Webb Industries has supplied Transnet Freight Rail with a series of unique antennas for its locomotives.
These antennas are in response to Transnet's requirement for a wide range of frequencies including VHF, UHF, WiFi, GSM and GPS.
"We have succeeded in housing in one antenna VHF (or UHF), WiFi, GSM and GPS. We believe this to be unique," says Terry Reuss, Webb engineer.
Margherita Perini (left), Webb inventor and Terry Reuss, Webb engineer, show off two of the unique antennas developed specifically for Transnet Freight Rail
Transnet have for some years had dual antennas (GSM and GPS) on their Richards Bay coal line and when WiFi had to be introduced, a new solution was required. "The solution was, in essence, a radical new design consisting of two antennas, one with VHF, WiFi, GSM and GPS and the other with UHF, WiFi, GSM and GPS," says Reuss.
He adds that one of the key challenges of the project was to maintain the same shape and footprint as the older antennas to obviate fitment problems on the locomotives. "In addition to keeping the basic footprint the same, we also made modifications to the outer cover, enabling the antennas to withstand up to 90 kV a.c. voltage without breaking down. We have completed a series of very successful tests on these covers," says Reuss.
Paul Richards, Webb CEO says that he is proud that his company managed to fulfil this brief. "This is the type of ingenuity that has helped us develop a reputation for developing cutting-edge technology in the telecommunications industry."
Transnet Freight Rail's Derrick Marais was equally pleased with the job. "We needed a unique solution and the Webb team came up with it without too much fuss and, of course, within the required budgetary constraints," he said.
He added that these antennas are part of an ambitious programme, Project Triton, to upgrade Transnet's wireless communications with its trains. "The digital age enables us to convey a host of important information to various points, including the locomotive operator and the various control centres. This information includes details of the condition of the locomotives and the wagons being hauled, alarm warnings and other crucial operational information. This entails the transmission of both voice and data, hence the requirement for so many frequencies. We needed to reduce the number of antennas as a result, and Webb was able to do this."
LoRa-compatible SoC family 25 November 2020, Altron Arrow
, Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
STMicroelectronics has expanded availability of its market-unique STM32WL long-range sub-GHz wireless system-on-chip (SoC) family, adding flexible configurations and package options for diverse mass-market ...
Read more...Smart module for computing and multimedia applications on Android OS devices 25 November 2020, iCorp Technologies
, Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Quectel Wireless Solutions has launched its SA800U-WF premium smart module which features a built-in Android 9.0 or 10.0 operating system. The new module features a high-performance, low-power, 64-bit ...
Read more...Broadband low-noise gain block 25 November 2020, RFiber Solutions
, Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
The MAAM-011305 is a broadband, low-noise, high dynamic range, single-stage MMIC gain block assembled in a lead-free 2 mm 8-LD PDFN plastic package. The amplifier is internally matched to provide flat ...
Read more...Active GNSS patch antenna 25 November 2020, Altron Arrow
, Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
The Taoglas ASGGB184.A is a single-band, active GNSS patch antenna covering GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo. With hidden active circuitry embedded between the ceramic patch and PCB base, it has been ...
Read more...BAW filter for 5G base stations 25 November 2020, RF Design
, Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Qorvo has introduced a high-performance n41 sub-band 5G bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filter for base station infrastructure, small cell and repeater applications. It combines low insertion loss and excellent ...
Read more...Wideband digital RF attenuator 25 November 2020, RFiber Solutions
, Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
The AM2010 from Atlanta Micro is a wideband, 31 dB, 5-bit digital attenuator covering the DC to 30 GHz frequency range in 1 dB steps. The positive control device provides low insertion loss, flat frequency ...
Read more...The difference between frequency dividers and power dividers 25 November 2020, RF Design
, Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Though both often dubbed as ‘dividers’, frequency dividers and power dividers perform very different functions. Where a power divider splits an input signal power to two or more output ports, a frequency ...
Read more...Out-of-the-box global MTC connectivity 25 November 2020, Altron Arrow
, Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
The Thales Cinterion EGX81 Efficient IoT Gateway raises the bar on IoT simplicity, delivering highly efficient global Machine Type Communications (MTC) connectivity straight out of the box.
The EGX81 ...
Read more...Arduino compatible shields for KNX comms 25 November 2020, RS Components (SA)
, Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
RS Components now stocks NCN5100ASGEVB evaluation boards from ON Semiconductor. These Arduino compatible units are designed to facilitate prototyping work, comprising all the constituent components necessary ...
Read more...RF variable attenuator 25 November 2020, RF Design
, Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
The ATC6B from Cobham Signal & Control Solutions is a PIN diode digital attenuator that operates from 4 to 6 GHz. This 6-bit device provides attenuation of up to 63 dB and has an LSB of 1 dB and an MSB ...
printer friendly version