Quick guide COMPONENTS FOR 5G BASE STATIONS AND ANTENNAS www.essentracomponents.com MAKING IT EASIER QUICK GUIDE 5G TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURERS FACE A CHALLENGE. With the demand for 5G coverage accelerating, it’s a race to build and deploy base-station components and antenna mast systems. Upgrading 4G base stations by software to non-standalone (NSA) 5G will still require hardware changes. It will act as an interim, but it will still not satisfy the need for true 5G network architecture. The number of base stations needed increases with each generation of mobile technology to support higher levels of data traffic. Antenna systems will also need to evolve to handle increases in capacity, frequency ranges and the ability to minimise interference as signal density expands. Your 5G base-station design and 5G antenna components will need to address not only technical challenges, but also aesthetics, weather and security requirements. This guide is designed to help you chose the components you’ll need. To further help you, we’ve made free CADs of our solutions available for download. You can also request free samples for most of our products, so you can try before you buy. ESSENTRACOMPONENTS.COM 2 QUICK GUIDE BASE STATIONS A 5G network base-station connects other wireless devices to a central hub. A look at 5G base-station architecture includes various equipment, such as a 5G base station power amplifier, which converts signals from RF antennas to BUU cabinets (baseband unit in wireless stations). Whatever you’re designing, you’ll need to consider cost, ease of installation and assembly and, of course, flammability. This goes for a femtocell base station or 5G small cell backhaul, base transceiver station architecture, or a cellular base-station equipment. We recommend you use nylon material where it’s offered. It’s a cost-effective option for a durable and lightweight material. Here are the base-station components to make your job easier: QUARTER-TURN SPRING LATCHES CONCEALED HINGES View online View online Outdoor industrial cabinets need Concealed door hinges prevent security to prevent tampering and tampering of industrial enclosures. Ideal vandalism. These quarter-turn latches for 5G base stations, our diverse range lock and secure panels and doors with a includes hinges made of black nylon, spring-action cam. Rated IP65, they’re steel, stainless steel and zinc alloy. Steel also ideal for outdoor use, protecting versions come in handed, pin, removable your base-station equipment from dust pin and spring-loaded options. and water ingress. Six head styles and seven grip ranges. Available in black Typically used: doors nylon, zinc alloy with chrome-plated or black powder coated finish and stainless steel. Typically used: doors and access panels ESSENTRACOMPONENTS.COM 3 QUICK GUIDE POSITION CONTROL HINGES SEALING GASKETS BRIDGE HANDLES View online View online View online A type of butt hinge, these adjustable To dampen vibrations created by Tubular pull cabinet handles, also known torque position control hinges make base-station equipment, use sealing as grab handles, are a three-piece installation and maintenance easy for gaskets, which also protect against design with many standard and custom equipment in outdoor telecom cabinets. dirt and humidity ingress. Bubble tube-length options. These allow for They operate with a single torque gasket seals are ideal for EMI shielding a greater operating length and come adjustment, using the screw to hold and protection. Available in EPDM. with front mounting with counter bored doors or panels in position. Your choice Also consider weather-stripping tape, thru holes. Ideal if you want a cabinet of nylon or zinc alloy. Stainless-steel made of EPDM, which performs as door handle separate from the locking adjusting screw. gasketing tape. mechanism. Steel with nylon mount. Typically used: doors Typically used: doors Typically used: doors CAM LATCHES – LIFT AND TURN SELF-ADHESIVE CABLE-TIE MOUNTS IP67 SEALING GROMMETS View online View online View online Low-profile swing handle stows away Self-adhesive cable-tie mounts Protect cables from abrasions against when not in use. With a 90˚ rotation, UV-resistant, adhesive mount is rough surfaces while sealing against the these are simple to install, using either positioned without tools for quick elements. IP67 grommets are designed a bracket or snap-in fastener. Consists installation. Cable ties can be inserted for outdoor use, providing a dust and of a slam-action spring-loaded handle. from all four sides. Also comes with a watertight seal and making them ideal Available with a choice of keyed alike, screw fixing for additional support. Our for your 5G small-cell base station. key to differ, or a button to press. range of cable-tie mounts are available These cable grommets also act as a in different mounting options, from blanking plug until a cable is installed. Typically used: doors push-mount cable ties to screw-mount Made of durable EPDM. cable ties. Nylon, with