The Increasing Number of Antennas in 5G Mobile Signal Blockers

With the widespread deployment and application of 5G networks, 5G base stations have been constructed on a large scale nationwide. Correspondingly, 5G mobile signal blockers have also been upgraded and iterated to include blocking functions for 5G signals. Observant customers may notice that the new version of 5G mobile signal blockers have significantly more antennas compared to previous blocking devices. This article aims to explain why the number of antennas has increased and whether this increase can lead to any reduction in the overall functionality of the signal blockers.

Reasons for the Increase in Antenna Numbers:

The increase in the number of antennas in 5G mobile signal blockers is primarily due to the adoption of new communication frequency bands by various telecommunications operators. These new frequency bands include 700MHz, 3400MHz, 3500MHz, and 4800MHz. Additionally, some frequency bands have been adjusted. For example, the frequency band 2555-2655MHz, previously used by China Mobile for 4G communication, has been expanded to 2515-2675MHz to better accommodate the application requirements of 5G.

To effectively block 5G signals, the new version of 5G mobile signal blockers must include blocking modules for these additional and adjusted frequency bands. Each module corresponds to one antenna. Furthermore, the blocking modules and antennas for 2G, 3G, and 4G signals still need to be retained. Consequently, the total number of antennas in the signal blockers can only increase.

Can the Number of Antennas in 5G Mobile Signal Blockers be Reduced?

There are methods to reduce the number of antennas, such as selecting a portion of the blocking modules and combining their output signals into one using a power combiner, which is then transmitted through a single antenna. Power combiners can be two-input-one-output or three-input-one-output. However, adopting this method of using power combiners brings about two negative consequences.

The first issue is that the coverage bandwidth of the combined blocking signal will increase significantly, placing higher demands on the standing wave performance of the antenna and affecting the parameters of the standing wave ratio. The second issue is the increase in hardware costs. When comparing the cost of power combiners to individual antennas, the cost of a single antenna is much cheaper.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, most manufacturers of 5G mobile signal blockers, unless specifically requested by customers, prioritize the overall production cost and technical specifications of the blocking devices. Therefore, they generally adopt the approach of using one blocking module corresponding to one transmitting antenna, without prioritizing the reduction of antenna numbers. As 5G networks continue to evolve, it is essential for signal blockers to adapt and provide effective blocking capabilities for the increasing number of 5G frequency bands.