Integrated antenna enclosures simplifies router installations and cut deployment costs

Taoglas has released its new Thunder Series – a high-performance outdoor antenna enclosure platform engineered to support direct integration and installation of the leading industrial routers within the antenna package. Developed for demanding outdoor environments, the series enables engineers to optimise installations, minimise signal loss, and significantly reduce deployment costs.

Purpose-built for widely deployed routers from Digi, Ericsson, and Semtech, the series combines the company's proven wideband antenna technology with a rugged enclosure that permits the router to be installed directly inside the housing. This greatly decreases the necessity for long RF cables – cutting tens of metres per deployment – while minimising signal loss, installation time, and the material and labour costs typically associated with separate device installations.

Operating across a broad 600–6000MHz frequency range, the series supports 5G/4G, Wi-Fi, GNSS, and Bluetooth. This wide coverage supports low-band cellular, mid-band 5G, and Wi-Fi 6/6E frequencies. This solution provides best-in-class communication by locating the router and antenna in the same enclosure, minimising cable loss and reducing installation costs while simplifying implementation and deployment. This ensures long-range performance and reliable high- or low-speed data connectivity. The addition of the POE splitter simplifies the process of powering the router.

The series is available in both directional and omnidirectional versions, with IP67-rated ABS enclosures that protect against water ingress, dust, and vibration. This makes it ideal for harsh outdoor conditions and mission-critical deployments across various industries, including transportation, mining, agriculture, smart cities, and industrial automation. In one such application, Thunder is being deployed in number plate recognition systems, powered directly from streetlight DC infrastructure – reducing cabling requirements and enabling discreet, efficient installation in urban environments.

"Installing multiple antennas and routers separately in the field can be time-consuming, expensive, and prone to performance degradation due to cable loss," said Chris Friend, vice president of NA Sales M&I at Taoglas. "With Thunder, we're giving engineers a more integrated, reliable, and cost-effective way to deploy high-speed connectivity using the routers they already trust."

To support flexible deployment, the Thunder Series can be powered in several ways depending on the router in use. These include dedicated power inputs or PoE, with the company providing detailed guidance to ensure a safe and standards-compliant installation.