Tom

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  3. TPA-RBC vs TPA-RBP

    in TwistPort™ Products

    Posted

    Hello, TPA-RBC is full aluminium body enclosure that will protect the radio from outdoor elements as well as interference better than the TPA-RBC. As you correctly mention - both are compatible with the same MikroTik router boards. Sorry for the reddit, we check it only time to time.
    This forum or fb group RF elements English are the best places to ask questions about our products. Hope this helps

  5. Ability to deliver products?

    in Suggestions and Ideas

    Posted

    Hello, I am really sorry for the inconvenience, I understand it is frustrating to wait so long just to receive such message. 

    Good news though - we released an updated version of the UltraDish antennas, which is why they don't have the old version anymore. Please search for UD-TP-21, UD-TP-24, or UD-TP-27 - we now have 3 dishes to choose from, and Varia has them in stock. 

    You can also check this video to learn about the updates: 

     

  6. 3D Antenna Radiation Pattern

    in Inside Wireless

    Posted

     

    The 3D antenna radiation diagram is one of the most important antenna characteristics. In our previous video (https://youtu.be/rwciKjvHFfY) we have explained what is the radiation pattern of an antenna and how to read it. Radiation patterns in datasheets most frequently show the gain of an antenna in the form of a 2D polar plot.

    Main video takeaways:

    - 2D plot (polar or other) gives a limited information about antenna radiation pattern

    - 3D plot gives a complete information about antenna radiation pattern

    - When a 2D plot is enough is a question of application. In WISP industry for example, a 3D one is necessary since all the antenna side lobes matter due to the noise being the no. 1 problem in unlicensed frequency bands.

    Generally, the gain radiation pattern says what is the radiation intensity of the EM fields an antenna radiates in any direction. A 2D pattern gives this information in a selected two dimensional cut, most commonly in two planes perpendicular to each other - the 2 cuts give a limited information compared to the full 3D radiation pattern showing the gain in all three dimensions.

    Isotropic antenna is a theoretical antenna that radiates with the same intensity in every direction. Its radiation pattern is therefore a sphere - drawing the radiation intensity in a given direction as vectors and connecting their tips, we get a surface which is the 3D radiation diagram.

    The same can be done for any other antenna - the direction and strength of its radiation at any point in space can be expressed by a vector - with direction and amplitude. Connecting the tips of all the vectors forms a spatial image, we call 3D radiation diagram.

    Since no real antenna is isotropic, let’s look at a parabolic dish - probably the most common antenna type. It focuses the EM wave energy in the direction of its main axis and it’s strongest there. Besides that it also has side lobes that are weaker than the main lobe, and are mostly unwanted especially in the unlicensed frequency bands where interference is the no. 1 problem.

    Same thing here as with the isotropic antenna - we can plot the vectors from the origin on the whole spherical surface, but now, because the parabolic dish does not radiate equally everywhere, the vectors will have varying lengths depending on direction. Connecting the tips of the vectors, we get the 3D radiation pattern of this antenna.

    3D vs 2D DIAGRAMS

    The 3D diagram provides complete information about the gain of an antenna, since it shows the gain in every possible direction in 3D space - you cannot do better than that. This is why it is generally more useful than the 2D plot which is obtained from the 3D plot anyway - by selecting a specific slice from the 3D diagram.

    In some fields the 2D diagram can be enough, but when examining the sidelobes of an antenna is vital to the particular application, for example, in the wireless internet service provider industry where many operators leverage unlicensed frequency bands, the noise propagated through the sidelobes does a lot of harm. In such cases it is better to check the 3D radiation pattern and use an antenna with as little side lobes as possible. Another view on the amount of side lobes is provided by Beam efficiency - https://youtu.be/U8x71RgK-_I

    The 3D diagram is more difficult to obtain than the 2D one, so historically the 2D plots became the standard in most engineering fields, but today, with powerful computers available to everyone and advanced antenna measurement setups capable of full 3D measurements, the difference is diminishing, but we’ll talk about that in another episode. 

  8. Sector Antennas 101: Horns

    in Recorded Webinars

    Posted

     

    Sector antennas for WISP networks have a lot of parameters. Horns are excellent sector antennas for 5 GHz unlicensed networks, why is that? We dive into the details of horn antenna technology here.

    But what makes an antenna a great sector antenna? In 5 GHz unlicensed networks, it is noise suppression capability, stable gain across whole useful spectrum, appropriate gain, wide bandwidth, stability of radiation pattern across the whole band, durability & reliability, ease of deployment and the list goes on.. But let's look at horns now.

