Sierra Wireless GX440 has 3-4 SMA connectors for RF antennas. Is it necessary for me to use them all?

The new line of Sierra Wireless GX440 3G/4G-LTE modems have either 3 or 4 connectors on the unit.  All of the units  have 3 SMA-Female connectors on the rear of the unit, and only the Wi-Fi enabled modems have a connector on the "face".

This connector on the "face" of the unit is specifcially for the Wi-Fi connection (if you opted for w-fi enabled modem.)  So, you will want to at least use a simple wi-fi dipole antenna with SMA-Male conenctor that is optimized for 2.4 ghz / 802.11 b/g/n here.

My recommendateion would be to use the wi-fi connection (cable # 2) on the multi-band GPSDM700/2700 antenna, assuminig you are using a roof mount combination antenna (GPS, Cellular & wi-fi) 

If you are NOT using a combo antenna, then I'd recommend using either the Pulse SPDA24700/2700 di-pole (which can also be used on the cellular ports) or the equivalent Laird DBA6927C1-FSMAM.

On the rear of every unit, you'll find 3 seperate RF ports.  From left to right they are:

1. Primary cellular 3G/4G-LTE antenna port.  We suggest using cable # 1 on the GPSDM700/2500FFS antenna.

2. GPS antenna port (1575 mhz, active GPS - with LNA)  We suggest using cable # 3 on the GPSDM700/2500FFS antenna.

3. Diversity cellular 3G/4G-LTE antenna port.  We suggest using the SPDA24700/2700 or DBA6927C1-FSMAM antennas.

The additional antenna port on the GX400 (EVDO and HSPA+) are for Rx Diversity. Rx Diversity is designed to improve the quality of the downlink signal by essentially enabling the device to “choose” the best available signal. Rx diversity has been shown to improve signal quality. However, many customers decide to forego the expense of the 2nd antenna and rely on one Rx signal. Rx Diversity is set to “ON” by default in ALEOS, but if you decide to not use a 2nd antenna it’s vital to change the ALEOS setting for Rx Diversity to “OFF”. This setting can be found under the “WAN/Cellular” tab in ACEmanager 4.0.
b. The GX440 (LTE) utilizes 2x2 MIMO technology. MIMO equals Multi-In/Multi-out and is designed to improve the cellular signal and quality on both the down-link and up-link. MIMO for LTE works differently than Rx Diversity in that it utilizes 2 distinct Tx and Rx signals which are intelligently combined to increase throughput where signal multipath is available. MIMO will increase throughput in areas where interference would otherwise cause throughput degradation. Our recommendation is that 2 antennas be used for optimal performance. A single antenna may be used, however with one antenna you will not receive full MIMO benefits and your antenna performance may not be optimized. It is up to the user to determine if two antennas are beneficial, as multi-path is determined by local topology. There is no option to turn MIMO off in the GX440 since MIMO is a requirement of LTE.

Questions about this, or antenna selections for any other AirLink modem?

Contact me at mikec@arcadianinc.com

Regards - Mike Crudele, Arcadian Inc.

Laird & Arcadian to Exhibit UHF RFID Panel Antenna Solutions at RFID Journal Live! 2013

St. Louis, Missouri, USA – April 19, 2013 – Laird Technologies, Inc. (LRD: London), a global technology company, announced it will be partnering with Arcadian Inc. at this year’s RFID Journal Live! event. The companies will be displaying Laird’s industry-leading RFID antenna solutions. The show will take place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, April 30 – May 2, 2013. Laird Technologies and Arcadian will exhibit at booth #538.   

Laird (formerly Cushcraft) is the leading provider of RFID antennas for high-performance reader applications throughout the world. Together with international distributor of antennas, Arcadian Inc., Laird will showcase various antenna solutions, including the Die-Cast Enclosure RFID Antennas. Featuring six options of integrated RFID antennas covering 860-960 MHz, this innovative system gives the operator ultimate system flexibility. The Laird RFID portfolio offers best-in-class antennas for a variety of markets including telecommunications, retail, medial, transportation and manufacturing.  

“Laird provides a broad portfolio of UHF RFID antennas,” said Quaid Rasheed, Laird Technologies product director. “Attending the RFID Journal Live! event allows us an excellent opportunity to work closely with one of our distributors to showcase these products to a wide audience.”  

As the world’s largest RFID event, RFID Journal Live! brings together business leaders across various industries who use RFID to solve business issues. The event features a full schedule of case studies, workshops, educational and networking opportunities, along with an exhibition featuring the latest innovations and product demonstrations from RFID system providers and technology companies.  

