RFS Presents Orthogonal Mode Transducer (OMT) Offering for Microwave Antennas

Radio Frequency Systems (RFS), a global wireless and broadcast infrastructure provider, has unveiled OMT compatible with multiple antennas in the company’s comprehensive portfolio of microwave products. 

Designed for maximum flexibility and future-proofing, RFS OMT enables users to implement a “pay as you grow” scheme for up to four outdoor units (ODUs). OMT reduces costs and improves the system’s competitiveness and reliability by eliminating twistflexes between the ODUs and the antenna. RFS OMT can be purchased in conjunction with specified RFS antennas or separately for RFS antennas already installed in the field.

OMTs are multi-port microwave couplers that combine two cross polarized RF signals, allowing multiple ODUs, operating on different polarizations to operate simultaneously on one antenna. RFS OMT addresses the industry’s increasing need for dual-polarized direct mount antennas for higher capacity bandwidth, which are well-suited for 4G and LTE applications.

RFS OMT portfolio is comprehensive; available in frequencies from 6 GHz to 25GHz with customized interfaces for several microwave radio manufacturers. It is compatible with RFS’ 1ft – 6ft, SB1, SC2, SC3, SB4, SB6 series antennas.

“RFS OMT allows our customers to increase capacity by using multiple radios/ODUs in the same frequency band using cross polarization on the same antenna in a direct mount application,” said Asad Zoberi, key account manager and area product manager, RFS. “When multiple microwave ODUs are directly connected on the back of the same antenna with an OMT, monthly tower leasing costs are reduced significantly, allowing for dramatic reduction in OPEX. As a result, they are able to save on OPEX and CAPEX and better accommodate high capacity backhaul applications, such as 4G/LTE.”

RFS OMT starts with a two-port OMT (2+0) and allows for the easy addition of two couplers as needed (2+2 or 4+0), with no mechanical interference with the antennas due to the slanted/vertical shape of the OMT.

OMT has been fully tested in real wind tunnel conditions with wind speeds up to 250km/h to ensure durability and survivability. Electrical and mechanical qualifications have been successfully completed, such as return loss, insertion losses, vibrations and waterproofness.