Description
Ultra-Wideband FPC Antenna: 5G NR Sub-6, 4G LTE, and Wi-Fi in One Embedded SKU
This flexible printed-circuit (FPC) cellular antenna is engineered to embed inside the housing of your device while delivering full ultra-wideband performance across every major wireless standard. It supports 5G NR Sub-6 (n1 to n79), 4G LTE, 3G, 2G, LPWA (NB-IoT, LTE-M), and unlicensed bands including 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, which is useful when a single antenna must serve a multi-radio gateway or a modem with Wi-Fi co-location.
Technical specifications
Full electrical and mechanical specifications for the embedded FPC antenna.
| Antenna Type | FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) Dipole, Embedded |
| Frequency Range | 600 to 6000 MHz |
| Peak Gain | Up to 4.5 dBi (EVB) / 4.2 dBi (Free Space) |
| Peak Efficiency | Up to 89.4 % (EVB) |
| Max VSWR | ≤ 4.8 (EVB) / ≤ 13.8 (Free Space) |
| Polarization | Linear |
| Radiation Pattern | Omni-Directional |
| Cable | Φ 1.13 mm coaxial, black, 202 mm |
| Connector | IPEX MHF 4L (MHF4) Plug |
| Mounting Type | Adhesive (3M backing), Ground-Plane Independent |
| Material | FPC (Flexible PCB), black |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +85°C |
| Dimensions | 135 mm × 19 mm × 10 mm |
| Compliance | RoHS, REACH |
Built to embed inside multi-radio devices
Because the antenna is ground-plane independent, it mounts directly to the inside of a plastic, fiberglass, or other non-metallic enclosure with the supplied 3M-grade adhesive backing, with no copper pour or metallic ground layer required. The 202 mm Φ1.13 coaxial pigtail terminates in an IPEX MHF 4L (MHF4) plug, the standard antenna connector found on Quectel’s M.2 cellular modules and most modern Sub-6 5G modules. Used in pairs (or in matched sets of two or four), it enables MIMO and antenna diversity for the host module.
Peak EVB efficiency, with strong average performance across the operating range, well above typical embedded FPC antennas.
A single SKU spans 5G NR Sub-6, all major 4G LTE bands, 3G, 2G, LPWA (NB-IoT / LTE-M), CBRS, and 2.4 / 5 GHz Wi-Fi.
Up to 4.5 dBi on EVB and 4.2 dBi in free space, with a uniform 360° omni-directional radiation pattern.
Rated for both operating and storage. Survives outdoor cabinets, vehicle interiors, and cold-chain enclosures.
Key features
A single SKU spans 5G NR Sub-6, all major 4G LTE bands (B1 to B71), 3G, 2G, LPWA (NB-IoT / LTE-M), CBRS (B48 / n48), and 2.4 / 5 GHz Wi-Fi co-existence bands.
Peak EVB efficiency reaches 89.4 %, with strong average performance across the operating range, well above typical embedded FPC antennas.
No copper pour, ground reference, or metallic backplane required. Stick it directly to the inside of a plastic, ABS, or fiberglass enclosure and it performs.
Drops straight into Quectel M.2 modules (RM520N-GL, EM05-G, EM060K-GL, RG200U-GL) and any other module using the MHF4 antenna footprint, with no adapter required.
90.3 × 15.3 mm flexible PCB with 3M adhesive backing slips into tight enclosures and contours to non-flat surfaces. Weighs only ~1.1 g.
Uniform 360° radiation pattern, with no need to aim the antenna at the tower.
Pair two units for 2×2 DL MIMO on cellular modules. Quad-port modules (e.g., RM520N-GL with main + diversity + MIMO 3/4 ports) can use four units for full 4×4 MIMO.
Rated -40 °C to +85 °C for both operating and storage. Survives outdoor cabinets, vehicle interiors, and cold-chain enclosures.
Meets EU environmental directives for global product distribution.
Important notes before you specify
- MHF4 connector, not interchangeable with U.FL / IPEX MHF1. This antenna terminates in an IPEX MHF 4L (MHF4) plug. It mates with Quectel M.2 modules and other modules built around the MHF4 footprint, but it will not plug into a U.FL (MHF1) socket despite the visual similarity. Confirm your module uses MHF4 before ordering, or pair this antenna with a Sixfab MHF4-to-SMA pigtail if your enclosure requires an external SMA bulkhead.
- Adhesive mounting is single-use. The 3M adhesive backing is intended for one permanent installation. Once stuck and removed it loses tack, so order a spare if you anticipate repositioning during prototyping.
- Mount to non-metallic surfaces only. Although the antenna is ground-plane independent, mounting directly against a metal surface will detune performance significantly. Adhere to the inside of a plastic, ABS, fiberglass, or polycarbonate enclosure wall.
- Use in pairs for MIMO. Cellular modules supporting 2×2 DL MIMO (e.g., EM05-G, RM520N-GL) require two antennas, one on the Main port and one on the Diversity/MIMO port. RM520N-GL with full 4×4 MIMO uses four. Order one antenna per active port.
- Keep antennas physically separated. For best MIMO isolation and reduced mutual coupling, place paired antennas at least λ/4 (≈ 37 mm at the lowest band, less at higher bands) apart and oriented orthogonally where possible.
- Cable length is fixed at 202 mm. If your design needs a longer run, a Sixfab MHF4 extension pigtail or a different SKU should be used; cutting and re-terminating the Φ1.13 coax is not supported.
Regulatory compliance
Meets EU environmental directives for global product distribution.
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