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The Functions, Importance and Types of Combination Antennas

Do you know that it is possible to combine two or more antennas to

provide a desired function? Perhaps, this is your first time of hearing it and

you are wondering how possible it is. Well, it is possible because of the

term called combination antenna.

This article is a guide to understanding what it takes to combining two

antennas – or even more. You will also discover some of the different

possible combinations you could make.

Table of Contents

What is Combination Antenna all About?

Also called antenna combiners, the concept refers to the integration of

antennas with different operating frequencies in one housing. This

process became process for a couple of reasons, which would be

explained further in this article.

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Frequency Amplification – The Need for Combined Antennas

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WiFi Antenna

Have you played the video game, “Need for Speed?” If you have, you must

have realized that it is so-called because of the need to speed-up the cars

to win the race.

In a similar perspective, there is a need for antenna signal combiners – the

need to scale the rate at which frequencies are distributed. These

combined antennas are capable of amplifying multiple frequencies almost

at the same time.

Types of Bands Amplified

The two-antenna combiner can amplify the frequencies of different bands

and frequencies. Examples of these are:

 Wi-Fi

 GPS

 GNSS

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 LTE

 Cellular and;

 GLONASS

The Design and Construction of Combination Antennas

Also called multi-antennas, the combined antennas have a sturdy

presentation. Here are some of the things you need to know about the

design and construction:

1. One Housing

The different antennas and the components are housed in the same place

called the radome. These are some of the radome’s specifications:

 It can be made from rigid plastics, such as ABS.

 A polyurethane foam is used to protect the radome’s radiating

elements from physical impacts.

2. Cables

These cables serve as the cable and antenna combiner, whereby they are

used to tag the different antenna elements. This way, it is possible to

make an individualized identification of the different elements when the

lines are being routed during installation.

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3. Feedline

You will also find individual feedlines for each of the antenna’s elements.

These elements work as separate antennas and leverage the feedlines for

striking a connection to the downstream circuits and radio devices.

4. Combo Antenna Elements

The elements making up the combination antenna also play a role in the

performance. Depending on the application, you could have up to 11

elements connected in one radome.

Before we dissect some of these elements, let us have a few points about

them:

 The elements could operate as separate or individual antennas. In

this case, the elements rely on the feedline for connecting the radio

devices and circuits.

 The number of the elements vary based on the technologies served.

If you are connecting the core technologies, it is possible to use up

to 11 combined antenna elements.

 It is also possible to use supplementary combined antenna

elements. Such is the case when connecting either the multiple

bands or 2×2 MIMO networking.

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Here are the different types of elements or components you can find in

combined antennas:

Ground Planes

These elements are added into the antenna design as a way of providing a

metal sheet at the antenna’s base.

Feeding Pads

These are responsible for transferring the electrical signals between the

transmission line and the antenna element.

Antenna Radiators

These are the combined antenna elements that guide the Radio

Frequency (RF) energy by acting as the transducers.

Low Noise Amplifier

The Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) enhances the signals coming from the GPS.

Ground Pads

These are used to make an electrical grounding of the combined

antenna’s elements.

Fixing Pads

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These are used for facilitating the anchoring or guiding of the different

elements within the radome.

Radome

This is the ceramic housing for the combined antennas. The primary

function of the radome is to provide excellent thermal protection anytime

the ceramic antenna elements are in use.

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Multi-Antenna Installation via Through-Hole Mounting

The installation process for combined antennas is a bit technical, which is

why you must be careful how you go about it.

The through-hole mounting process is often preferred for this purpose,

because of the streamlined process.

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Here is a breakdown of all that goes into the through-hole mounting

process for combined antennas:

 Hole-Making: the first step is to drill a hole on the surface where the

antenna is to be mounted. It is common to make these holes on

reachable surfaces.

 Secure the Antenna: you can then secure the antenna by using any

of the following: gasket seals, a washer, a threaded hollow bolt or

any other material that can hold the hole securely.

 Pass the Cables: remember that combined antennas also use cables.

Now, you have to pass the low-loss Radio Frequency (RF) cables, one

from each of the antenna’s elements.

 Cable Connection: once the cables are passed, proceed to pass

them through the bolt. Once that is completed, you can then

connect the cables to the wireless equipment.

Alternatives to Combination Antenna Installation

It is possible that the traditional mounting process of the antenna doesn’t

interest you. Other options exist and we are going to talk about them in

this section.

Puck Combo Antennas

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This is named after the radome’s “hockey puck shape.” The puck combo

antennas can also combine with the through-hole mounting process.

Here are some of the processes involved:

 Hole-Drilling: the first step is to drill a hole, where the puck antenna

will be mounted.

 Puck Antenna Placement: step two is to place the puck antenna

over the drilled hole.

 Component Placement: the rest of the components, including the

antenna cables can then be run through the pre-drilled hole.

 Puck Security: make a screw-mounting on the antenna to secure the

puck antenna inside.

Puck Combo Antenna Features

Here are some of the attributes of the puck-shaped multi-antennas:

 Waterproof Skirting: this is an additional measure meant to protect

the antenna from moisture ingress.

 Direction Considerations: puck-shaped multi-antennas can have

different directions, such as omni-directional (getting signals from

different directions) and directional (getting signals from one

direction).

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Magnetic Mount Combination Antennas

Consider using the magnetic mount process to combine two antennas (or

more). It is an excellent option to the through-hole mounting process,

which is a bit rigid.

