ISO 9001 4G Antenna

　　I. ISO 9001 Certified Quality Assurance System

　　ISO 9001-certified 4G antenna companies must establish a comprehensive quality control system, focusing on the following key aspects:

　　Raw Material Traceability

　　Suppliers of key substrates, such as high-frequency PCB substrates, RF connectors, metal radiators (or FPC flexible radiators), and feeder circuit components, are rigorously screened to ensure that their materials meet 4G signal transmission standards. For antennas in mainstream 4G frequency bands, batch testing is conducted on the substrate's dielectric constant stability (deviation ≤ ±0.05) and impedance consistency, with a 100% pass rate required to prevent signal attenuation or reduced transmission efficiency due to material fluctuations.

　　Production Process Control

　　Production is coordinated using an ERP system. Core processes (such as precise soldering of radiators, impedance matching and debugging of feed networks, and signal transmission consistency calibration) are performed by professional technicians according to specifications. Key workstations are equipped with RF signal testers and precision welding equipment to ensure stable antenna signal transmission. The production environment must maintain controlled temperature and humidity (20°C-25°C, 40%-60% humidity) to minimize environmental interference with 4G mid- and low-frequency signal transmission. Companies specializing in automotive or base station applications will also undergo additional industry-specific certifications to meet performance requirements under complex operating conditions.

　　Full Shipment Inspection Mechanism

　　Finished products must undergo 100% performance testing for standing wave ratio (SWR), gain, signal transmission rate, and bit error rate (BER). Random sampling is conducted before packaging. If the failure rate for key parameters (such as SWR exceeding the allowable range or signal transmission rate below the standard) exceeds 3%, or if the bit error rate exceeds 10⁻⁵, the entire batch will be re-inspected.

　　II. 4G Antenna Core Technical Parameters and Standards

　　(I) Key Electrical Performance Indicators

　　The core electrical performance indicators of 4G antennas must comply with general standards for the 4G (LTE) communications industry. Specifically, the operating frequency bands must cover mainstream 4G frequency bands, such as 700MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz, and 2600MHz. Multi-band compatible antennas must also support 2G/3G/4G multi-mode switching. The standing wave ratio (VSWR) must be ≤1.5, and in some demanding scenarios (such as base stations), it must be ≤1.3. The lower the value, the lower the RF signal transmission loss. The gain varies significantly depending on the application scenario, with built-in consumer electronics antennas typically having a gain of 4-8dBi and base station antennas reaching 12-20dBi. The beam width must be adapted to the coverage requirements. Base station antennas are mostly fixed beams (60°-120° horizontally, 60° vertically). 8°-20°), with some models supporting simple beam adjustment. The noise figure (NF) is ≤1.5dB, and low noise directly impacts communication stability in weak signal environments. The tracking sensitivity is ≤-165dBm. Higher sensitivity ensures more stable signal reception in signal-blocked environments (such as indoors and in suburban areas). The input impedance is a unified 50Ω, compatible with mainstream 4G terminal and base station interfaces.

　　(II) Mechanical Differences

　　4G antennas for different application scenarios exhibit significant differences in mechanical properties: Built-in consumer electronics antennas are often made of PCB or FPC materials, with an overall thickness of 3-6mm, suitable for the confined installation spaces of mobile phones, tablets, and MIFI devices. Some thin models can be as thin as 2mm. Vehicle-mounted antennas are often constructed with high- and low-temperature-resistant ABS or aluminum alloy casings, supporting 3M adhesive or roof mounting. They must withstand vibrations of 10g (frequency 10Hz-2000Hz) to cope with vehicle vibrations. They are typically IP67 rated, protecting against temperatures ranging from -40°C to +85°C, rain, and dust. Base station/outdoor antennas are constructed of aluminum alloy or fiberglass with an IP65 or IP67 rating and an operating temperature range of -40°C to +85°C. Some macro base station antennas also require lightning protection and wind load resistance (≥35m/s) to withstand complex outdoor weather conditions.

　　III. Mainstream Product Types

　　4G antennas can be categorized into three typical product types based on their application scenarios: Consumer electronics built-in antennas, primarily used in smartphones, tablets, and portable hotspots (MIFI), require a balance between miniaturization and multi-band compatibility (covering mainstream 4G bands). They support MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology to improve communication speeds and signal stability; automotive 4G antennas, suitable for in-car navigation and connected car terminals, often integrate 4G+GNSS dual-mode functionality and require high and low temperature resistance and vibration resistance. Some models meet automotive-grade electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards; base station/outdoor antennas, including macro base station antennas and micro base station antennas. Macro base station antennas are often multi-port designs (such as 8T8R), support MIMO technology, and focus on wide-area signal coverage. Micro base station antennas emphasize miniaturization and flexible deployment, suitable for localized coverage scenarios such as indoor and suburban areas. Both types must ensure stable transmission and effective coverage of mid- and low-frequency signals.

　　IV. Key Selection Recommendations

　　Matching parameters by scenario: For consumer electronics applications, prioritize miniaturized antennas with a thickness of less than 6mm, multi-band (covering mainstream 4G bands), and MIMO support. For automotive applications, focus on vibration resistance (≥10g), protection level (IP67), and dual-mode integration to ensure stable communications under challenging vehicle conditions. For base station applications, verify beamwidth, gain (≥12dBi), and number of ports. Macro base stations prioritize multi-port models with MIMO support, while micro base stations prioritize deployment flexibility and localized coverage.

　　Verify certification validity: When selecting a product, confirm that the supplier's ISO 9001 certification is the 2015 version (the 2008 version is gradually expiring). For automotive applications, additional verification should be made for IATF 16949 automotive certification. For base station applications, prioritize products certified by TL 9000 for the communications industry quality management system to ensure industry compatibility.

　　Test verification: Before bulk purchase, samples should be requested for performance verification, focusing on testing the standing wave ratio (≤1.5), signal transmission rate (≥100Mbps in LTE scenario) and high and low temperature stability (24 hours each test in -40℃~+85℃ environment); actual scenario testing needs to pay attention to communication delay (≤50ms) and signal switching smoothness to ensure that it meets the performance requirements of 4G applications.