The Leap from Wi-Fi 6E to Wi-Fi 7 and Enhanced Bluetooth
Wi-Fi technology advances with every debut, delivering greater speed, efficiency, and capacity. Wi-Fi 6E was a giant leap, opening access to the 6GHz spectrum. Wi-Fi 7 takes a further step. It optimizes use of the 6GHz frequency in addition to adding groundbreaking capabilities such as 320MHz ultra-wide channels, Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and modulation schemes as high as 4096-QAM. Whilst Wi-Fi has developed, so has connectivity standard Bluetooth 5.x. With the advent of Bluetooth 5.4, with features such as Periodic Advertising with Responses (PAwR) and Encrypted Advertising Data (EAD), use cases proliferate, most prominently for IoT deployments. Such innovations bring unprecedented opportunity and challenge to WiFi 7 antenna and Bluetooth 5.4 antenna design.
Antenna Requirements for Wi-Fi 7: Meeting New Standards
Wi-Fi 7’s new specifications demand precise antenna performance. Each technical advancement comes with stringent antenna design requirements:
320MHz Ultra-Wide Channels:
A real-world example for a good solution to such requirements is the Aboosty AIWF022 Embedded FPC Antenna. With a working frequency range from 2400 MHz to 7200 MHz, AIWF022 demonstrates an omnidirectional radiation pattern, high efficiency to 84.25%, and a compact adhesive-mounted design for IoT and consumer electronics applications.
Multi-Link Operation (MLO):
MLO enables simultaneous data flows across multiple frequency bands (5 GHz, 6 GHz, and 2.4 GHz) with reduced latency and increased data rates. To apply MLO, antennas should:
- Support simultaneous multi-band functionality—achievable through triple-band antennas or complex multi-antenna layouts.
- Maintain high isolation between antennas (>15 dB and ideally over 20 dB), minimizing inter-band interference.
Wi-Fi 7 antennas such as the Aboosty ADWM002 SMD Antenna address such demands effectively. With features like multi-band frequency (2400-2500MHz, 5100-7125 MHz) and omnidirectional radiation, ADWM002 is able to delivermaximum efficiency of 92% and peak gain of 5.64 dBi, quite ideal for MLO-enabled devices.
Bluetooth 5.4 and BLE Antenna Considerations
Bluetooth 5.4 brings improvements particularly beneficial to large-scale IoT deployments, such as electronic shelf labels (ESLs) and industrial sensor networks:
Enhanced Features of Bluetooth 5.4:
- Periodic Advertising with Responses (PAwR) significantly improves power efficiency and device scalability, ideal for deployments involving thousands of endpoints.
- Encrypted Advertising Data (EAD) provides robust security measures, critical for applications involving sensitive or regulated environments.
For small BLE devices, antenna design often becomes a balancing act between size, performance, and usability.
Antenna Design Factors for BLE Devices:
- Ceramic antennas. Widely favored in small, space-constrained products because of compact form and predictable radiation patterns. However, the trade-off involves narrower bandwidth and increased sensitivity to detuning from surrounding materials.
- Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) antennas. Offer flexibility in integration, lower cost, and good performance, especially in wearable devices and IoT sensors. Devices such as the Aboosty AIWF022, which employs an ultra-thin FPC structure with a peelable adhesive, offer excellent performance in consumer wearables and medical devices.
- Human Near-Field Effects. BLE antennas in wearable and medical devices must compensate for significant signal absorption and frequency detuning when worn close to the human body. Designers typically conduct near-field simulations to predict and compensate for these impacts in real-world usage scenarios.
Design Guidelines: Practical Tips for Next-Gen Wi-Fi/BT Antenna Selection
Dual-Band and Multi-Band Antennas for IoT
- Utilizing dual-band Wi-Fi antenna IoT solutions becomes critical to meet the performance demands of Wi-Fi 7’s dual-band or multi-link operations.
- A combination antenna supporting multiple frequencies (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) provides robust connectivity and reduces device complexity.
PCB Antenna Integration Techniques
- Designers frequently choose PCB-based antennas due to lower cost and easier integration. For Wi-Fi 7, WiFi 7 PCB antennas offer flexibility in tuning performance and adapting to specific environmental and enclosure conditions.
