Empathy, Precision and Value: The Design Philosophy of Panorama Antennas
Empathy, Precision and Value: The Design Philosophy of Panorama Antennas
In this article, Panorama Antennas Technical Director – Jan Jesman – talks about his team’s approach to antenna design, what it takes to understand the explicit and implicit requirements of customers who don’t necessarily know exactly what they need.
The Fundamentals
Connectivity is increasingly important to us all – from turning your washing machine on via WiFi to a police vehicle streaming live video of a traffic stop over the cellular network; wireless technology enables a vast array of applications – an efficient, fit for purpose antenna is a fundamental element in the communication chain.
Antenna design is fundamentally about balancing form and function – Antennas
are electro-mechanical objects, constrained by the laws of physics; a larger form factor will almost always perform better. That said, we know that our customers will have needs that mandate design constraints – our job is to balance the equation!
Explicit Requirements: Meeting the Stated Needs
Our customers will often have explicit performance requirements that are critical to their applications. Whether it’s the need for antennas built into smart electricity meters in the UK, EV chargers in Europe or roof-mounted antennas on police vehicles in Texas or Australia, we ensure that our products meet these demands with precision.
Antennas are a critical link in communication systems – they must transmit and receive efficiently at the required frequencies, but they also need to be fit for purpose; with size, robustness and integration requirements to consider alongside the physics of antenna performance – We pride ourselves on delivering the superlative balance of these needs in all operational conditions.
Implicit Requirements: The Unspoken Aesthetic and Functional Needs
Beyond our customers explicit requirements, we also pay close attention to the implicit, often unspoken needs of our customers. Aesthetic considerations, for example, play a significant role in our design process.
Our success in the highly competitive public safety market in the USA can be attributed in part to our ability to combine multiple functions into a single, aesthetically pleasing design. The “sharkfin” style housing, which integrates cellular, WiFi and voice radio functions, not only reduces the number of individual antennas required (minimising installation costs and the number of holes that need to be drilled into a vehicle) but also enhances the overall appearance of modern vehicles.
Precision and Care in Design: What Sets Us Apart
We believe in designing fit-for-purpose antennas that last the lifetime from the “first fit” installation. This means providing high quality and performance without over-engineering, ensuring that our products offer real value over the full life span of the product.
Our design choices, such as using custom seals to eliminate water ingress and screw-mounted housings that are more secure than plastic “clip” interfaces improve the performance, reliability, and longevity of our antennas. These methods ensure that our products are built to withstand real-world operational conditions, such as UV exposure, high winds, rain and ice loading and high-pressure jet washing.
Value vs Cost: The Panorama Advantage
In a market where acquisition cost is often prioritised over quality, Panorama Antennas stands out by focusing on the overall value of our products. We understand that a cheaper antenna may save a few dollars initially, but the long-term costs associated with downtime, maintenance, and re-installation can far outweigh these initial savings.
Our commitment to reducing lifetime costs is reflected in our design philosophy, which balances long term performance and competitive acquisition costs. This approach ensures that our customers receive products that not only meet their needs but also provide long-term value.
Customer Feedback: Insights from the Field
Our customers consistently provide valuable feedback that helps us refine our products and services. For instance, field technicians have reported that our vehicle antennas significantly outperformed the competition in drive testing, solving critical problems for their operations. This real-world feedback is a testament to the high level of performance and quality that our customers expect from us.
Moreover, we actively incorporate customer insights into our design process. We engage in collaborative development, designing bespoke solutions or customising existing solutions to meet specific customer requirements. This proactive approach ensures that we are always innovating and addressing the needs of the market, even before they are clearly articulated.