TRANSCORE AA3110 ANTENNA
The TransCore AA3110 Antenna (specifically known as the AA3110 Parapanel Antenna) is an industrial-grade, heavy-duty RFID antenna designed to broadcast and receive radio frequency signals. It is primarily manufactured for Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI), electronic toll collection, parking systems, and high-security access systems.
KEY TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
- Asymmetrical Broadcast Pattern: Unlike symmetrical antennas, the AA3110 from Transcore RFID Antenna is a precision dipole array that provides a significant (47°) difference in half-power beam width between its horizontal and vertical planes (75° E-Plane and 28° H-Plane). This unique shape creates a specific, directional reading “zone” ideal for capturing vehicle tags passing through a lane without picking up adjacent lanes.
- Operating Frequency: It operates seamlessly in the 902 to 928 MHz RF band (UHF), which is the standard range for enterprise radio frequency identification and vehicle tracking tags.
- High Gain Performance: It features a high gain of 12.5 dBi, allowing it to reliably read tags at standard distances required for moving traffic or gated access entries.
- Low-Profile Design: Despite its heavy-duty performance, it has a narrow depth of just 7 inches (17.8 cm), making it easy to mount on posts, walls, or gantry structures without causing a major visual or physical obstruction.
BENEFITS
Performance & Digital Optimization
- Optimized Reading Area: Because the antenna provides 47° difference in half-power beam width from the horizontal to the vertical plane, it functions perfectly for installations that require an asymmetrical reading area. Consequently, it excels when a project demands a coverage zone that is larger in one dimension than another.
- Directional Precision: Furthermore, it utilizes a precision dipole array to achieve highly directional transmission and reception. This specific design ensures that the antenna focuses its signal precisely where you need it.
- High Efficiency: In addition to its precise directionality, the antenna delivers strong signal strength and minimal signal reflection. In fact, it achieves this high level of efficiency by combining a 12.5 dBi gain with a very low maximum VSWR of 1.1:1.
Design & Installation Flexibility
- Low-Profile Design: Featuring a relatively narrow depth of 7 inches (17.78 cm), this antenna’s slim footprint makes it ideal for applications with tight space requirements. As a result, users can easily install it in confined areas without sacrificing performance.
- Customizable Frequencies: Although the antenna standardly operates in the 902 to 928 MHz RF band, TransCore can provide custom frequencies upon request. Consequently, this flexibility allows the equipment to meet highly specific project needs.
- Accessory Compatibility: To simplify installation, the unit comes pre-equipped with drilled, tapped, and plugged holes. Therefore, technicians can quickly and easily mount user-installed AT5720 Check Tags or Thomas & Betts (T&B) industrial hood accessories.
Rugged Durability & Weather Resistance
- Severe Weather Protection: A heavy, laminated fiberglass radome encloses the antenna to protect the internal components against severe environmental conditions. Consequently, this rugged shield ensures reliable performance even in harsh weather.
- UV & Corrosion Resistance: Furthermore, the radome materials naturally resist ultraviolet (UV) radiation. At the same time, TransCore utilizes stainless steel for all fastenings and hardware to provide maximum corrosion resistance.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The TransCore AA3110 Antenna functions as a highly directional, specialized RF (Radio Frequency) transceiver.
Focused Signal Broadcast and Reception
Instead of broadcasting signals in all directions, the antenna utilizes a precision dipole array. This internal design allows it to focus radio frequency energy in a specific direction. It sends out and listens for RF signals specifically within the 902 to 928 MHz RF band.
Shaping the Reading Zone (Asymmetrical Bream)
The antenna alters the physical shape of its communication zone using an asymmetrical broadcast pattern.
- The Shape: It narrows the signal in one place and widens it in the other, creating a 47° difference in half-power beam width between the horizontal and vertical views.
- The Result: This uneven pattern shapes a reading area that is significantly larger in one dimension than another. This makes it perfect for targeting moving objects in specific lanes, such as vehicles passing through a toll or transportation checkpoint, without capturing unwanted data from neighboring lanes.
Maintaining Signal Efficiency
While operating, the antenna maximizes its power output while minimizing signal bouncing or interference:
- Directing Energy forward: It features a 20 dB Front-to-Back Ratio. This means it pushes the vast majority of its signal forward into the designated reading zone while heavily suppressing any stray signals leaking out of the back of the panel.
- Low Signal Reflection: It maintains a maximum VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) of 1.1:1. This incredibly low ratio ensures that almost all the energy sent to the antenna converts smoothly into broadcast signals, rather than reflecting back into the hardware and causing efficiency loss.
Supporting Diagnostic Checks
To ensure the system is working perfectly out in the field, the antenna’s design accommodates an optional AT5720 Check Tag. Technicians mount this directly onto the pre-drilled holes of the antenna housing. This tag acts as a constant reference point, allowing the system to perform continuous, automated diagnostic checks to verify that the antenna is broadcasting and receiving properly.
