Carrier certification is a milestone for device OEMs. Passing tests for data throughput, voice quality, RF safety, network interoperability, and other criteria means the device now can be sold for use on that carrier’s network.
Certification is a milestone for end users, too. It gives enterprise and government customers the confidence that the device will perform as expected right out of the box. That’s critical when buying hundreds or thousands at a time because manual configuration and troubleshooting is expensive and undermines employee productivity.
For police departments and other first responder agencies in the U.S., an important type of carrier certification is for AT&T’s FirstNet network. Unlike conventional carrier certification for consumer and business devices, there are three types of FirstNet certifications:
- FirstNet Capable devices must support High Priority Access (HPA) and all AT&T commercial LTE bands, and may require unlock.
- FirstNet Ready devices must support HPA, all AT&T commercial LTE bands, and LTE Band 14.
- FirstNet Trusted devices must meet all of the Ready requirements, plus passing security readiness testing.
A continually updated list of FirstNet certified smartphones, tablets, wearables, routers, and other devices is available at https://www.firstnet.com/content/dam/firstnet/white-papers/firstnet-certified-devices.pdf.
How Antennas Help Devices Achieve FirstNet Certification and More
For device OEMs, systems integrators, and their U.S. customers, the antenna should be a key consideration when designing or choosing a FirstNet device. Although the antenna itself is not eligible for FirstNet certification, it plays a critical role in the device’s certification, as well as the performance and resiliency of the applications running on it. For instance, to receive FirstNet Ready certification, the device must have an antenna system that not only supports LTE Band 14, but does so in ways that ensure consistently reliable performance. Some examples are:
- The Taoglas MA9914.A Guardian X 14-in-1 combination antenna uses a Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filter to attenuate interference and a Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA) to boost signals from Band 14 and other 4G and 5G.
- The Taoglas Patriot Series of 18-in-1 antennas support the FirstNet band and dozens of other 4G and 5G bands from 600 MHz to 6 GHz. Available in a dozen configurations, Patriot antennas are engineered specifically for the Ford Interceptor, the most widely used police vehicle in the U.S.
- The Taoglas MA995 Custom 9-in-1 Panel Antenna, which public safety specialist PEAKE chose for its Tactical IP BLEND solution used by agencies such as the Cole County Emergency Response Team (ERT).
Integration and testing are key for ensuring that the antenna system and the module work in concert to optimize performance and reliability. These are two processes where many FirstNet systems integrators — including PEAKE — turn to Taoglas for engineering services. So do Tier 1 device OEMs such as Semtech, whose AirLink series of FirstNet Capable and FirstNet Trusted routers have recommended Taoglas antennas based on rigorous tests for RF connector, electrical, mechanical, and environmental compatibility to ensure optimal performance.
To learn more about Taoglas engineering services, visit https://www.taoglas.com/our-services/antenna-rf-services.
