NUREMBERG, Germany /BUSINESS WIRE/ -- PCTEL Inc., a leader in simplifying wireless and site solutions for private and public networks, announced the release of two new dual-band Wi-Fi antennas designed to provide outstanding performance for critical wireless communications. These innovative, low-profile antennas can be mounted on any surface, making them convenient for a variety of industrial wireless, fleet management, healthcare, and other wireless networking applications.
Process automation and other industrial wireless applications require reliable communications between sensors and wireless access points to ensure proper functioning of the system. Reliable dual-band performance is essential to keep data flowing, and antennas must also be designed to fit into tight spaces. Because most sensor housings and access point enclosures are made of plastic or fiberglass materials, only a true dipole no-ground-plane design will provide consistent performance. This design requirement also applies to access points deployed in other industries, as well as use on other nonmetallic surfaces, such as medical carts and the roofs of some vehicles.
PCTEL has engineered the WLP2458NGP and BMHOD2458IP dual band antennas for consistent performance in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands under a wide variety of mounting conditions. They are compatible with SISO and MIMO systems, including those that meet 802.11a, ac, b, e, g, and n WiFi and 802.15.4 industrial wireless standards. Using PCTEL's advanced test environment that includes anechoic chambers and network analyzers, both antennas were tested while mounted on both conductive and nonconductive materials, including actual chassis of some of the radios on which they will be used in the field. Under all conditions, the antennas maintained excellent performance in both frequency bands.
Both antennas come in compact designs, with IP67 rating for protection from dust and water. The WLP2458NGP fixed-mount antenna is only 6 cm tall. Its bulkhead mount provides security from unauthorized removal. The BMHODB2458IP is 7.75 cm tall and comes in a slender, rugged housing with a Type-N male connector. It can be easily mounted on radio equipment and other enclosures.
"These products fill a substantial need in the market for a compact dual-band Wi-Fi antenna, with ubiquitous mounting capability," said Jeff Miller, President of PCTEL Connected Solutions. "PCTEL is committed to providing solutions that industrial wireless and other customers can count on when it matters," added Miller.
The new antennas will be showcased along with other PCTEL antennas and site solutions for process automation in the wireless pavilion, Hall 10-320C at the SPS IPC Drives conference being held in Nuremberg, Germany, November 26–28.
About PCTEL
PCTEL Inc. develops antenna, scanning receiver, and engineered site solutions and services for public and private networks. PCTEL RF Solutions specializes in the design, optimization, and testing of today's wireless communication networks. The company's SeeGull scanning receivers, SeeHawk visualization tool, and Clarify system measure and analyze wireless signals for efficient cellular network planning, deployment, and optimization. PCTEL develops and supports scanning receivers for LTE, TD-LTE, EV-DO, CDMA, WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, GSM, and WiMAX networks.
PCTEL Connected Solutions simplifies network deployment for wireless, data, and communications applications for private network, public safety, and government customers. PCTEL Connected Solutions develops and delivers high-value Yagi, land mobile radio, Wi-Fi, GPS, in-tunnel, subway, and broadband antennas (parabolic and flat panel) through its MAXRAD, Bluewave, and Wi-Sys product lines. PCTEL also designs specialized towers, enclosures, fiber-optic panels, and fiber jumper cables to deliver custom engineered site solutions. The company's vertical markets include SCADA, health care, smart grid, positive train control, precision agriculture, indoor wireless, telemetry, offloading, and wireless backhaul. PCTEL's products are sold worldwide through direct and indirect channels. For more information on antenna products and site solutions, visit the company's Web site or go online.