LTE Antennas

What are LTE antennas?

LTE antenna is responsible for transmitting wireless signals from the base station to the mobile device and receiving signals from the device. It is one of the key devices to achieve high-speed data transmission and efficient wireless communication in LTE networks.

LTE antenna is mainly used in LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless communication system, which is a wireless communication technology standard led by 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Programme).

What are the types of LTE antennas?

LTE antennas can be categorized into various types according to their design, purpose, and shape such as PCB antennas, flexible PCB antennas, microstrip antennas, rubber duck antennas, magnetic mount antennas, adhesive patch antennas, yagi antennas, sector antennas, fiberglass antennas, parabolic grid antennas, panel antennas, and so on.

LTE antenna classifications

LTE antennas can be classified into various types according to different classification criteria, each type has its unique characteristics and applications.

Classification by polarisation

Single-polarized LTE antenna supports only one polarisation mode, which is usually used to provide high gain and high-efficiency signal transmission.

Dual-polarised LTE antennas support two types of polarisation, which can improve spectrum utilization, reduce interference, and increase data transmission rates. Dual-polarised antennas use two radiating elements with orthogonal polarisation directions, enabling two independent signal transmissions at the same frequency.

Classification by coverage

Omni-directional LTE antennas have a wide coverage range and are suitable for both indoor and outdoor scenarios, providing omni-directional signal coverage.

Sector LTE antenna coverage range is smaller, suitable for community, shopping malls, and other scenes, to achieve accurate coverage.

Directional LTE antennas have the narrowest coverage area and concentrated signals, suitable for long-distance transmission to improve signal strength. Directional antennas are usually used in application scenarios that require directional transmission of signals, such as base stations and wireless network equipment.

Classified by installation method

An indoor LTE antenna is installed indoors, suitable for indoor wireless network coverage needs.

Outdoor LTE antennas are installed outdoors, suitable for outdoor base stations and wide area coverage needs.

Classification by frequency

LTE antennas are also classified according to different LTE frequency bands, such as 700MHz antenna, 1800MHz antenna, and 2600MHz antenna. Antennas of different frequency bands are suitable for different communication environments and needs.

Application of LTE antennas

LTE antenna plays a vital role in wireless communication networks. In the construction stage of the LTE network, the application and deployment of multi-antenna technology are very important. For example, MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antenna configuration is one of the standard configurations for new LTE outdoor base stations.

LTE MIMO antenna configuration transceiver mode mainly has 2T2R, 2T4R, 4T8R, 8T8R, etc., of which 2T2R antenna is the mature commercial configuration in the industry at present.

When deploying LTE antennas, a variety of factors need to be considered, such as antenna hang height, gain, flap angle, and polarisation mode. In addition, it is also necessary to select the appropriate antenna type and frequency band according to the actual demand to ensure the coverage and communication quality of the network.

With the continuous development of wireless communication technology, the LTE antenna is also constantly updated and upgraded. In the future, LTE antenna will pay more attention to miniaturization, integration, and intelligent development, to adapt to the growing demand for wireless network coverage and the pursuit of users for high-quality network experience.