The Whip Antenna is Dead

With the 700 MHz. auctions now underway (and about $11.5B bid so far), I've been asked a number of times if the introduction of 700 MHz. subscriber units will mean the return of the telescoping, pull-up "whip" antenna typical on early 800 MHz. handsets and still a fixture on some devices today. I must confess that the retro appeal of these antennas is certainly there, but, let's face it, the sleek looks of no visible antenna is certainly more in keeping with modern fashion trends.

But, there being an inverse relationship between frequency and the size of the antenna required for optimal performance (the lower the frequency, the bigger the antenna), a lot of engineering work is needed to avoid VALs (visible antenna lines). This is especially true in the case of MIMO-based implementations, which involve complex antenna systems that require a good deal of mutual isolation for optimal performance. And MIMO, as I've noted before, isn't just for 802.11n anymore; it's the future of all wireless systems everywhere.

That's why the recent announcement of iMAT (Isolation Mode Antenna Technology) by antenna leader SkyCross is so exciting. Imagine an entirely passive (read: low-cost), small antenna suitable for embedding in fashion-centric (and all other) designs, but offering the performance essential to both reliability and support of diversity and MIMO techniques. That's what this is. Think multiple antennas in a tiny package. This is very cool, and I think SkyCross has a winner on their hands here.

The analogy I've used for a long time regarding antennas is that they are like the tires on a car - the only part of the machine that touches the medium upon which it operates. Picking the right tires can mean the difference between amazing handling and, well, the other unsatisfactory alternative. So - we can have sleek vehicles and optimal performance. And it's time to put away the whip.