Diversity kit uses new Cat4 LTE standard
A development kit for a certified Cat4/LTE design is available from Antenova. The RF and integrated antenna manufacturer recognises that LTE Category 4 (Cat4) is the next step in 4G LTE device capability. A Cat4 device uses two antennae – a main antenna for transmit and receive, and a second antenna for receive only. The two antennae radiate in different pattern directions which means they will always provide a good signal in any orientation, as the unit is moved around or turned, explains Antenova.
The kit, SR4L059-DVK-1, reduces development time, claims the company. It uses two of Antenova’s ‘Inversa’ LTE antennae which cover the cellular frequencies 698 to 798, 824 to 960,1710 to 2170, 2300 to 2400, and 2500 to 2690MHz. Antenova will supply the complete kit with artwork, circuit and reference design, enabling it to be used as a development kit or it can be plugged into a computer to test another design.
Full testing is required to pass certifications. For this reason Antenova reports that its kit is battery powered, which allows the device to be tested in an anechoic chamber.
Chris Tomlin, antenna applications director at Antenova explains that the kit will give customers peace of mind, knowing that the antenna and its circuit are already working on the PCB, so their Cat4 LTE design will be able to pass certification.
Antenova will show a functioning version of the kit at CES 2019 (8 to 12 January, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA).
Antenova develops and supplies integrated antennae and RF solutions for wireless communication, consumer electronic and wireless M2M devices.
Antenova’s range of standard antennae and RF modules are suitable for GSM, CDMA, 3G, 4G, LTE, 5G-NR, NB-IoT, GPS, GNSS, WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, LP-WAN, LoRa, Sigfox, Weightless-P and ISM, for M2M and IoT applications.
The company also provides comprehensive design advice and technical support, including custom antenna design, engineering, integration and test services.
