To meet the needs of multi-standard wireless communications in the 700MHz and 2.6GHz bands, dual-band antennas are designed to balance coverage, capacity, and compatibility with legacy and emerging technologies. The following is a comprehensive analysis of their design, performance, and practical applications:
1. Technical Architecture and Frequency Synergy
Dual-Band Operation
700MHz (sub-1GHz): Ideal for wide-area coverage (e.g., rural and suburban areas), with low propagation loss (6 dB lower than 2.6GHz within 1 km) and strong obstacle penetration. Used in the 5G n28 and LTE bands.
2.6GHz (mid-band): Provides high throughput (e.g., 1 Gbps in 20MHz bandwidth) and supports dense urban deployments in the 5G n78/n79 and LTE bands.
Hybrid Design: Antennas like the QuWireless QuPanel 5G/LTE MIMO 4x4 Antenna integrate two frequency bands into a single housing, utilizing FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) for weatherproofing (IP67) and compact size (a 4x4 array occupies only 0.8 square meters).
Multi-Standard Compatibility
LTE/5G Coexistence: Supports 4G LTE (B1/B3/B7/B28) and 5G NR (n28/n78), enabling dynamic spectrum sharing. For example, Huawei's AAU 3961 uses 4T4R MIMO technology to support both standards simultaneously.
Wi-Fi Integration: Some designs, such as the Taoglas MA1290, include 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi 6E for IoT and enterprise networks, but 2.6GHz Wi-Fi (such as 802.11ax) is less common.
Industrial Protocols: The Cisco 4G-LTE-ANTM-O-3 integrates GPS and dual LTE ports, making it suitable for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications such as smart grids and fleet management.
2. Key Design Innovations
Antenna Structure
Planar Inverted-F Antenna (PIFA): Compact design (27.5 × 12 × 7 mm³), featuring a parasitic patch, and suitable for dual-band operation at 700 MHz and 2.4 GHz. The improved PIFA uses a neutralization line to reduce mutual coupling to below -16 dB.
Dual-Polarized Array: Huawei's AAU 3961 uses dual-polarized elements to improve spectral efficiency (2×2 MIMO at 700 MHz and 4×4 MIMO at 2.6 GHz).
Wideband Radiator: Excel-Wireless's 700-2700MHz MIMO antenna utilizes a wideband dipole array, covering the 700-2700MHz band with 6 dBi gain and a low standing wave ratio (<1.5:1).
Performance Optimization
Gain and Beamforming:
700MHz: 4-6 dBi omnidirectional coverage gain (e.g., Wilson's 700-2700MHz flat panel antenna)
2.6GHz: 10-17 dBi directional sector gain (e.g., Trelink's 2.6GHz 17 dBi sector antenna with a 90° horizontal beamwidth)
Interference Suppression: The EBG (electromagnetic band gap) structure suppresses surface waves, while the defective ground structure (DGS) reduces cross-band coupling.
3. Environmental and Industrial Resilience
Ruggedization
Weatherproof: IP67/IP68-rated enclosures (such as the QuWireless QuPanel) withstand immersion and dust. FRP radomes resist UV degradation and salt spray in coastal areas.
Vibration Resistance: Military-grade MIL-STD-810H certification ensures operation even in high-vibration environments, such as industrial machinery or moving vehicles.
Operating Temperature Range: -40°C to +85°C (such as the Taoglas MA961), critical for extreme climates.
Material Innovation
Corrosion-Resistant Materials: The ASA (acrylonitrile-styrene acrylate) in the QuWireless antenna and the FRP in the Huawei AAU extend service life to over 15 years in corrosive environments.
Low-Loss Components: Integrated low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) and spiral phase compensation technology improve signal integrity in noisy industrial RF environments.
4. Compliance and Field Deployment
Certification
Regulatory Compliance: FCC/CE certification for the 700MHz (n28) and 2.6GHz (n78) frequency bands ensures global compatibility. Huawei's AAUs comply with the 3GPP Release 16 harmonized standards for multiple transmit antennas (TRPs).
Industrial Standards: ATEX-certified antennas, such as the TPA 700 RFID, meet explosion-proof requirements for hazardous areas.
Practical Applications
Smart Grid: China Mobile's 700MHz/2.6GHz hybrid network deployed at wind farms uses corrosion-resistant fiberglass antennas, increasing coverage by 70% and reducing maintenance costs by 40%.
Transportation: Chunghwa Telecom's LTE trial on high-speed rail, utilizing 700MHz/2.6GHz dual-band MIMO technology, achieved a downlink speed of 90 Mbps on a train traveling at 281 km/h.
Public Safety: Ericsson's 700MHz 4x4 MIMO CPE delivers speeds exceeding 600 Mbps in remote disaster areas and features an IP67-rated enclosure for enhanced flood resilience.
5. Future Trends
AI-driven Optimization: Machine learning dynamically adjusts beam patterns in dense urban clusters (for example, China Mobile's AI-powered interference reduction of 15 dB).
6G Convergence: Hybrid 700MHz/mmWave arrays will enable seamless coverage of holographic telepresence and URLLC (Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communication).
Sustainability: Fiberglass antennas can reduce e-waste by 80% compared to metal antennas, aligning with circular economy goals.
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