New 5G FR2 downconverter antennas for Narda’s SRM-3006

Narda Safety Test Solutions will be show-casing at the India Mobile Congress 2023 in New Delhi, their two newly developed 5G antennas for its SRM-3006 that enable this tried and tested handheld field strength measuring system to measure the upper 5G frequency band FR2. One omnidirectional and one directional downconverter antenna will capture electromagnetic fields and their sources in the range between 24.25 and 29.50 GHz. Both antennas can downconvert these high 5G frequencies so that they can be measured by the Narda Selective Radiation Meter. This means that the results for frequencies much higher than the specified device range are conveniently shown directly on the display referred to the permitted limit value for the actual frequency.

Good news for telecommunications regulators, mobile network operators, and measurement service providers: The SRM-3006, the established industry reference device for selective EMF environmental measurements conforming to ICNIRP and many other national and international standards, can now also be used in the millimeter wave range, making it future-proof. This intelligent frequency extension of the SRM-3006 to include FR2 means that measurement technicians considering the requirements of 5G NR (5th Generation New Radio) do not need to acquire and learn how to use a new measuring device. Just as in the past, they can continue to benefit from this unique measuring system that is designed for professional, precise, and reliable EMF measurements.

The two 5G downconverter antennas
The new 5G antennas cover the 5G bands from 24.25 to 27.50 and 26.50 to 29.50 GHz. As high losses occur even in short cable runs at these high FR2 frequencies, the downconverter is connected directly to the antenna module. Together, these form a perfect unit. The cable to the basic unit only carries frequencies up to 6 GHz, so that cable losses are considerably less and the type of cable that can be used is much more robust.

The antennas have their own built in rechargeable battery with an operating time of about 4 hours. They therefore do not restrict the operating time of the SRM basic unit. They can be used with a conventional external power pack for long term measurements.

Narda’s new 5G omnidirectional antenna is recommended for non-directional EMF environmental measurements in the open air. In contrast with isotropic antennas, with which they are not synonymous, they achieve ideal reception results with signals in the X-Y plane due to their omnidirectional characteristic. They must be rotated during the measurement in order to also cover the third dimension (Z). The second, extremely sensitive 5G downconverter antenna with its directional characteristic is ideal for reliably capturing very weak signals. In particular, attenuations of up to 30 dB caused by window glass, for example, are quite common at these frequencies when making measurements indoors. The directional characteristic can also be used effectively to separate or localize mobile radio transmitter antennas by measurement.

These new 5G FR2 downconverter antennas will be on display at Hall 4, Booth 4.12 of FASTECH Telecommunications in the India Mobile Congress 2023
Narda’s new 5G downconverter antennas can downconvert high 5G frequencies for the SRM-3006, which is designed for up to 6 GHz. This means that the results for frequencies much higher than the specified device range are conveniently shown directly on the display referred to the permitted limit value for the actual frequency.

CT Bureau