Panorama TF Range: Flexible Embedded Antennas for IoT Devices

The TFD-7-60 is the core cellular entry in the range – a compact SiSo FPCB dipole covering global 4G and 5G frequencies. At 126 x 10mm, it is small enough to fit inside most industrial IoT enclosures, gateways, and smart metering devices. The dual-band design (698-960MHz and 1710-6000MHz) covers all major LTE and sub-6GHz 5G NR bands in use across Europe, North America, and Asia. This includes UK bands such as Band 20 (800MHz), Band 3 (1800MHz), and Band 78 (3.5GHz).

Applications include embedded cellular gateways, smart meters, EV chargers, industrial controllers, and any OEM device requiring 4G or 5G connectivity without an external antenna.

Where the TFD-7-60 starts coverage at 698MHz, the TFWB-6-60 extends this down to 617MHz. This makes it suitable for deployments requiring Band 71 (600MHz) coverage – primarily relevant in North American markets where T-Mobile and others use 600MHz for wide-area LTE/5G. The upper band extends down to 1427MHz, broadening coverage compared to the TFD-7-60.

The TFWB-6-60 is physically larger than its sibling at 146 x 25mm, which is the cost of the extended low-band performance. The wider PCB element is needed to achieve radiation efficiency at 617MHz. For most UK-focused deployments, the TFD-7-60 will suffice. The TFWB-6-60 is the better choice for global product variants where 600MHz band support is required.

The TFD-868-915 covers the 863-928MHz band, making it the LPWAN antenna in the TF range. This covers both the European 868MHz ISM band (used by LoRaWAN, Sigfox, and wireless M-Bus in the UK and most of Europe) and the 915MHz band (used in the Americas and parts of Asia-Pacific). It is the smallest antenna in the range at 75 x 10mm – an important factor for compact IoT nodes where internal space is at a premium.

Target applications are smart metering, LoRaWAN end-nodes, wireless sensor networks, and any sub-1GHz IoT device where a whip or external antenna is undesirable. The omnidirectional radiation pattern and VSWR of <2.5:1 are consistent with what is expected from a well-designed PCB dipole at this frequency.

The TFD-24-58-72 is the single-stream Wi-Fi embedded antenna in the range, covering 2400-2485MHz and 5150-7125MHz. The upper band range – extending to 7125MHz – means this antenna supports the 6GHz band introduced with Wi-Fi 6E and carried forward in Wi-Fi 7. It also supports Bluetooth, which shares the 2.4GHz spectrum. At 35 x 9mm, this is the most compact antenna in the entire TF range.

For IoT applications, this is relevant to Wi-Fi connected devices such as smart home controllers, industrial wireless gateways, EV charge points with local Wi-Fi interfaces, and connected consumer devices being designed with future-proofed Wi-Fi 6E capability.

The TFM2-24-58-72 pairs two antenna elements in a single flexible PCB to deliver 2×2 MiMo Wi-Fi capability. It covers the same 2400-2485MHz and 5150-7125MHz range as the TFD-24-58-72 SiSo model, but the dual-element construction enables spatial multiplexing and improved throughput on Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 connections. This matters in applications where the device needs sustained high-bandwidth local connectivity – edge gateways with local network offload, for example.

The practical benefit over using two separate TFD-24-58-72 units is integration. A single MiMo antenna board is easier to manage in manufacturing and reduces routing complexity. At 55 x 16mm, the TFM2 is only marginally larger than the SiSo TFD variant, making the space trade-off straightforward for most enclosures.