Background
A client from Norway required a 4-port 4G LTE omni antenna capable of operating across a broad frequency range of 698-2700MHz with a gain no less than 5dBi. The client's need was driven by the requirement to enhance 4G LTE signal coverage in various outdoor locations, including urban and rural areas.
Challenges
The challenge was to design an antenna that could provide consistent signal coverage across the specified frequency range while maintaining a compact form factor for easy installation and reduced shipping costs.
RF element's Solution
Our engineering team presented two design proposals to address the client's requirements:
Horizontal Configuration: Design two sets of 4G LTE omni antennas from a horizontal perspective and combine them into a single 4-port antenna. This approach would yield a higher gain but result in a larger antenna diameter.
Vertical Stacking: Design two sets of 4G LTE omni antennas from a vertical perspective and stack them to form a 4-port antenna. This method would limit the gain potential but allow for a smaller antenna diameter, facilitating easier mounting and reduced transportation costs.
After thorough discussions with the client and understanding the practical application scenarios, our RF engineers opted for the second design approach. This decision was made to minimize transportation costs and to ensure that the antenna could be conveniently mounted on outdoor poles, thereby effectively enhancing 4G LTE signal coverage.
Design and Development
The selected design involved the following key steps:
Antenna Array Configuration: The engineers designed a compact vertical stack of two 4G LTE omni antenna sets, ensuring that each port operated within the 698-2700MHz frequency range.
Gain Optimization: Despite the smaller form factor, the team focused on optimizing the antenna's gain to meet the minimum requirement of 5dBi.
Mounting and Integration: The design included a robust mounting system that allowed for easy installation on outdoor poles, ensuring stability and durability in various weather conditions.
Performance Testing and Iterations
Our engineers conducted extensive performance testing and made several design iterations to fine-tune the antenna's characteristics. This rigorous process ensured that the final product not only met but exceeded the client's performance expectations.
Final Product
The final 4-port 4G LTE omni antenna was successfully deployed, meeting the client's performance requirements and being adopted for multiple 4G LTE signal coverage projects.
Please find the visual representation of our 4-port 4G LTE omni antenna. Note that the image provided is of an initial version, intended for case analysis and studies.
