With white space radios highly restricted to low power levels and minimum antenna heights, good link reliability, speed, and range depend more and more on antenna quality. Carlson Wireless Technologies recently announced a new antenna that matches up well with its RuralConnect basestation hardware and other white space radios.
White space is the unused spectrum in blank TV channels that is available around the country. Each unused 6-MHz channel makes an ideal wireless broadband path for wireless Internet connections, Wi-Fi backhaul, and a mixed bag of other applications. It is finally beginning to see some activity as radio equipment and spectrum databases become available.
The antenna is a vertically polarized omnidirectional array designed to operate over the full white space frequency range of 470 to 786 MHz (see the figure). It is a 32-element design with 5.8-dBi gain. Its characteristic impedance is 75 Ω and the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) is 1.5 to 1 or less over the whole range. The coax connector is a female F type.
The cylindrical physical characteristics of the antenna make it a good choice for minimal wind loading and ice formation. The length is 42 inches and the diameter is 6.5 inches. Stainless steel mounting brackets are supplied.