— IoT Antenna Guide · NB-IoT · LTE-M / Cat-M1
NB-IoT & Cat-M1
LTE-M Antenna
NB-IoT and LTE-M (Cat-M1) use standard LTE frequency bands — Band 28 (700 MHz) and Band 3 (1800 MHz) on Telstra and Optus. D&G supplies compact SMA-connected antennas for IoT enclosures and high-gain outdoor options for gateway deployments. Custom cable assemblies for any module connector.
Band 28 + 3
AU LPWAN Bands
SMA
Standard Connector
IP54–IP67
Enclosure Rated
50 Ω
VSWR Tested
NB-IoT vs LTE-M — Australian deployment overview
NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT)
NB-IoT is optimised for low-power, low-data devices sending small packets infrequently. In-building penetration is excellent on Band 28 (700 MHz). Devices typically draw under 5 µA in sleep mode. Most common IoT protocol for Telstra's Narrowband IoT network across AU.
LTE-M (Cat-M1)
LTE-M supports higher data rates and mobility (handover between towers), making it suitable for GPS asset tracking, connected vehicles, and devices that need occasional firmware OTA updates. Same frequency bands as NB-IoT — a single D&G antenna handles both protocols.
Recommended D&G antennas for NB-IoT and LTE-M
Both products cover Band 28 (700 MHz) and Band 3 (1800 MHz). Use DG850MB-MINI-CT for device-level installs; DG900MB-HG for gateway and outdoor aggregator deployments.
DG850MB-MINI-CT — Compact Multiband Antenna
Primary antenna for NB-IoT and LTE-M devices with SMA Female ports. Compact 160 mm × Ø14 mm fibreglass radome — fits inside enclosures, equipment cabinets, and panel-mount configurations. 5 m RG58 cable with SMA Male plug. Covers Band 28 (700 MHz) and Band 3 (1800 MHz) on a single antenna. Ideal for smart meter concentrators, IoT gateway enclosures, and DIN-rail mounted controllers.
DG900MB-HG — High Gain Multiband Outdoor Omni
Higher-gain outdoor antenna for NB-IoT and LTE-M gateways that aggregate large sensor networks. The 6 dBi gain on Band 28 provides extended link budget for rural deployments where sensors are distributed over several kilometres. IP67 rated — permanent outdoor pole or mast mount. Connect to the device via a N-Male to SMA-Male pigtail for SMA-Female-ported gateways.
SMA Male to SMA Male Pigtail
Direct pigtail for SMA Female NB-IoT/LTE-M device ports to DG850MB-MINI-CT SMA Male cable end. Standard 30 cm. For longer cable runs from panel to wall-mounted antenna, specify length on order.
N-Male to SMA-Male Pigtail
For connecting DG900MB-HG (N Female) outdoor antennas to IoT gateway devices with SMA Female ports. 30 cm standard. For mast-to-gateway runs, extend with a N-Male to N-Male LMR200/400 cable assembly between the pigtail and the antenna.
Module and device compatibility
| Device / Module | Connector | Recommended D&G antenna |
|---|---|---|
| Sierra Wireless (Semtech) HL7800 NB-IoT/LTE-M module | SMA Female | DG850MB-MINI-CT |
| u-blox SARA-R4 series NB-IoT/LTE-M module | SMA Female | DG850MB-MINI-CT |
| Quectel BC660K-GL / BG95 NB-IoT | SMA Female | DG850MB-MINI-CT |
| Nordic Semiconductor nRF9160 (cellular IoT SiP) | U.FL / pigtail to SMA | DG850MB-MINI-CT via SMA pigtail |
| Multitech mDot / xDot LoRa+Cellular | SMA Female | DG850MB-MINI-CT |
| Thinxtra / Sigfox Class 0 node with LTE-M upgrade | SMA Female | DG850MB-MINI-CT |
| IoT gateway (aggregator) — outdoor pole mount | N Female or SMA Female | DG900MB-HG (via N-Male pigtail) |
Don't see your module? Custom cable assemblies are available for any connector type including U.FL, MMCX, TNC, and N-Female.
Deployment scenarios
Smart water meter concentrator — Band 28 NB-IoT
Water meter data concentrators aggregate readings from 50–200 NB-IoT endpoint meters within a street or building precinct. The concentrator enclosure is installed in a pit, cabinet, or meter room — all poor RF environments. A DG850MB-MINI-CT mounted externally on the cabinet lid (IP54 rated) with a 5 m SMA cable routed through a gland recovers the full Band 28 signal, reducing failed reads and Telstra NB-IoT retransmissions.
Agricultural environmental sensor network — rural NB-IoT
NB-IoT soil moisture, temperature, and rainfall sensors on a remote farm site often sit in areas with marginal Telstra Band 28 coverage. The DG900MB-HG omni (6 dBi, IP67) on a 3 m fence post or shed wall provides the additional link margin to keep sensors reliably online between rain events. Single antenna covers the full 700 MHz NB-IoT range with 6 dBi gain vs the typical 2 dBi integrated module antenna.
LTE-M GPS asset tracker — fleet vehicles
LTE-M enables GPS asset tracking with real-time position updates while maintaining low power draw. Vehicle trackers installed in metal-bodied trucks suffer from body-shielding on internal antennas. A DG850MB-MINI-CT externally mounted on the cab roof — routed via SMA cable through a gland seal — provides consistent Band 28 LTE-M signal regardless of vehicle orientation or metal body proximity.
OEM IoT hardware integration — antenna to specification
IoT hardware manufacturers embedding NB-IoT or LTE-M modems (Nordic nRF9160, u-blox SARA-R4, Quectel BG95) require production-ready antenna solutions for their device housings. D&G supplies antennas and cable assemblies to specification: custom radome dimensions, cable length, connector type, and IP rating — from 50 units with no tooling charges for standard models.
Also relevant: LoRaWAN 915 MHz Antenna · 5G NR Antenna Guide · Custom Cable Assemblies
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