Lightning strikes in the United States about 20 million times a year. That’s not exactly good news for those who operate costly cell phone towers, antenna systems and other wireless communications.
But there is a strong defense against lightning strikes and other causes of extreme power surges. Many companies are deploying coaxial RF quarter-wave stub surge protectors, also known as lightning surge protectors, arrestors or suppressors. They stop surges faster than other types of protectors, require no maintenance and can withstand repeated surges without being damaged.
How They Work
A quarter-wave stub surge protector guards your radio and antenna installations from electromagnetic pulse (EMP) or power surges that are commonly caused by lightning or other strong electrical charges. It is a gatekeeper of sorts, allowing higher frequencies to flow through but instantly diverting harmful lower frequencies, such as lightning strikes, to a ground. The band of frequencies a quarter-wave stub allows to pass through is specified. For instance, PolyPhaser’s models allow either 800 MHz to 2.25 GHz or a wider 555 MHz to 4 GHz.
Applications
The applications of quarter-wave stub surge protectors include:
- Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) networks
- Cellular phone networks
- Distributed antenna systems (DAS)
- Land mobile radio (LMR)
- Emergency response systems
- Public safety systems
Advantages over Other Surge Protectors
Quarter-wave coaxial RF surge protectors have three big advantages over other types of protectors:
Quick response. A gas discharge tube takes about 100 nanoseconds to become conductive when a surge hits, while a quarter-wave coaxial protector responds instantly. It’s all in the design. The stub that shorts the surge is one-fourth the length of the working frequency of the signal in the cable. Also, the quarter-wave stub protector is made of instantly conductive metal.
No maintenance. A gas discharge tube surge protector occasionally needs a tube replacement, requiring money and time to install. A quarter-wave stub surge protector needs no maintenance after it is installed.
Longer product life. While a single surge from a cell tower might destroy a gas discharge tube, a quarter-wave stub surge protector is a mechanical device that can withstand many surges with no damage.
PolyPhaser’s Quarter-Wave Stub Surge Protectors
PolyPhaser offers a line of quarter-wave stub protectors that share key features:
- Protect sensitive radio and antenna installations where some or all the equipment is outdoors.
- Offer excellent broadband performance, passing 800 MHz to 2.25 GHz or 555 MHz to 4 GHz.
- Have low PIM of −150 dBc, which enables stronger signals and less frequency mixing.
- Offer connector options of 4.3 to 10, 7/16 DIN, and N.
- Use a DC block to suppress DC surge.
- Have bi-directional, repetitive strike surge protection.
- Are RoHS compliant.
- Are in-stock and will ship the SAME DAY as purchased!
Contact us for more information on PolyPhaser’s coaxial RF quarter-wave stub surge protectors.