a flammability rating of UL94 V-2. Typically used: cable entry points into cabinets Typically used: internal cables and wiring around panels and doors ESSENTRACOMPONENTS.COM 4 QUICK GUIDE ADJUSTABLE DRAW LATCHES DOCUMENT HOLDERS HEAT-STABILISED CABLE TIES View online View online View online Designed for flexibility and the security Make important information easily 5G base stations and MIMO antenna needed for an external telecom accessible for your customers by design for 5G generate an incredible cabinet. The secondary locking button giving them a place within the base amount of heat due to current prevents accidental opening while also station to contain documentation. technology. Consider, too, that these performing as a compression latch by Supplied with self-adhesive strips for enclosures are packed with racks of protecting against vibration. The keeper quick attachment. Available in ABS or equipment, which creates more heat. is supplied with the latch. Made of polystyrene. Use heat-stabilised nylon cable ties for corrosion-resistant stainless steel. these harsh environments to ensure Typically used: inside door or panel performance. Flammability rating Typically used: cabinet access panels UL94 V-2. Typically used: internal and external cables FIBRE BEND LIMITING TUBING QUICK PANEL-MOUNT STRAIN PCB STANDOFFS RELIEF GLAND View online View online View online Fibre-cable management is critical A PCB provides everything from to network performance and keeping Fibre optic cable protection is electrical connections to carrying digital costs under control. Use fibre bend effortless to install. Simply insert and analog signal transmission. Your limiting tubing to protect bend radius without the need for any tools, while PCB hardware should be high quality, by eliminating problems such as still providing protection to wire and yet easy to install to keep costs down. crushing, kinking and micro-bending fibre against rough panel hole edges. They’re ideal when high mechanical while supplying an entire self-managing Fibre strain relief grips help keep costs strength is required. Nylon with brass solution for fibre-routing management. down by providing added protection inserts. Flammability rating UL94 V-2. Available in PP with excellent stability to jacketed and bare fibre while and PBT, which provides outstanding routed through a hole. Typically used: internal circuit boards insulation. To mount, use easy-to-install snap-in clips. Typically used: cabinet panels Typically used: fibre cable and patch cords FAN FILTER SETS View online Keep your PCB cool by preventing obstruction to your fan. This set includes one fan guard, fan filter cover, fan filter mesh sheet, and felt filter. Rated IP30 to protect against small objects from falling in. Materials: fan guard and filter cover, 40% GF nylon 6/6. Filter, polyester. Mesh sheet, 304 stainless steel. Typically used: internal circuit boards ESSENTRACOMPONENTS.COM 5 QUICK GUIDE ANTENNAS The types of antenna used in mobile communication already vary. But 5G antenna design is a different animal than what we’re familiar with. It has to be in order to deliver the speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G. This usually involves MIMO antenna systems (multiple input, multiple output). These systems use an antenna array – multiple antennas – and base transceiver station equipment. You might be considering an active antenna design, which increases capacity and coverage. Another system involves an active antenna and passive antenna, with the passive antenna being part of the legacy network. This system reduces the cost of installation. A 5G small-cell antenna boosts the network in high-density areas and improves capacity where demand is high. Not all cell sites, particularly in urban areas, can support fibre optics. In this case, you’ll be looking at a microwave backhaul antenna. But no matter what you’re installing, whether an active loop antenna design or a massive MIMO antenna array, you’re going to need components that can deliver performance without sacrificing margins. Here are some of the antenna hardware and other components you’ll need: NYLON P CLAMPS PLASTIC PAN HEAD SCREWS View online View online P-style cable clamps secure, ground Slotted and Phillips style pan head and rout cables. The P-shape design machine screws are lightweight, making of this nylon cable clamp enables easy installation easier. Can be used with a installation and removal and is also variety of materials, including metal. ideal for base-station antennas. If you In fact, these are great replacements prefer, you can use P clamps for cables for heavy metal screws. Resistant to in aluminium. vibration, chemicals, electricity and corrosion. Nylon 6/6. Typically used: internal cables Typically used: Internal circuit boards and external panels PUSH-IN RIVETS – SNAP View online Our push rivets are another incredibly easy-to-install solution to help with costs. Simply push the head in and the grommet expands to hold panels in place. Removable by pulling head.