New In-building Antenna Squeezes a Lot of Spectrum into a Small Package

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Wireless Supply, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, has gone and made a good thing better.

The manufacturer of components for iDAS (indoor Distributed Antennas Systems), oDAS (outdoor Distributed Antenna Systems) and small cell systems has released a new version of the True Connect Low-profile Omni antenna, its popular ceiling-mount, low-profile omni-directional antenna for in-building applications. Originally released four years ago, the antenna was already well known for blending in, but now it packs in coverage for the latest spectrum used by MNOs.

Known as the IOSWB/X, the antenna has been installed in office buildings, convention centers, and hotels. There are mounting options for the different types of installation requirements including drop ceilings, fall ceilings and hard deck. At less than a quarter-inch thick and 9 inches in diameter, it’s extremely thin and unobtrusive. In most cases, the antenna looks like an access panel on the ceiling, because it does not protrude from it.

“The biggest compliment we have received is when a customer told us they went back to do maintenance on the system and couldn’t find the antennas,” said Jeff Hall, VP, General Manager, Wireless Supply. “These antennas basically blend in with the surroundings, and it’s very difficult for somebody that doesn’t look at them, day in and day out, to find them.”

Unlike vertically polarized antennas, which require a cone shape, the IOSWB/X owes its thin profile to its horizontal polarization. Additionally, the horizontal polarization increases the ability to control the coverage beam of the antenna. It has advantages over the typical conical type antennas from an electrical standpoint, as well.

There are other slimline antennas on the market, but they each pose mounting issues. They have long cylinders coming off the back to house their electronics. So even though they are aesthetically slim, a lot more space is needed above the antenna for it to fit correctly.

The antennas provide superior coverage in low signal areas for DAS systems, according to Hall. Since 2018, the FCC has allocated numerous bands of additional spectrum for wireless. As a result, the IOSWB/X sports expanded spectrum coverage in the 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, PCS AWS, 2.5 GHz, CBRS, LAA bands, and the C-band. All told, the antenna covers 5400 megahertz, compared with 2700 megahertz for the typical antenna.

“Once CBRS and C-band became available, and now that some of the MNOs are using the unlicensed WiFi frequencies to offload traffic, it has become important to have an antenna that is designed so that you can have one antenna solution for all commercial wireless frequencies that are being deployed today,” Hall said. “It covers everything from 600 MHz all the way up to 6 GHz.”

“In talking with the carriers, integrators and distributors that purchase their products — Wireless Supply has learned there is a growing focus on the rollout of in-building wireless networks, between both enterprises and MNOs. “The market is ready and waiting for an antenna that will cover all of these different frequency bands,” Hall said.

Wireless Supply offers the antenna with two different connectors: a 4.3-10 female or an N female. For more information and to find out how to purchase indoor Omni antennas, please visit here (IOSWB/43) and here (IOSWB/N).

By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor

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