External Antenna's play a crucial role in the performance of 4G LTE Wireless Routers

Panorama 4G LTE MiMo antenna for vehicles

To maximise the performance off a 4G LTE wireless router an external antenna is crucial. The type off antenna needed depends on the application, if the deployment is in a vehicle than you need a MiMo (mulitiple-input multiple-output) this will ensure that the antenna picks up the strongest signal to improve network coverage. The best antennas will contain two seperate elements to enable the antenna to select the best located base station which is ivital for mobile installations in vehicles.

4G LTE external antenna for installation onto buildings

For 4G LTE wireless router deployments in buildings and temporary static applications than you will need a robust antenna with a good IP rating with a cable length long enough to connect to where the wireless router is installed.

Types of RF connectors used on 4G LTE Wireless Routers

Most 4G LTE routers used in the UK and USA such as Cradlepoint or Sierra Wireles use SMA connectors. The SMA on the router is standard female for the 4G LTE ports and SMA reverse polarity female for the WiFi ports. Most antennas are terminated with an SMA male connector but some only come with a short fly lead so you may need to purchase an SMA cable extension which are available from Cloud-Star technology. Wireless routers manufactured in Germany for automotive application can also use FAKRA male connectors.

If you need any help in selecting the correct type of antenna or cable assembly for your application please contact cloud-star technology

Cradlepoint Helps Arm Responders & Keep Communities Safe During Hurricane Season

Ruggedized, Mobile & Always-On Network Connectivity Maximizes Communications for Responders During Disasters

The last three years of hurricane seasons have been more than challenging to say the least.  Hurricane Matthew devastated Haiti and the south eastern part of the U.S. in 2016, then Hurricane Irma — a Category 5 storm and the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record — tore through the Caribbean and Florida in 2017. Hurricane Harvey — which is tied with Hurricane Katrina for the costliest tropical cyclone on record inflicting $125 billion in damage — hit Houston, Texas in August 2017. In 2018 there were 15 named storms in Atlantic Hurricane season with Florence and Michael, categories 4 and 5, causing massive damage to Florida and the east coast. At this point, it’s almost as if we’re just waiting to see what this season has in store for us.

Atlantic Hurricane Season starts June 1st and ends November 30th every year. The best time to start preparing is before hurricane season begins; however, hurricanes become most active in September.  As hurricane season kicks off, cities and towns in hurricane prone regions gear up for the possibility of powerful winds, rainfall, flooding, storm surges, landslides, and even tornadoes that can be triggered from hurricanes and cause heavy devastation and loss of life.  Even “weak” hurricanes can cause major damage that affect the infrastructure of cities — such as knocked down power lines and blocked roads.

Cradlepoint can help arm disaster response teams with reliable network connectivity, in the worst of conditions and the most remote areas, for imperative response tasks such as:

Setting up a quick and easy to deploy network solution communicating to other responders for resources deploying emergency command centers communicating during search and rescue retaining a strong and reliable network connection throughout and after recovery operations

Quick Connectivity & Simple Network Configuration for Fast Response & Recovery

Stage one in disaster recovery is finding out what resources are needed and assigning which group will be in charge of what task, making communication a key component in being able to hit the ground running. 

When Hurricane Michael came through Port St. Joseph in Florida, first responders used Cradlepoint solutions to deploy a network connection to immediately access outside agencies to see what resources were available, such as hospitals, and begin calling in resources from outside agencies. The team was quickly able to set up the Cradlepoint router for fast and reliable network connectivity.

The Cradlepoint solution was utilized for mapping out where responders needed to help and when, requesting resources, and keeping the logistics teams in contact with the Gulf County Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

“The room was bustling the whole time with all levels of first responders from police, fire, EMS, hospitals, utility companies, military, volunteer coordinators, Red Cross, to local Internet providers all talking on the phone and passing information to coordinate rescue and recovery actions,” said Scott Ballard, Communication Unit Leader, Oregon State Fire Marshal’s IMT.

Once recovery was in process, the Cradlepoint solution remained deployed and was still in use for days, delivering reliable, unsaturated connectivity.

Mobile Units to Quickly Pop-Up Networks

After super Typhoon YuTu crashed into Saipan, Guam, and Tinian in 2018, missions were set up to get network connectivity for mission-communication going in and out and the airport operation.

Responders used Cradlepoint services, including an LTE-embedded router, 24x7 support, a WiFi access point, GPS and telematic integration, and cloud configuration and troubleshooting. The solution was installed inside transportable field mobile units, for a proven and dependable network solution delivering fast network setup and an always-on connection.

“We were running airport operations there delivering equipment to first responders, as well as the coordinating and accounting of equipment and people, and the Cradlepoint devices were the units that really kept us going. In this deployment, it was the most reliable means of communication available,” said Ed Minyard, President and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for disaster response group, ResponseForce1.

Connecting Those who Protect

We know how critical interoperable communications between responding agencies are during hurricanes and natural disasters.  Our goal is to ensure that responder’s devices and critical applications stay constantly connected to the network when it matters the most so first responders can continue to protect and serve our communities.

To learn more about how IoT applications and pop-up networks help first responders during emergencies, register for our upcoming webinar: IoT Applications and Instant Networks for Law Enforcement.

Cloud-Star Cradlepoint 4G LTE wireless routers. Click here to buy>

Source: Cradlepoint

Connected smart LED lighting illuminates London's bridges

WiFi technology has been used to control connected smart LED's on an initiative to illuminate the capital's fifteen bridges.

The Project Illu­mi­nat­ed Riv­er is an ambi­tious, new pub­lic art com­mis­sion which will trans­form the cap­i­tal at night, light­ing up to 15 bridges on the Riv­er Thames.

Once com­plete, it will be the longest pub­lic art project in the world, seen over 130 mil­lion times each year dur­ing its 10 year lifespan.

Conceived by internationally-acclaimed artist Leo Villareal and British architectural practice Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, and delivered by the Illuminated River Foundation, the artwork has been sensitively developed, paying attention to heritage, wildlife and the built environment to create something exceptional – a transformation that celebrates the role that the Thames bridges play in the enduring global identity of London, and encourages people to enjoy the river and riverside at night.

The realisation of the project has involved a unique collaboration of London’s creative talent, statutory bodies and local communities and will leave a lasting legacy for the capital in the form of a dynamic public artwork, refocusing and celebrating the Thames bridges as social, historical and architectural landmarks.Illuminated River is a beacon of London’s creativity, ambition and spirit, free and accessible for all to view. Apart from an initial investment of £250,000 from the Olympic Reserve towards the costs of an international competition to light the bridges, Illuminated River is funded through philanthropic sources, and will continue to seek the balance from private sources rather than the public purse.

The Illuminated River will give London free art. The project also means that a wasted asset and wasted resource will now be used. The team had thought through how the project is sustainable, how it will be energy efficient and use less energy. Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London Animation of artist Leo Villareal’s final design concepts for the 15 bridges. This animation focuses on the artistic concept and is not an accurate representation of London at night and omits street and footway lighting on the bridges and navigation lights. View the shortlisted entries for Illuminated River's initial competition to light London's bridges, which attracted over 100 submissions from artists across the world.

The project is delivered by the Illuminated River Foundation. The wider project team combines the expertise of numerous companies, including:Atelier Ten Beckett Rankine Core Five Iceni Projects London Wildlife Trust Montagu Evans MSA Price & Myers Temple Group FM Conway Jackson Coles Thompson EC RNLI Soure: Illuminated River Foundation