside or outside. Offering two LTE elements, this antenna is fully sealed and waterproof and is supplied with two suction cups as standard, but could also be mounted with adhesive tape, velcro or an adhesive bond such as mastick. The MIMO-Blade can be installed as a covert solution so outwardly there appears to be no antenna installed at all.

The MIMO-Blade can be purchased via the Connex Webshop.

These four LTE MIMO antennas all offer innovative solutions for your LTE installation and combine high quality build along with robust electrical performance. For more information, visit the product pages or the webshop.

For reseller inquiries, please contact us at sales@ead-ltd.com.

The CMO LTE MIMO puck antenna is a low profile, permanent puck antenna offering two multi-band LTE elements to complement LTE routers with two antenna ports. Ideal for vehicle roofs, metal enclosure and cabinets, the CMO antenna is housed in a robust radome and is mounted by way of an integral mounting stud at the base of the unit. The antenna is fed by two coaxial cables and cable length and/or connector type can be customised. Once mounted correctly, the CMO is IP67 rated.

The CMO is one of a range of puck antennas designed for a wide breadth of fixed and mobile 4G access applications.

A magnetic version of this antenna called the MP-2L is also available.

For European customers, small quantities of the CMO can be purchased via the Connex webshop.