SkyCross Introduces Wireless Industry's First 5.1 - 5.9 GHz High Gain Antenna for Wireless LAN

MELBOURNE, Florida, October 8, 2001 — SkyCross, a leading developer of advanced wireless antenna solutions, introduced the wireless industry's first and only antenna that provides coverage of the 5.1 to 5.9 GHz frequency band. The antenna provides complete global coverage for high data-transmission rate, wireless local area network (WLAN) applications.

Current antenna solutions available for WLAN applications provide only partial coverage of the 5 GHz (5.1 to 5.9) frequency band--which is home to three main worldwide transmission standards: IEEE 802.11a (International), ETSI HiperLAN2 (Europe) and MMAC HiSWANa (Japan). Because individual countries have designated different bands of the 5 GHz spectrum for these standards, current antennas limit a WLAN device's ability to function globally within this range. Now, SkyCross' patented Meander Line Antenna technology provides the industry with a single, embedded antenna solution that operates over the entire 5.1 to 5.9 GHz band.

"This product will enable WLAN OEMs to create a single WLAN card for use in all worldwide 5GHz frequency bands and transmission standards," said Alan Haase, CEO of SkyCross. "For high data rate, WLAN-enabled devices, SkyCross' antenna means there are no limitations on mobility."

The wireless industry's interest in the 5 GHz band for WLAN applications is driven by the demand for higher data-transmission rates. Existing WLANs, currently located in the 2.4 GHz band, offer rates of up to 11 Mbps. The 5 GHz band standards achieve data rates up to 54 Mbps.

Although many industry reports show that a majority of 2.4 GHz WLAN products today conform to the internationally accepted IEEE 802.11b standard, no such consensus yet is in place for the 5 GHz WLAN.

"In the near term, it looks as if the 5 GHz band will continue to be served by three different transmission standards, which makes our 5.1 to 5.9 GHz antenna that much more crucial in providing continuous operability and mobility for 5GHz WLAN devices," explained Kerry Greer, Vice President of Engineering at SkyCross. "The industry is working to move to one single global transmission standard. But even when approved, it still will be allocated by local governments for use in different parts of the 5.1 - 5.9 GHz band."

SkyCross' new antenna provides superior efficiency and gain directivity in a small, embedded package. Key specifications of the antenna include:

• Frequency range: 5.1 - 5 .9 GHz
• Dimensions: 0.88 x 0.53 x 0.155-inch package
• Peak Gain: +2.2 dBi
• Minimum Gain: +1.5 dBi over entire frequency range
• Transmissions standards operability: IEEE 802.11a, ETSI HiperLAN2, and MMAC HiSWANa

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