Wireless Mic Antenna Possible Solution for UHF TV DAS

By Doug Lung
published


Finding antennas for indoor distributed antenna systems that can cover a wide frequency range with reasonable gain and attractive size is difficult. A press release from Fractal Antenna Systems last week alerted me to a new antenna that I hadn't considered before--one designed to pick up wireless microphones.

It turns out the CLAIR CF 1090 from Clair Global, designed in partnership with Fractal Antenna Systems, works from 470-928 MHz with a VSWR of less than 1.75:1, has circular polarization, 6 dBi gain, handles up to 40 Watts, and has a profile of only 15 x 15 x 2.7-inches. Its half-power beam width is 90 degrees.

Although the antenna isn't useful on VHF TV channels (which, by the way, are used by wireless microphones, so Clair Global might want to consider a VHF model), the thin package and wide bandwidth and gain could make it attractive for new indoor distributed antenna systems (DAS) systems that need to include UHF DTV for use with the new mobile DTV handsets and tablets.

"Antennas have become a big problem for live entertainment, sporting events, movie and TV shoots, houses of worship, and DAS type venues," said Nathan Cohen, Fractal Antenna Systems CEO. "The antennas are just too big or too weird looking. Not to mention that multiple antenna units are required to get the necessary coverage. We changed all that."


Doug Lung
Doug Lung

Doug Lung is one of America's foremost authorities on broadcast RF technology. As vice president of Broadcast Technology for NBCUniversal Local, H. Douglas Lung leads NBC and Telemundo-owned stations’ RF and transmission affairs, including microwave, radars, satellite uplinks, and FCC technical filings. Beginning his career in 1976 at KSCI in Los Angeles, Lung has nearly 50 years of experience in broadcast television engineering. Beginning in 1985, he led the engineering department for what was to become the Telemundo network and station group, assisting in the design, construction and installation of the company’s broadcast and cable facilities. Other projects include work on the launch of Hawaii’s first UHF TV station, the rollout and testing of the ATSC mobile-handheld standard, and software development related to the incentive auction TV spectrum repack.
A longtime columnist for TV Technology, Doug is also a regular contributor to IEEE Broadcast Technology. He is the recipient of the 2023 NAB Television Engineering Award. He also received a Tech Leadership Award from TV Tech publisher Future plc in 2021 and is a member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.