The facts about 5G connectivity – key considerations when selecting your next-generation antenna

Why ‘gain’ is not the ultimate deciding factor in the search for a suitable 5G antenna

Andy Bird, Managing Director at GTT Wireless

Falling hardware costs and solid use cases are rapidly shifting 5G from a ‘dream’ enterprise technology to a valuable reality. Research firm Omdia projects enterprise 5G mobile subscriptions will rise from half a million to 175 million by 2024, with many organisations actively planning to invest in and deploy private 5G networks for large-scale applications. Businesses will need to select advanced hardware capable of supporting 5G applications to tap into this rich opportunity.

Cut through the 5G antenna hype

There are several antenna solutions available in today’s crowded connectivity hardware market, each tailored towards specific applications and promising a different level of performance. For 5G FR1 indoor antenna, it is important to move beyond the marketing hype and compare antenna based on their technical merits and genuine performance levels.

At GTT Wireless we pride ourselves on our antenna design expertise. Our IP67 antenna are designed to perform in the harshest outdoor environments, and far exceed the competition’s technical performance in both indoor and outdoor deployment requirements.

Here’s our three top factors to consider when selecting a 5G antenna:

1. Efficiency

Antenna efficiency most often refers to radiation efficiency, which measures the electrical efficiency with which an antenna converts the radio-frequency power accepted at its terminals into radiated power.

Radiation efficiency is the key to all-round antenna performance and the quality of the overall antenna radiation – yet this is an often-overlooked factor by buyers and specifiers. Many vendors use the term ‘highly efficient’ to imply a good range – a factor that has no bearing on true radiation efficiency.

2. Peak Gain (dBi)

The higher the gain, the further the range an antenna will operate in one direction. In a ‘point to point’ or ‘line of sight’ application the signal range could be further despite an inefficient radiation pattern. However, a directional antenna tuned for according to the specific application would be far more effective.

Using peak gain alone to measure antenna quality is highly flawed and should be used only as a guide. For point to point applications select a directional antenna, and for applications requiring wider coverage select a dipole omnidirectional antenna with a higher radiation efficiency.

3. Average Gain (dBi)

Average gain is average gain measured across the full, 360-degree 3D radiation pattern, and peak gain is simply and unwittingly seen by some as the key consideration. Peak gain is the highest gain in only specific direction across the 360-degree 3D radiation pattern – observed through a ‘lobe’ on an antenna pattern.

For performance at a specific frequency, use average gain plus efficiency as a measure of antenna effectiveness, rather than peak gain.

Efficiency vs Peak Gain vs Average Gain: a balanced approach to antenna evaluation

There is typically a trade-off between these three technical aspects, so all three factors must be considered equally to tap into the rich 5G opportunity.

Many engineers simply opt for the antenna promising the highest peak gain, but this can have a serious impact on wireless project performance. Evaluating all three technical aspects will help identify the antenna with the most balanced trade-off, which will in turn deliver superior range and greater signal strength and quality for more consistent performance.

Putting theory into practice

Engineers that require solid, all-round coverage should prioritise checking and comparing antenna efficiency. Selecting a high efficiency, low gain antenna is a better choice for many 5G applications over selecting an antenna solely based on higher gain.

Compare the new GTT Wireless 5G FR1 indoor antenna and that of the closest competitor:

Note the GTT Wireless antenna efficiency is far higher than the known competitor’s ‘best in class’ alternative. Indeed, the competitor’s maximum efficiency across this spread of frequencies is even lower than the minimum efficiency from the GTT Wireless antenna.

This also demonstrates a prime example of misleading peak gain figures. The competitor’s peak gain outperforms the GTT Wireless antenna, yet this single metric is meaningless unless a project requires a point to point directional antenna. If the efficiency is low, it does not provide a truly high-performing omnidirectional antenna in all directions.

GTT Wireless average gain is significantly higher than the competitor’s best in class antenna, with this being a more important indicator of how well the antenna picks up on signals in any given direction.

Everything to gain – if chosen wisely!

5G offers a significant leap forward in connectivity performance and data transfer rates, which presents an enormous opportunity for businesses to embrace digital transformation and more data-driven processes.

But be aware of exaggerated claims about antenna performance when selecting hardware. Many antenna vendors overstate and underperform to their documented specification, which is why it is vital antenna are tested and verified to consistently perform at the claimed level.

Click here to learn more about the new GTT Wireless range of 5G FR1 indoor antenna and see how you can harness them for your 5G connectivity projects within days.