    As everything, even horns have their pros and cons. The advantages of horn antennas are:

    1. Zero side lobes radiation pattern - opposed to traditional patch array sector antennas, horns can achieve high Beam efficiency values.

    2. Flexible beam width - horn antenna design is very flexible. By adjusting the shape of the antenna body length and aperture shape, various antennas can be designed. For example, RF elements horns have beam widths from 30° to 90° with 10 degree steps and gain variations from 18 to 9 dBi. Wide range of horns is the ultimate antenna toolset for unlicensed 5 GHz WISP networks that let you optimize the network coverage.

    3. Frequency stability - horns have stable maximum gain as well as the rest of the radiation pattern over the whole useful frequency band. This property is important for impeccable user experience - your customers will enjoy stable and reliable internet connection, if you use horn antenna sectors.

    4. Coverage pattern - various shapes of horn sectors' radiation pattern let you cover all types of scenarios and landscapes. Symmetrical Horns for high customer density and all types of landscapes (especially mountainous), Asymmetrical Horns for mid- to low-density of customer locations and flat to mildly hilly landscapes, UltraHorn for point to point links or narrow sector applications.

    The drawbacks of horn antenna technology can be summed up to two main points. First is the manufacturing cost - horns are typically manufactured as a custom device, which makes them expensive. Nevertheless, at RF elements we optimized the production process of horns to a degree that enables mass production and maintain high quality standard at the same time. Second, the maximum gain horn antennas can have is limited by the physics of these antennas. Also, scaling horn antennas for higher gain makes their volume grow, as opposed to patch arrays. Nevertheless, in WISP networks high gain is really not necessary. In fact, ideally, the gain of any (CPE or AP) antenna should be as small as link budget allows.

    #RFelements #Make5GHzGreatAgain #WISP #AsymmetricalHorns #SymmetricalHorns #UltraHorn #wirelessbroadbandinternetaccess #wirelessinternetservices #wirelessbroadbandinternet #fixedwirelessaccess #fixedwireless #wirelessISP #ISP #pointtopointantennas #ruralinternet #ruralbroadband #broadband #UBNT #wirelessinternetservices #internetserviceprovider #broadbandinternetprovider #WirelessRadio #unlicensedbands #MimosaNetworks #CambiumNetworks #Mikrotik #RocketPrism #RouterBoard #C5x #A5x #LTUrocket

  10. Q&A from April 2021 New Product Release Event

    in Q&A from Webinars

    Posted

    If you have missed the April 2021 Product Release Event or want to know what the Spanish language questions were about - here is a list of all questions asked with complete answers you might have wondered about yourself. 

    Q1: Can we buy the new UBR mounts without having to replace current horns?
    A1: As of now, we only sell UBR as a part of the package of the new asymmetrical horns - AH2030-TP, HG3-TP-A60-V2, HG3-TP-A90-V2, and UltraDish antennas. We might start selling them separately depending on the demand.

    Q2: Is the new radome compatible with "old" UltraDish, ULD-TP-550? 
    A2: No, the radome is compatible only with the new generation UltraDish 27 TP with product ID: UD-TP-27

    Q3: What is the difference between UltraDish 27 (UD-TP-27) and StarterDish 27 UM?
    A3: The differences between these dishes are:

    1. UltraDish frequency range is 5180 - 6400 MHz, the StarterDish 27 UM has the range 5150 - 5950 MHz.
    2. The Beam Efficiency (BE) of UltraDish is 61 %, StarterDish 42 %. BE is a measure of side lobes of an antenna - the higher it is, the better.
    3. Radio interface - UltraDish has TwistPort, our proprietary waveguide port with near zero loss, impeccable user experience, and compatibility across all our TwistPort antennas. StarterDish has limited connectivity options, it is primarily meant for Mimosa and Ubiquiti waveguide radios, but it will connect to any radio with the optional STA-SMA adaptor with 2 RP-SMA connectors using coaxial cables which introduce additional loss.
    4. Application scenarios - UltraDish is suitable for both, PTP and PTMP applications, due to its sturdy mount that withstands strong winds. StarterDish is suitable as a CPE only, since its mount is a basic V-bolt.
    5. Mechanical design - UltraDish has sturdier construction and an excellent bracket called UBR that makes the installation very secure and robust. The StarterDish has a simple V-bolt bracket which is why it is suitable for CPE applications.

    Q4: Will you release 30 or 34dB dishes?
    A4: Higher gain dishes are in the works, once available, we will spread the news on our social media channels. 

    Q5: How does the StarterHorn compare to a MimoTik horn?
    A5: One major difference is that StarterHorn supports direct connection of UBNT waveguide radios, which the MimoTik horn does not. You can compare the specs in datasheets (StarterHorn, MimoTik), but so far we do not have a field report since StarterHorn is a new product.

