Times-7 – A5531C Circularly Polarized Ground Antenna — Low-Profile Tracking for People and Assets
The Times-7 A5531C is a circularly polarized ground antenna designed for tracking moving products, assets, and people in applications where traditional side-mounted antennas are unsuitable. At 10mm (0.4″) thick and 1.2m (4ft) long, it lies flat on the ground and can be concealed under a mat while still supporting payloads over 200kg (440lbs), including foot traffic, wheeled carts, and occasional vehicular traffic. RHCP polarization ensures reliable reads regardless of tag orientation as items pass overhead, making it well suited to conference and sporting event attendee tracking, race timing, and industrial asset tracking where locating missing components quickly keeps production moving. The A5531 range also includes vertical (A5531V) and horizontal (A5531H) linear polarization variants for applications requiring a fixed read orientation, all built in New Zealand and available in ETSI or FCC frequency bands.
Specification
Physical Characteristics
- Unboxed Dimensions: 47.24″ x 7.67″ x 0.39″ (1200 x 195 x 10mm)
- Boxed Unit Dimensions: 51.18″ x 13″ x 1.57″ (1380 x 330 x 40mm)
- Net Weight: 5.9 lbs (2.7kg)
- Gross Weight: 8.37 lbs (3.8kg)
- Thickness: 0.4″ (10mm)
- Length: 4ft (1.2m)
- Radome Material: Fire retardant ABS
RF Characteristics
- Frequency Range: 864-868 MHz / 902-928 MHz
- Polarization: RHCP (Right Hand Circularly Polarised)
- Nominal Impedance: 50Ω
- Maximum Input Power: 3W
Performance
- Far-Field Gain: 9.5dBiC typical
- Far-Field 3dB Beamwidth: 13° in XZ, 85° in YZ
- VSWR: 2.0 typical
- Front-To-Back Ratio: -18dB
- Anti-Static Protection: Yes, DC grounded
- Antenna Detection: 10kΩ resistance
- Maximum Point Load: 100 psi (7kg/cm²)
- Maximum Distributed Load: 1100 lbs (500kg)
- Payload Rating: Over 440 lbs (200kg)
Connectivity
- Connector Type / Position: SMA female side fly lead
- Cable Type / Length: 195 type / 11.7″ (298mm)
Environmental Ratings
- Environmental Rating: IP53
- Operating Temperature: 32°F to +122°F (0°C to +50°C)
- Storage Temperature: -22°F to +140°F (-30°C to +60°C)
Regulatory Compliance
- RoHS Compliant
- CE Compliant
- Built in New Zealand
Benefits
At just 0.4″ thick, the A5531C lies flat on the ground and can be concealed under a mat or covering, letting conference organizers and event staff track attendee movement without altering walkways or floor space.
Rated for point loads up to 100 psi and distributed loads up to 1100 lbs, the A5531C withstands hand trolleys, rubber-wheeled carts, runners, and bicyclists without antenna damage during continuous operation.
Circular polarization reads tags regardless of orientation as products or equipment move across the antenna, helping manufacturing and industrial sites locate missing components before they cause production delays.
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