+49 (0) 451 / 30 40 718 info@akoriot.com

akorIoT Akor4Range-L1, Akor4Range-L2 and Akor4Range-L3
NB-IoT/LTE-M  Antenna Designs

Antenna reference designs using the akor philosophy

Akor4Range L1 Series

Features

  • NB-IoT / LTE-M / GPRS antenna optimised for Band 1, 3, 8 and 20 in Europe (others available on request)
  • Tested with Quectel BG95-M2, Quectel BC66 and Quectel BC68
  • 3FF microSIM socket
  • AT command set for the supported wireless modules
  • Connector on test PCB to common USB test cable
  • Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). Commercial licence available on request

Key benefits

Freedom to:

  • Download all the documentation (Gerber files, Bill of Material, Return Loss, Antenna radiation pattern)
  • Test it and use it for your non-commercial project and then move to an inexpensive commercial licence
  • Request a redesign by the akorIoT team of the antenna shape to fit your unique requirements
  • Further request development of a customised antenna from scratch using different technologies based on our extensive experience

Overview

“akor” is the Proto-Celtic word for “open”. The goal of the akorIoT Akor4Range-Nx was to create an open antenna design on (CC BY-NC 4.0) with the option to move to a commercial on request.

akorIoT Akor4Range-N1 and Akor4Range-N2 are further akorIoT LPWAN antennas licensed on CC BY-NC 4.0. We give you the opportunity to copy and test the antenna. We are happy to advise you on your journey from product idea, through the prototype and PCB design review to successful radio certification.

Why did we call it “4range”? In contrast to standard chip antennas, we do not use a matching network between the radio module and the antenna. Our antennas are tuned to 50 Ohm impedance through the structure and as a result do not require a matching circuit. The requirement for a matching network always means losses of 0.5 to 1 dB. This 0.5 to 1 dB advantage gives our antennas more system gain from the start. We write system gain and not antenna gain. Our antenna gain is in addition to the system gain, often also 0.5 to 1 dB greater than that of classic chip antennas. The more space you give an antenna, the better the performance of the antenna will be. Short and long helix antennas are the best example. Short stubby antennas quickly have 1 dB less antenna gain. 1 dB lost in the matching network plus an additional 1 dB in the antenna gain is 2 dB. The next dB is gained or lost depending on placement of the antenna. With correct placement, in total this quickly adds up to 3 dB more system gain, which as a result increases the range of our Akor4Range antennas and reduces the energy consumption of your device, providing the longer battery life that is so important in remote IoT devices.

You can read about some customised antennas here. The Gillette order button device by Nexolink  is a good example of an IoT development. Nexolink first acquired the IoT/M2M Cookbook and quickly gained a good basic knowledge by reading it. After that Nexolink developed a PCB and did a Proof of Concept (PoC). The Quectel radio module and the 8 -bit-MCU were tested and then transferred to a new round shaped board. Nexolink itself programmed the MCU inside the Quectel radio module, the server for order management and the app on the smart phone. The akorIoT Group designed the round shaped PCB for mass production and developed the code in assembler on the tiny 8-bit MCU.

 

Cellular module Quectel BG95-M2 or BC66 or BC68
GNSS module Embedded inside Quectel BG95-M2
Cellular antenna Embedded in main PCB and by U.FL connector
SIM card 3FF microSIM socket

 

UARTS 1 as AT command interface
Current sense pins 2

 

Status Mass production
Launched Q1 2021
End Of Life Q1 2040
Form Factor Credit card (85*55mm) including cellular antenna
Socket None (all in one)
Power In Nominal 2.8-5 V DC
Price Free of charge for download for non-commercial projects on licence CC BY-NC 4.0 (Bill of material, Gerber files, antenna radiation pattern, antenna return loss). Price for commercial projects on request.
Processor None
Documents Open on licence CC BY-NC 4.0
USB Ports 1 USB 2.0 by cable for AT commands

 

Antenna services Antenna design and antenna matching service, reports on return loss and radiation pattern
HW services HW design review of PCBs up to design of customised PCBs including design of enclosures
Power supply services Design aid for power supply concepts, selection of power supplies for IoT devices with an in-service lifetime of up to 15 years using small batteries (smart meters,  trackers)
SW services Firmware, middleware and cloud server software development
Consulting services Feasibility studies, proof of concepts, prototypes, market studies

 

 

Register your details here to download technical documentation on the modules

akorIoT SensPRO

akorIoT SensPro

Akor4Range L1 Series

akorIoT NB-IoT/LTE-M antenna designs

Akor4Range N1_N2

akorIoT  LoRaWAN/Sigfox antenna designs