    Q6: Can we use all existing TwistPort adaptors with StarterDishes?
    A6: No, StarterDishes and StarterHorn do NOT work with any TwistPort adaptor, since they are not part of the TwistPort ecosystem. Starter products are a completely separate product group with specific intended use.

    Q7: Are the Starter antennas replacing the Carrier Class ones with two N-connectors?
    A7: Not at all. Carrier Class antennas are a completely different product group not directly comparable to Starter antennas.

    Q8: Will you make a new 2.4 GHz Array Sector? 
    A8: Yes, we will, SOON™ :)

    Q9: Why not extend the lower frequency range of Starter products to start from 4.8 GHz?
    A9: The frequency range of our antennas depends on the size of the waveguide. Changing its diameter, we could decrease the lowest frequency of operation, but at the same time, this would decrease the upper frequency limit. At the time of designing the antennas, we made a conscious choice of the waveguide dimension. While the design change is a real option, it would require major changes of the manufacturing process as well, so for now we keep the design fixed.

    Q10: Are the Starter Antennas meant only for Mimosa and UBNT CPEs?
    A10: No, StarterHorn connects to UBNT waveguide radios and any radio with coaxial output by default - everything is included in the package. 
    StarterDish antennas connect to UBNT and Mimosa waveguide radios by default. Additionally, you can purchase the STA-SMA - an adapter with 2 RP-SMA connectors (the same that is part of the StarterHorn package) that lets you connect StarterDishes to any radio with coaxial output. 

    Q11: How does the new UltraDish 27 (UD-TP-27) perform compared to the previous generation UltraDish 550 (ULD-TP-550) as far as gain and distance?
    A11: The gain of both generations of dishes is identical so there is no difference in that sense.

    Q12: When will the new products be available in Latin American countries?
    A12: The new products will gradually reach our distributors in the Latin American region and the United States. Keep in touch with them about their availability. Here you have the list of distributors by country - https://rfelements.com/buy and you can also check our Stock Locator -. https://rfelements.com/stock-locator/
    In Venezuela we still do not have an official presence. Please contact other distributors in the region.

    Q13: Can you share the product availability slide again please? When will we have them available in Spain?
    A13: You can check the recording at the time stamp 14:54 to see the slide.

    Q14: What is the Beam efficiency of the starter dish compared to the ultra dish and in which scenarios can it be applied?
    A14: The Beam Efficiency of the StarterDish is 28, 34, 42% for the 21, 24, 27 dBi models respectively. The StarterDish are perfect for CPE applications: due to their optimized radiation pattern the noise level is lower and therefore you can maximize the performance that the CPE radio can achieve.

    Q15: Are there any improvements to environmental resistance of horns? Namely sea-side air and rust?
    A15: We are working on an improvement in this aspect and we hope to have it available soon. Stay tuned to our social media channels!

    Q16: Are these (Starter antennas) compatible with Altai super Wi-Fi radios?
    A16: As long as they are on 5GHz, yes

    Q17: Are the Carrier Class 2.4 GHz, 14 dBi Sector Antenna discontinued?
    A17: No, there is a delay in production, but we will have them available soon and with news about improvements. Follow us on social media and YouTube to get the news as soon as they are released.

    Q18: Is the radome also compatible with the Starterdish?
    A18: No, only with the new generation 27 dBi UltraDish (UD-TP-27).

    Q19: Hi, what are the benefits of using the radome on the UltraDish UD-TP-27?
    A19: Better resistance to wind and changing weather conditions.

    Q20: Do you have antennas for 802.11ax radios?
    A20: All of our antennas work with 802.11ax radios in the 5 GHz unlicensed band.

    Q21: Do you have a software to calculate the coverage when choosing among your antennas to decide which beam width should I use?
    A21: Yes, our Link Calculator PTMP version - https://rfelements.com/calc/

    Q22: Will the amount of purchased Starter products per customer be limited?
    A22: No, you can buy as many as you want. But be aware of the limitations on Starter products compared to the TwistPort antennas:
    The first big difference is that Starter antennas do not have a TwistPort. They are equipped with existing antenna interfaces, which support RP-SMA connection and all third party waveguide interfaces currently on the WISP market - Mimosa and UBNT. If you are firmly determined on the radio platform you are using, the great thing about Starter products is that you don't need to spend extra money on additional adapters. However, at the same time, your antenna investment remains locked on that particular radio interface.

