Portal Homepage Facebook Twitter Youtube LinkedIn
FirstNet is America’s only interoperable public safety wireless broadband communications network. Formed in 2012, its objective is to provide first responders and public safety agencies across the country with a secure, mission critical platform for high speed data services. Managed and operated by AT&T, FirstNet utilises a dedicated 20MHz frequency spectrum within LTE Band 14 (700MHz).
In 2017, all 50 states in the US opted into FirstNet and over 80% of the network is currently built out. When complete over 70,000 public safety agencies across the US will have access to the network allowing for safer communities and more effective emergency responses.
With FirstNet growing by the day, so does the number of FirstNet Ready devices available on the market. These range from phones and laptops to in-vehicle router devices from manufacturers including Cradlepoint, Sierra Wireless, Cisco, PepLink, Digi, and more. Capable of utilising a FirstNet SIM card, these products also require high quality antennas operable at LTE Band 14 to ensure a robust, stable connection for the user.
This could be in the form of an externally mounted vehicle antenna to something more covert in certain circumstances, or in the case of a fixed site, in-building DAS or point to point solutions. Therefore antenna selection is an important aspect of any FirstNet deployment.
TALK TO AN EXPERT
Request Quotation
Download Catalogue
All FirstNet Antennas
Panorama Antennas is the leading antenna supplier to public safety organisations around the world. Our success is built on understanding the evolving needs of the public safety industry, which is driven by the ever increasing demand for complex communication systems. In the case of vehicles, the need to reduce installation costs and improve vehicle residual value at end of service life is of key importance whereas, for fixed site, the need is to provide an aesthetically pleasing, ruggedized, high performance solution is vital.
Panorama’s products have already been extensively proven in providing voice and data communications for public safety in the USA and beyond.
The GPSD MiMo Sharkee® antenna has been adopted by many public safety departments. It has a rugged OEM style shark fin housing, with single hole mounting, internal antennas for GPS/GNSS, 2x2 MiMo for 4G/5G with fallback capability, 2x2 MiMo dual band WiFi antennas, and a single, dual or tri-band P25 whip that can be fitted.
FirstNet operates on the AT&T 4G network which uses LTE technology over various frequency bands, to provide prioritized and resilient mobile broadband bearer for mission critical data services and will soon evolve to 5G.
The antenna is a critical part of a FirstNet vehicle installation in order to achieve the optimum 4G broadband performance.
A key feature of LTE is that it uses MiMo (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) technology to enable a high speed broadband connection. The current requirement is for a 2x2 system, which uses two antennas at the client terminal, but with the introduction of LTE Advance Pro, a 4x4 MiMo antenna is required.
MiMo functionality leverages multi-path signal propagation to utilise multiple signal paths which increases the channel capacity, as shown in the image above for a 2x2 system.
A MiMo system requires the antennas to have a defined level of isolation and a low correlation factor, which Panorama provides in its’ “all in one” solutions. Panorama has a complete range of MiMo multi-function antenna solutions, which are easy to install and provide pre-defined MiMo performance.
In addition, we have a range of single (SiSo) multi-band cellular antennas suitable for 4G/LTE, which could be used as a second antenna to provide MiMo function in conjunction with an existing antenna, where required. Panorama continues to develop new products for LTE 4G/ 5G to ensure that we are at the front in being able to offer high performance, cost effective solutions for public safety users.
Panorama Antennas is a UK based privately owned family business, now in its third generation, and is a leading designer and manufacturer of antennas for wireless communication.
Established in London in 1947, today Panorama produces antennas for a number of the world’s leading communication companies and has grown to include over 100 staff worldwide, as well as 4 fully owned subsidiaries in Australia, France, Singapore, and the US.
Panorama strives to take the challenges out of antenna selection for you the customer. Our products can be purchased in standard kit format with full cable assemblies or made to order as per contractual obligations.
Our expert team is on hand to offer advice and assistance for your antenna needs however basic or complex. Panorama is the established name in mobile antennas for critical communications and for FirstNet, you can be confident that Panorama will continue to provide you with the most comprehensive and trusted product offering on the market.
See All FirstNet Antennas