With world-class engineering and RF expertise, the Wireless Systems division continues to develop technologies and capabilities that make a wirelessly connected world possible. An industry leader in the design and manufacture of antennas for mobile devices and wireless data, Laird possesses end-to-end system knowledge and employs advanced, proprietary design tools to bring novel antenna designs to market. Antenna product offering consists of Industrial Wireless, Telecom, Public Safety and Enterprise and Small Office antennas. 

About Arcadian Inc. 
ARCADIAN INC. has been a technical stocking distributor of wireless and networking electronic components since the summer of 2000.  Our mission for the past 10 years has been to offer customers the best and most complete solution for antennas, cabling, radios and enclosures.  Our growth has been fueled by the emergence of wireless devices in a number of vertical applications specifically RFID.  Laird Technologies has become the cornerstone for Arcadian and has solidified our position as the premier distributor in the RFID space.  We look forward to servicing our customer’s needs in an ever changing growth market. Our account managers will provide you with the best technical support for your application in a timely manner at a great price!

Contact us at : sales@arcadianinc.com

Laird CMD69273 omnidirectional iDAS antenna finds a home at Singapore Airport

Laird Technologies Bolsters Wireless Connectivity for Travelers at Singapore Changi Airport

CMD69273 Advanced Antenna System is Low Profile with a Wide Frequency Band

Arcadian Inc. & Laird Technologies, a leading global technology company, announced that its’ advanced, first-to-market, high-speed wireless antenna system has been deployed at the Singapore Changi Airport, the 15th busiest airport in the world.

Laird’s CMD69273 Dual Port MIMO  antenna system provides better wireless coverage for mobile data connections, and increases speed for faster mobile downloads for the more than 50 million passengers who travel through the airport each year, according to the Airports Council International.As the first LTE MIMO antenna on the market, the CMD69273 further enhances Laird’s position as an expert in infrastructure antenna systems. 

The CMD69273 antennae system optimizes a dual linear polarization pattern, features a wide frequency band from 700 – 2700 MHz, and a low profile, aesthetically neutral housing, making it ideal for direct ceiling mount in airports, hotels, museums and other in-building locations.

Through innovation, reliable fulfillment and speed, Laird is a trusted partner and supplier for many of the world’s leading companies, including technology, automotive and transportation, and industrial companies around the globe. Its products are ideal for use in the automotive, telematics, asset tracking, consumer electronics, handset and mobile device industries.

With world-class engineering and RF expertise, Laird Technologies continues to develop technologies and capabilities that make a wirelessly connected world possible. The CMD69273 is part of Laird’s 3G/4G-LTE portfolio which consist of a wide variety of LTE, enterprise and infrastructure products.

Omnidirectional MiMo antenna for 3G-4G/LTE iDAS installations: Laird CMD69273

The Laird CMD69273 / CMD69273-30NF is simply the lowest profile, most asthetically pleasing, best performing 3G/4G MiMo on the iDAS market today.  At only 8.5 inches in diameter and less than 1.75 inches high, this iDAS antenna is virtually undetectable in an office building, airport, performing arts center, conference center, etc.

Click Here for CMD69273 Laird MiMo for iDAS data  package.

Link to CMD69273 basic specification sheet.  Link to CMD69273 mounting instructions.

The basic specs of the iDAS omni antenna include:

Arcadian releases PA9-13-H/V 902-928 mhz UHF RFID panel antenna

Available May 20, Arcadian will be stocking and shipping the new PA9-13-H/V antenna.  This unit is perfect for UHF RFID antenna applications where high-gain is required and linear polarity is acceptable.  The fact that the unit is both vertically and horizontally polarized is a big plus!  In addtion, the unit includes a basic wall/mast mounting kit.

Click Here for PA9-13-H/V data sheet.

This outdoor rated antenna was originally designed for use with the Motorola "Canopy" system.  However, after testing the unit in the field, customers found it to be a perfect fit for US / FCC RFID applications at the 902-918 Mhz band (915 mhz)

Basic specs of this 900 mhz linear panel antenna:

Frequency: 902-928 mhz for FCC UHF RFID

Gain: 12.5 dBiL

Polarization: Linear - horizontal & vertical planes

Size: 15.4 x 15.4 x 1.7 inches (2.2 lbs)

VSWR: 1.5:1  typical 1.7:1 max

Front to back ratio: >25 dbi

Cross Polarizaton: >20 dbi

Power rating: 30 watts

Lightning protection: DC Ground

Connector Type: Fixed N-Female

List Price: $95.00 USD

Alternate model # ARC-PA0913B01