5G – getting a good reception?
As each generation of cell phone networks is developed there is a leap-frog phenomenon with the technologies that enable them. Faster, more efficient networks depend on faster, more efficient components from end to end. There are many components in a cellular network, but one of the basic components is the antenna, and there is no lack of progress in developing advanced antennas to send and receive our cell phone signals faster and more reliably.
As far back as 1993 the MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antenna has been in use with many wireless networks. The idea is to use more than one antenna to transmit and receive a signal, addressing several issues with single antennas, such as noise, distortion, and speed. Antenna technology is very specialized and rightly deserves a prominent place in the design of all wireless networks. MIMO antennas are used in various wireless applications, such as Wi-Fi routers, body cams, handheld radios – anywhere that Radio Frequencies (RF) are used and need to be fast, efficient, and reliable.
When it comes to cell phones, we all expect and demand great performance. We want our data and voice signals to be clear and fast. Cellular network providers all vie for top spot by touting their network as the fastest, the most reliable, simply “THE BEST”. In order for those marketing messages to ring true there must be a high level of performance to back up the claims. MIMO technology has been in use and improved with each generation of cellular networks, and 5G is the latest iteration that will rely partly on the latest and greatest MIMO antennas.
MIMO technology is not simple to understand in detail, but the basic concepts of multiple antennas are something we all can grasp. Here are the basic concepts:
MIMO simultaneously transmits the exact same data as several signals through multiple antennas on a single radio channel. This antenna diversity improves signal quality and strength, as the receiving antennas recombine the data with excellent results in terms of noise reduction, interference reduction, and restoration of lost signals.
- The MIMO receiver takes into account a slight time difference between the reception of each transmitted signal, and this small amount of redundancy allows for noise reduction, restoration of lost signals or data packets, and reduction of interference.
- MIMO antennas also take advantage of bounced and reflected signals, and therefore do not have to rely on line of site, as single antenna systems do. This is very helpful in urban settings where line of site communication is difficult to achieve.
- MIMO antennas can be configured to use the millimeter wave form that uses high frequency radio bands where spectrum availability is larger than the radio bands licensed for 3G and 4G networks. They can also be configured with Network MIMO (coordinated signaling among multiple base stations) and Massive MIMO (large numbers of antennas ((hundreds)) at a base station). The various forms and configurations contribute to the dramatic increase in achievable speeds of 5G cellular networks.
5G networks are gaining ground quickly, as the world adapts to Covid-19 pandemic realities, and acknowledges the value of reliable high speed communications. MIMO antennas play a crucial part in making all our radio based networks better.
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