Antenna Notes And Solutions; Antenna Terminology - Digi 6350-SR User Manual

Antenna notes and solutions

Antenna terminology

Electronics require antennas to convert data into RF signals (and vice versa). They are coupled with
radio transmitters and/or receivers to process the information that is carried over cellular bands.
Antenna design and functionality has evolved over time:
Internal antennas: An antenna can be concealed within the casing of a device, as seen with
n
most smart phones. Internal antennas are potentially more prone to interference due to the
close grouping of electrical components.
External antennas: Situating antennas further away from the rest of the circuit board can
n
help alleviate interference due to electrical components by maximizing a device's natural
reach. Instead of sitting inside the device directly next to the modem or transceiver, they
screw into place using SMA connectors and protrude from the equipment (think "rabbit ears").
MIMO: Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology expands the throughput capacity
n
of a transceiver by leveraging multiple antennas to simultaneously convert RF signals into data
(or vice versa), providing faster transfer speeds as a result. Think of it (loosely) as Carrier
Aggregation for antennas—once again combining individual lanes into a single, coordinated
superhighway. Networks must leverage MIMO antenna transmission to be technically
considered 4G.
Digi 6350-SR/6355-SR LTE Router User Guide
Antenna terminology
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