- Consider reserving dedicated PCB space for antenna tuning, allowing modifications to adapt to varied operational environments or housing designs.
Ceramic vs. FPC Antennas: Pros and Cons
Ceramic antennas:
- Pros: Compact footprint, consistent radiation characteristics.
- Cons: Higher sensitivity to surrounding materials; limited bandwidth.
FPC antennas:
- Pros: Flexible mounting options, larger bandwidth, ease of integration.
- Cons: It can be slightly larger and require additional tuning for maximum performance.
The ADWM002 metal antenna offers high gain, omnidirectional coverage, and supports Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 applications. Its compact SMD form factor streamlines integration into high-volume smart products.
| Specification | Details |
| Model Number | ADWM002 |
| Technology Type | WiFi 6E, WiFi 7 |
| Frequency Range | 2400–2500 MHz, 5100–7125 MHz |
| Peak Gain | 5.64 dBi (on 45 × 35 mm demo board) |
| Max Efficiency | 92.17% |
| Antenna Type | Monopole |
| Radiation Pattern | Omnidirectional |
| Polarity | Linear |
| VSWR | 1.96:1 |
| Impedance | 50Ω |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +85°C |
| Dimensions (L×W×H) | 12.0 × 10.46 × 3 mm |
| Product Weight | 0.35 g |
| Mounting Style | SMT/SMD |
| Termination Style | SMD/SMT |
| Mechanical Style | Metal |
| Packaging Method | Tape & Reel (1200 pcs/reel) |
| Customization Options | Logo, Packaging, Frequency |
| Certifications | REACH, RoHS Compliant |
| Markets | Transportation, Smart Industrial, Smart Cities, Connected Health, Mobile Communication |
| Key Attributes | Ground Plane Dependent, Low Profile, Compact, Lightweight, Easy Integration, Cost-effective |
The AIWF022 Embedded FPC antenna meets demands for compactness, flexibility, and dual-band support. Its customizable cable and connector options simplify installation in a diverse range of IoT and wearable products.
| Specification | Details |
| Model Number | AIWF022 |
| Technology Type | 2.4G & 5G WiFi, WiFi 7 |
| Frequency Range | 2400–2500 MHz, 4900–7200 MHz |
| Peak Gain | 5.46 dBi |
| Max Efficiency | 84.25% |
| Antenna Type | Monopole |
| Radiation Pattern | Omnidirectional |
| Polarity | Linear |
| VSWR | 2.2:1 |
| Impedance | 50Ω |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +85°C |
| Dimensions (L×W×H) | 40.0 × 8.0 × 0.2 mm |
| Product Weight | 0.5 g |
| Connector Type | IPEX 1, Right Angle |
| Cable Type & Length | RF 1.13 Coax, 110 mm |
| Mounting Style | Surface Mount, Adhesive Mount |
| Termination Style | Connector |
| Mechanical Style | Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) |
| Customization Options | Logo, Packaging, Cables and Connectors |
| Certifications | REACH, RoHS Compliant |
| Markets | Transportation, Smart Industrial, Smart Cities, Mobility and Infrastructure, Connected Health, Mobile Communication, Public Safety |
| Key Attributes | Flexible Adhesive Mount, Ultra-Thin, Compact, Dual-band Support, Customizable |
Adopting antennas from a specialized vendor such as Aboosty provides a practical advantage, especially given the complexity and rigorous requirements introduced with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
Navigate Antenna Challenges in Next-Gen Connectivity
Certainly among wireless connectivity innovations are Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7. Improved channel bandwidth, multi-link capability, sophisticated modulation techniques, and security advancements raise performance standards.
All such brilliant technologies will be theory, until precise antenna designs and strong integration techniques
become reality.
Businesses hoping to profit from these new wireless standards have to choose carefully the antennas that will provide
wide frequency coverage, stable gain, high isolation, and seamless integration into multiple product forms. The
antenna is now a crucial performance enabler.
Featuring next-generation antennas for emerging connectivity, providers such as Aboosty keep in line with industry developments. Solutions like ADWM002 and AIWF022 are actual, high-performance products for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 ecosystems.
Antenna solutions have to keep up as connectivity criteria keep stretching technological limits. With Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 enabling a new generation of IoT, smart city, medical devices, and other applications, proper antenna selection still counts in realizing performance, reliability, and efficiency improvements.