Here are some attributes that make the magnetic mount combo antenna

design unique:

 Multi-antennas only need to be set in the right positions, instead of

making holes.

 The flexibility of making changes to the sitting position of the

antenna or even removing the antenna is there.

Magnetic Mount Connection Process for Multi-Antennas

Multiple antennas can be connected at the same time, thanks to magnetic

mount’s set-up process. The procedure includes the use of a metal surface

to secure the combination antenna to the base.

The process also uses a brass terminal insert for connecting the multiple

antennas. Depending on where you want to place the antenna, it is

possible to use length of coax cable to extend the height. Note that the

coax cable’s length often terminates or stops at the FME.

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The Leading Wireless Technologies Powered by Combination

Antennas

Multiple antennas can be used to boost the performances of a wide range

of wireless technologies. The list of these technologies ranges from Wi-Fi,

Cellular, 3G, 4G, 5G and GPS. Even GNSS is also supported.

We will now look at some of the combinations that can be made out of

these wireless technologies.

GPS + 4G + Wi-Fi Antenna

This is the combination of the Global Positioning System (GPS), with the

fourth generation of wireless technology (4G) and the Wi-Fi network.

It is a 3-in-1 type of combination antenna. Among many other features,

this combination supports 4G LTE, up to 2.4GHz for Wi-Fi and has a

frequency with the GPS.

Getting the three in the same radome comes with a lot of perks, such as:

 Finding a suitable use case in objects or devices that find it hard to

transmit signals due to the content of their base materials.

 This 3-in-1 multi-antenna makes a good option for the track and

trace systems especially for generators and vehicles.

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GPS + Wi-Fi Antenna

This is another combination antenna variant you can find. It only supports

the interconnection of the Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna and

the Wi-Fi antenna.

The GPS antenna works by receiving and amplifying the radio signals that

are distributed/transmitted on specific frequencies. These signals are

received from a GNSS satellite and are then converted to

an electronic signal for the GPS receiver’s usage.

On the other hand, the Wi-Fi antenna works by converting the

Electromagnetic Waves (EM) into electric signals. It can also convert the

electric signals into Electromagnetic Waves (EM).

Differences between GPS Antenna and Wi-Fi Antenna

The first point to note is that these antennas ordinarily provide different

connections. On the one hand, the GPS antenna converts radio signals

into electronic signals, while the Wi-Fi antenna converts

the Electromagnetic Waves (EM) into electric signals.

The second difference between the two is that the GPS uses satellites that

orbit around the earth for real-time triangulation of a user’s location. On

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the other hand, the Wi-Fi’s locating technology gathers relative network

signal strength from different network access points.

The third difference is based on the individual lengths of the antennas. To

put it into perspective, this has to do with the frequency bands. For

example, the antenna length and tuning for GPS receives frequencies at

different bands, such as:

 1575.42

 1227.6 and;

 1176.45 MHz

The length and tuning of the Wi-Fi antenna are usually optimized for the

ISM bands that support Wi-Fi at either the 2.4 or 5 GHz.

4G + Wi-Fi Antenna

It is also possible to combine the Wi-Fi antenna with the fourth-generation

wireless technology (4G)’s antenna. For the best signal receipt and

transmission performances, you want to cross-check the frequency of

the 4G antenna with that of the Wi-Fi antenna.

Considering that Wi-Fi antennas are tuned to either the 2.4 or 5 GHz

bands, you want to make sure that the 4G antennas are closer to that.

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Therefore, a 4G antenna that has up to 1.9 GHz frequency band might

suffice for the interconnection of the two antennas.

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How to Choose the Right Combination Antennas

gsm antenna PCB

You can combine two antennas for better reception and this helps your

device get better signals. If you must choose one, here are certain criteria

to consider:

1. Select the Right Connector Type

The type of cable or connector used for the combination is very important.

The cable refers to the Radio Frequency (RF) cable that serves a

transmission line for the RF signals that connect to the receivers and

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transmitters. On the other hand, the connector enables the mechanical

connection between the Radio Frequency (RF) system and the antenna.

2. How Many Combinations are Needed?

You have the option of choosing from a vast selection of multi-antenna

combinations. Your choice can be anywhere between the 2-in-1 and

11-in-1 combinations. The number of multiband combinations is directly

proportional to the number of antennas you want to connect and the

range of the purposes they are meant to serve.

Final Words: Combination Antennas Lead the Way

Combining multiple antennas in a single housing (radome) has become

one of the trends shaping the means of communication in the modern

world. From our homes, offices and vehicles – we can install combined

antennas to improve the wireless signals into our devices.

With the possibilities of combining 4G, Wi-Fi, GNSS, GPS and other wireless

technologies; the opportunities are just endless. Depending on the

configurations (from the 2-in-1 antennas up to the 11-in-1 antennas), you

can extend the coverage of the signals and connect more devices.

Choosing the right combination antenna is a must, as it helps you get

high-speed data transmission, real-time signal reception and quality

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network coverage. With this in place, you can then deploy your

multi-antennas for use in different applications and industries, such as in

and around your vehicle, at home, in the office, for vehicle tracking

purposes and fleet management.

Related Posts:

1. The Functions and Types of PCB Plates

2. Types and Functions of RF Multiplexer

3. What are the Types and Functions of WiFi Antenna?

4. Types, Importance, and Applications of RFI Shielding

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