Wireless tech specialist Laird Connectivity has launched five new low profile, MIMO vehicular antennas that turn vehicles into 5G-ready communications hubs. The new antennas expand Laird Connectivity’s Gar & Barracuda family of vehicular antennas, which are deployed in public safety fleets, transportation fleets and aftermarket vehicle implementations.

The new antennas offer improved MIMO performance through optimised gain and propagation, and the family of antennas now offers new port configurations that support a wider range of installations as well as more radios on the market. 

Gar antennas are available in 5, 4, 3 and 2 port configurations with a variety of port types. The Barracuda family has the same form factor as the Gar but adds a Whip antenna enabling either a third port for Wi-Fi operating over the low/high frequency Wi-Fi bands or UHF.

Laird Connectivity’s new Gar and Barracuda antennas are configured for MIMO operation, and allow for single-hole mounting.

The antennas are designed for first responders, public works, urban transportation and commercial and industrial fleets.

“Vehicle fleets are becoming highly-connected communications hubs, and these new 5G-ready antennas deliver exceptional RF performance that supports the next-gen applications that are being used in police cruisers, ambulances, fire vehicles, trucking and other vehicle fleets,” said Bill Steinike, Laird Connectivity’s VP of Strategic Business Development. “Laird Connectivity’s expanded family of MIMO vehicular antennas deliver the connectivity these vehicles require, with the exact specifications and form factor that organisations need. Gar and Barracuda antennas have a well-earned reputation for reliability and performance that make them trusted technologies, and these new additions to the family give organisations more solutions to choose from.”