    Second, Starter products have limited scalability. We only offer four products and we plan to add a few more in the future. Although the scalability of the Starter products may be better than that of our competitors, it is still nothing compared to the variety and possibilities of our TP antennas. TwistPort represents the broadest and most scalable antenna toolset on the market.

    Q23: With the new Starter Antennas, do you recommend protecting them with a layer of paint for areas near the Sea?
    A23: An extra layer of paint never hurts. In datasheets of StarterDish series, for example, you may find the following warning: a hostile environment (coastal areas, smokestack fumes, chemical factories, volcanoes) can cause premature oxidation of the StarterDish ™ antenna body. For deployments in harsh environments, we recommend the use of UltraDish ™ antennas.

    Q24: Why do you continue to sell 100 degree patch array antennas for a very noisy 5Ghz market knowing that they have a blind zone near the tower?
    A24: There are scenarios where these antennas still do a good job - like rural flat-land areas with low customer density. The antenna toolbox we provide lets you choose the right antenna for any scenario.

    Q25: Do the Starter Antennas work with Slant 45 polarization?
    A25: No, only H + V.

    Q26: I understand that both, new UltraDishes and Asymmetrical Horns have the new, robust mounting system, new packaging, etc. On top of the price, what would be the difference compared to the Starter products?
    A26: The differences between the dishes are listed in Q3. With Symmetrical TP Horn Antennas and Starter Horn, the differences are:
    Starter Horn does not have TwistPort and is not compatible with the TwistPort adaptors. Starter Horn frequency range is 5.1 to 6 GHz, TwistPort Horns work between 5.1 and 6.4 GHz - their band width is wider.  Radio Interface: Symmetrical TP Horns have TwistPort, our proprietary near-zero loss waveguide port, a flawless user experience, and compatibility across all of our TwistPort antennas. StarterHorn has limited connectivity options, it is primarily designed for connectorized radios with SMA output and Ubiquiti waveguide radios. Mechanical Design:Symmetrical TP Horns have stronger construction and excellent UBR bracket which makes the installation very safe and robust. The StarterHorn has a simple V-bolt bracket.

    Q27: Are your AP antennas compatible with radios for which you do not have a TwistPort adaptor?
    A27: Yes, any type 5 GHz radio can be used with any of our antennas.

    Q28: Does Twisport introduce any loss? How does it compare to coaxial cables (pigtails)?
    A28: TwistPort waveguide is a near-zero loss transmission line - the loss it introduces is practically not measurable, meaning extremely low. Compared to pigtails (coaxial cables), TwistPort can save as much as 3 dB of signal power, which is half of the signal power!

    Q29: Will you have an antenna with Slant 45 polarization to make a PTP link with UBNT Airfiber radio?
    A29: No, it's not on our roadmap at the moment.

    Q30: Where can I check datasheets of the new products?
    A30: Everything is in our download section - https://rfelements.com/marketing/product-files

    Q31: What is the difference between the Symmetrical Horns with TwistPort (TP) and the Starter Horn in terms of performance?
    A31: The Symmetrical Horns with TP support a wider frequency range, have a superior mounting system, and there are seven models to choose from making them extremely versatile. Starter products, either StarterDish or StarterHorn, are an entry antenna series to RF elements technology. Starter antennas offer the best RF performance and all essential functionality at a very competitive price. They are easy to use with the radio platform you already have. The Starter antennas support the SMA coaxial interface and also third-party waveguide connectors. They also have limitations though:
    Starter Antennas do not have TwistPort! They are equipped with existing antenna interfaces, which support RP-SMA connection and all third party waveguide interfaces currently on the WISP market. So, if you are firmly determined on the radio platform you are using, the great thing about Starter products is that you don't need to spend extra money on additional adapters. However, at the same time, your antenna investment remains locked on that particular radio interface.
    Starter products have limited scalability. We only offer four products and we plan to add a few more in the future. Although the scalability of the Starter products may be better than that of our competitors, it is still nothing compared to the variety and possibilities of our TP antennas. Twistport represents the broadest and most scalable set of antenna tools on the market.

    Q33: Do you plan to manufacture a radio for 5GHz band?
    A33: It is possible we will, yes!


     

  11. April 2021 New Product Release Recording

    in RF elements News

    Posted

     

    In April 2021, a Product Launch event of RF elements unveils exciting new products for Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs), but also other service providers, hobbyist, etc., who run wireless networks in unlicensed 5 GHz band.

