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FAQ
General
General
I would like to purchase antennas. Which distributors carry STAF products?
Our authorized distributors are: Avnet K.K., CHIYODA ELECTRONIC CO., LTD., Elematec Corporation, IIDA ELECTRONICS (TSUSHO) CO., LTD., KAGA DEVICES CO., LTD., KAGA ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Marutsuelec Co., Ltd., NIHON ALPS ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Okamoto Electronics Corporation, Ryoyo Electro Corporation, and Takachiho Koheki Co., Ltd. (listed in alphabetical order). Please contact us for distributor availability in your region.
Standard Antennas
Can I purchase standard antennas online?
Standard antennas and antenna accessories are available for purchase through DigiKey, Marutsuelec Online, and NAD.com.
How can I obtain antenna documentation?
Documentation for standard antennas is available for download from our website. Please register an account on the Download Resources page. Registration is subject to approval; we will contact you after reviewing your application. Please note that individual registrations and registrations from competing companies are not accepted.
Do you offer standard (off-the-shelf) products other than antennas?
For products other than antennas, we do not offer standard models. We provide custom-designed products tailored to your specific requirements.
Services
Can you measure or test antennas made by other manufacturers?
As a general rule, we do not offer measurement-only services for antennas or other products manufactured by other companies. We appreciate your understanding.
Other
Can you tell me if a STAF antenna has been approved for use with a specific wireless module?
Our standard antennas are registered with a wide range of wireless modules currently available on the market. Antenna approval status is managed by the module manufacturer. Please check with the module manufacturer or its authorized distributor regarding the registration status of specific antenna and module combinations.
If I add an extension cable between a certified wireless module and its approved antenna,
does it affect the certification?
We are unable to determine whether adding an extension cable affects the certification status. Please consult the certification body or the module manufacturer directly. Note that extending with a coaxial cable introduces cable loss, which reduces effective gain. As a result, our standard antennas will not exceed 3 dBi in such configurations.
About Our Products
General
Can board-mount antennas (1018-456A / 1018-474A) and PCB/FPC antennas with coaxial cable be used in a 2×2 MIMO configuration?
Yes, they can. Ensure sufficient isolation between antennas when implementing a 2×2 MIMO configuration. Application notes are available for selected models. Please register as a member to access the documentation.
Do you offer waterproof antennas as standard products?
Yes. We offer antennas rated IP56 and IP67.
IP56: Cable-Extended Antennas (1018-458A, 1018-464A, 1018-473A, etc.)
IP67: Whip Antenna models, including LTE / 902–928 MHz ISM band compatible 1018-435A / 1018-436A; 902–928 MHz ISM band compatible 1019-008A / 1019-010A; and 2.4 GHz compatible 1019-016A.
Standard Antennas
Do you perform waterproof testing on IP67-rated Whip Antenna models (e.g., 1019-008A / 1019-010A)?
Yes. Every unit undergoes 100% waterproof inspection prior to shipment.
What documentation is available when adopting a standard antenna for mass production?
Available documentation includes chemSHERPA data, RoHS 2 compliance certificate (free of restricted substances), product specification sheet, and antenna performance data.
Can the specification sheet for standard antennas be modified?
As a general rule, specification sheets for standard antennas cannot be modified. Contact your STAF sales representative for details.
Cable-Extended Antennas are available with either gold-plated (Au) or nickel-plated (Ni) SMA connectors. Which should I select?
Match the SMA connector plating to the SMA jack on your device. Using dissimilar metals may cause galvanic corrosion in high-humidity environments.
What is the recommended tightening torque for SMA connectors?
Tighten the SMA RF connector coupling nut to 0.6–1.0 N·m.
Where can I find detailed product specifications (e.g., packaging method, minimum cable bend radius)?
Refer to the product specification sheet for detailed specifications and handling precautions. After registering on our website, you can download the documentation. If a specification sheet is not available, contact us or your local distributor.
Embedded Antennas
A metal object is located directly beneath the antenna. How much clearance is required?
Placing metal objects directly beneath the antenna is not recommended. Remove the metal from directly under the antenna or keep as much distance as possible.
A heat sink (metal) will be placed near the antenna for thermal management. Are there any precautions?
Position the heat sink as far away from the antenna as possible. For λ/4 embedded antennas, it is preferable that the edge of the heat sink be connected to GND.
We are considering a λ/4 (monopole-type) antenna. Two PCB boards overlap vertically as the GND plane. Are there any precautions?
When two PCBs overlap vertically, phase inversion between the boards may degrade antenna performance. To prevent this, ensure sufficient GND continuity between the two boards, particularly near the antenna feed point and at the edge of the shorter PCB (opposite the feed point). Increasing the number of GND connections generally helps align phase and improve antenna performance.
Part of the LCD overlaps with the antenna. Is this a problem?
This configuration is not recommended. For λ/2 (dipole-type) antennas, keep the antenna as far away as possible from surrounding metal objects.
For standard embedded dipole antennas, please rank antenna performance from highest to lowest.
In free-space conditions, performance is ranked as follows:
1018-391 series = 1018-504 / 505 > 1018-418 series (au/docomo) / 1018-443 series (SoftBank / 920 MHz)
Cable-Extended Antennas
Can the cable length of Cable-Extended Antennas be modified?
This is handled as a custom request. Depending on production volume and order value, we may not be able to accommodate small-quantity or low-value orders. For custom pricing, contact your sales representative or authorized distributor. Please note that changing the cable length generally requires additional antenna certification.
Custom Antennas
We are looking for an antenna optimized for our wireless device. Do you offer antenna design services?
Yes. We can design a custom antenna tailored to your requirements and supply the finished product. For details, contact your authorized distributor or our sales representative.
1901-001A
Can the bracket be used as GND for a λ/4 Whip Antenna? Are there any mounting restrictions for the bracket?
Yes, it can be used as GND for the Whip Antenna (1018-435A/1018-436A).
We would like to mount it using a magnet. Do you have a recommended magnet model?
Use a magnet that supports an M4 screw. We do not specify a recommended manufacturer or part number.
What is the recommended mounting screw size?
M4 is recommended.
Will mounting a λ/2 antenna affect antenna performance?
This bracket is recommended as a mounting base for the 1019-008A series λ/2 antennas.
About Our Services
λ/4 Whip Antenna
Do you provide matching adjustment services for λ/4 Standard Antennas?
Yes. Please prepare a π-type matching network between the antenna and the communication module. If you provide the complete device, we will perform matching adjustment and report VSWR, gain pattern, radiation efficiency, and matching constants. (This is a paid service.) For inquiries, contact your authorized distributor.
Does the device submitted for matching adjustment need to operate as a wireless unit?
No. Since we evaluate the antenna’s static characteristics, the device does not need to operate as a wireless unit. Provide the final product or a device configuration close to the final product. To attach measurement cables, modifications such as soldering to the PCB, cutting wiring between the module and antenna, or drilling holes in the enclosure may be required. These modifications may cause damage to components on the PCB.
About Membership Registration
Other
Membership registration requires approval. Is it possible that my application will not be approved?
Membership registration for downloading product documentation is subject to approval. In principle, applications from individuals or competing companies are not accepted. You will be notified of the result after review.
