Microlab, a division of RF Industries, has introduced the CM-680E Ultrawideband, 3X3 Hybrid Combiner. The broadband RF device can combine one or more signals on the input side and then distribute them equally on the output side. The operating range of the CM-680E device is the entire FR1 band, which is sub 6 GHz. The device joins Microlab’s line of combiner products that have been upgraded from standard bandwidth of up to 2.7 GHz to ultra-wideband, covering up to 6 GHz.
Since 2018, Microlab has been working to augment its portfolio to support sub 6 GHz frequencies. “The premise here is to create as wide a pipe as possible for RF transmission in order to support all frequencies both current and future,” said Sri Arunachalam, Director, Applications Engineering at Microlab.
The CM-680E 3X3 Hybrid Combiner takes its place in Microlab’s hybrid combiner lineup, which includes the CA-141E 2X2 and CM-141E 4X4 Hybrid Combiners, theoretically serving networks that have two and four operators, respectively. But differences also exist in terms of inherent theoretical losses. Specifically, the CA-141E 2X2 has a theoretical loss of 3 dB, CM-680E 3X3 has a theoretical loss of 4.8 DB, and the CM-141E 4X4 has a theoretical loss of 6 dB.
“Those losses determine or at least impact the link budget,” Arunachalam said. “Depending on the scenario, for example, if an application doesn’t need all four outputs, then the RF design can be optimized by using a 3X3, thereby saving 1.2 dB of RF power. That extra 1.2 dB translates into almost 32% more power delivered at the antenna, which can be used to increase coverage, throughput, and capacity. This becomes even more critical for C-Band networks due to higher RF propagation losses at those frequencies.”
There are many applications for CM-680E, according to Arunachalam. For example, it can be used for a neutral host tri-sector application, up to three operators’ signals can be combined and then distributed equally to three sectors.
A second application is neutral host distributed RAN or passive DAS for in-building wireless coverage. In this scenario, multiple operators and multiple bands signals are combined through the hybrid matrix. Their signals are distributed to multiple passive DAS feeds, which then are distributed to multiple antennas.
Even if a network has only two operators on the system, a 3X3 may be desirable because it provides a spare input to make the system ready for when another operator is added in the future.
Microlab did extensive planning prior to 2019 to augment its products to cover the C-Band and Citizens Broadband Radio Service. In 2022, Microlab saw an increase in requests and actual deployments for C-band, specifically around 3.7 GHz. Now there’s discussion around future-proofing for the Department of Defense spectrum at 3.4 GHz.
“The thought that really resonated with a lot of our customers has been the ability to future-proof their networks to handle future spectrum allocations,” Arunachalam said. “We encourage customers to start with a toolbox, the basis of which is our ultra-wideband RF Passives portfolio, when they are in the design phase.”
For more information, visit https://microlabtech.com/product/CM-680E/.
By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor
Reader Interactions