    Without further due, the new releases are: New UltraDish™ generation, a set of 3 parabolic dish antennas for PtP and CPE applications in the unlicensed 5 GHz band:

    Product page: https://bit.ly/3el6zJD 

    Product introduction video: https://youtu.be/VJA2_mX3ywQ 

    Datasheets: UltraDish 21 TP, UltraDish 24 TP , UltraDish 27 TP 

    Optional radome page & datasheet

    Updated Asymmetrical Horn Antennas, a set of 30-, 60-, and 90-degrees beam width AP antennas for unlicensed 5 GHz networks with zero side lobes and TwistPort™ connector:

    Product page, Product introduction, Product Update video, 

    Datasheets: AH2030-TP, HG3-TP-A60-V2 , HG3-TP-A90-V2

    Starter Antennas, a set of an AP 30 degree symmetrical horn antenna and 3 parabolic dish antennas for CPE applications in 5 GHz unlicensed bands suitable for people starting with RF elements technology with very competitive pricing:

    StarterHorn 30 USMA

    Product page, Product introduction video, Datasheets

    StarterDish 21 UM, StarterDish 24 UM, StarterDish 27 UM

    Product page Product introduction video, Datasheets: SDish 21 UM, SDish 24 UM, SDish 27 UM

    StarterAdapter page & datasheet,

    RF elements technology rejects noise, saves spectrum, and enables unlimited growth of unlicensed 5 GHz wireless networks. A comprehensive toolset of antennas allows WISPs optimize their network coverage without sacrificing the stability and quality of the service they provide. If you battle the RF noise, unstable throughput, or jittery MCS rates, RF elements technology is the solution that will help you decrease your hassle and let you spend more time on other things in life - family, business growth, and leisure.

  14. Throughput

    in Inside Wireless

    Posted

     

    Users of RF radios in wireless networks often mix a few terms, such as throughput. Out of total data stream passing the propagation channels, only a portion is going to be the user data. In this Inside Wireless episode we explain the difference between throughput and physical rate. Be careful though, the throughput your link can achieve is the maximum possible. Link budget equation tells you how big of a throughput you can actually achieve - https://youtu.be/FmhfBYcJeVo When sending a physical letter to someone, besides the letter itself, there is also an additional information - such as address, or specific instructions. These can range the information on the doorbell number etc. You can say that these are 'overhead' data - information needed for successful delivery. Wireless or wired, the data links are no different - besides the user data there are (electronic) addresses, error protection data, etc. Therefore, the total physical throughput, or all the data transferred, is always higher than the user data, or throughput. The composition and specifics of the overhead data varies from standard to standard. For IEEE 802.11 standards, the composition depends on the generation of the standard but every new standard should be compatible with the previous ones to ensure continuity and ease of use of newer devices with older ones. One more thing - users often confuse Mbits/s and MBytes/s... Byte has 8 bits, so you get the throughput in MBytes/s by dividing the Mbits/s speed by 8. For example: 800 Mbit/s = 100 MByte/s (usually shortened as Mb/s and MB/s). Are you a WISP running a network in 5 GHz band and have issues delivering the throughput you want due to noise? Check our Horn Sector antennas - they reject noise, increase SNR, and thus overall throughput! https://rfelements.com/products/symmetrical-horn/symmetrical-horn-gen2-2/symmetrical-horn-tp-antenna-2/ Or, if you want to know more about the Horn Sectors before committing to buying one, check our video on how they mitigate noise! https://youtu.be/AWdSUgw9noc https://youtu.be/PauhX66Vfms #Throughput #RFelements #WeHaveHorns #PhysicalRate #WirelessLink #RuralWireless

  21. Need help with the RF elements link calculator

    in Antennas with coaxial connectors

    Posted

    Hello, horns help to minimize interference - they decrease the noise floor, and increase SNR as a result of that. The number of clients you can connect to it depends on the radio you use for the most part. You can figure out how far you can reach with horns using our link calculator - https://rfelements.com/calc/ - where you can setup all the details of the AP radio and CPE as well.

  24. ePMP3k + TwinHorn Bracket

    in StationBox® Integration Platforms & Brackets

    Posted

    Hi Sergio,

    You can use TwinHorn Bracket mounted Horns in both modes. The differences are following:

    1. MU sector with angle diversity - based on the general theory of MU MIMO with array of antennas, they can be spaced horizontally as well. The resulting performance depends on how the radio operates. We have no detailed documentation to ePMP 3000 so we cannot comment on the results you should be seeing.

    2. Split sector - this one is easy to understand and safer, you cannot go wrong with this mode.

    If you feel like experimenting, my advice would be to test both modes for a period of time and on the solid base of the gathered data decide which mode brings you more value / better performance.

    You don't need to connect both horns on a THB to a radio, you can connect them to different radios or connect just one if you don't have use for the additional capacity at the moment.