Antenna selection guide: combo antennas
How to choose the right combo antenna for your project
Read guide
Combo antennas are increasingly affordable and customizable
Combo antennas usually combine up to ten antennas in a single unit, each supporting different technologies and frequencies. They are designed to ensure the devices they serve can connect to multiple forms of connectivity as required. For some applications this helps ensure always-on connectivity, for others the focus is on minimizing cost or maximizing bandwidth. Each individual antenna can be selected to match the criteria of the use case, down to the precise frequency range.
The potential to design combo antennas is limited only by what can be fitted into the space available. Customers can therefore choose from cellular, Wi-Fi, satellite and LPWAN antennas to combine into one unit of their specification. Although relatively complex to develop, combo antennas offer great simplicity for installers because they only require a single mounting. And, while cost and complexity have previously limited the potential of this market, this is now rapidly changing.
Quectel offers an extensive portfolio of combo antennas which can be configured to meet customers’ needs and can be supplied as part of an integrated package that includes the module and the antenna. We offer a range of semi-custom variations and modifications, including adjustable cable lengths and connector options, to ensure our antennas meet your specific requirements.
Innovative vendors are spreading the cost of development across far larger customer bases and introducing re-usable form factors. This brings development and manufacturing costs down, and makes combo antennas accessible to a new range of users. This virtuous circle allows more antennas to be designed, deployed and improved, enabling ever greater efficiencies.
One way Quectel makes combo antenna pricing attractive is by using antenna technology we have developed for other IoT devices. We can redeploy these into a combo antenna at minimal cost, with the saving passed on to customers. We also draw on our own manufacturing capabilities and supplier relationships to drive down costs of housing and other components. Our models include all possible antenna types, fully tested and isolated, that fit into unified form factors without interference. This enables use cases which would not previously have been viable.
Relevant products
The next generation of telematics hardware for instance includes telematics gateways, cameras, embedded vehicle systems and retrofitted options. Increasingly, these devices will need to blend high-capacity, low latency wireless connectivity, and edge intelligence to suit each use case. They will also need the robustness necessary to cope with thousands of hours of sustained hard use.
We have optimized our extensive range of combo antennas to fit the requirements of all types of telematics deployments. We’re able to help customers plan their solutions, consider the certification and performance requirements they need to address for carrier acceptance and ensure product quality via our manufacturing services. Our manufacturing services include sample creation, tooling and molding, assembly and production testing and delivery.
To ensure you make the right choice of combo antenna for your project, read our free antenna selection guide. And, if you’d like to discuss your requirements with us so we can help you make the right choice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.