Times-7 A5020 Series User manual

A 5020 Product Guide
A 5020 Slimline Antenna amily
High levels of
performance and
durability in an
aesthetically superior
form
www.times-7.com |A5020 Product Guide | Product guide V1 - 09/21 | Page 1

Table of Contents
www.times-7.com |A5020 Product Guide | September 2021 | Page 2
INTRODUCTION03
A5020 FAMILY OVERVIEW04
ANTENNA SELECTION GUIDE
Antenna Read Range
Antenna Radiation Pattern
Applications
MOUNTING OPTIONS
05
CABLES
ORDER INFORMATION
12
05
06
ANTENNA DETAILS
A5020 Near Field
A5020 Mid Range
A5020 Circularly Polarized
A5020 Linear Extreme
08
09
10
11
13
14
FURTHER INFORMATION
Environmental Tests
Product Drawings
Disclaimers
15
16
21
05
08
15

Introduction
A 5020 Design Criteria
At Times-7, our customers come first. This is why we're always innovating to bring you the best products and
solutions for your applications. Our A5020 antennas are a SlimLine™ multipurpose series consisting of the Circular
Polarized, Near Field and our new models, the Mid-Range and Linear Extreme antenna. The Times-7 team is excited
to bring you this range of antennas and work with you to make your implementations successful.
Key Benefits
A slim antenna that can be used inside or out.
An IP68 rated antenna to ensure performance in wet
and dirty locations.
A robust antenna that can withstand the rigour of
industrial environments.
An easy to mount antenna using standard VESA
mounts.
A good looking antenna that blends into the
background.
The A5020 Circular Polarized is one of our best-selling
antennas because it was designed to be robust yet
compact, making it a valuable component of a large variety
of applications. In designing the A5020 family, we have
stayed true to our responsive, reliable, and innovative
values. We have listened intently and designed a reliable
antenna based on your feedback. You told us you valued:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The robust nature and superior performance of these
antennas allow you to quickly and accurately track
inventory and assets. Our robust RAIN RFID A5020
antennas offer the high performance and range needed
for high traffic tracking with precision.
Our A5020 range of antennas offers versatility and high
performance. They meet the criteria needed for diverse
applications and environments, including outdoor,
industrial, and customer-facing scenarios.
Our A5020 antennas blend beautifully into any customer
environment. They are also rugged, with a high IP68
rating that can be used in extreme weather conditions.
The slim and compact design allows these antennas to fit
into small spaces. The flush and VESA mounting options
make installation and mounting simple.
Why use an A 5020
antenna ?
Compact size for non-obstructive
operation.
Flexible and easy mounting options.
High ingress protection for dirty and
wet environments.
Suitable for different environmental
conditions.
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Easy to store and transport.

A5020 Family Overview
The A5020 series: Attractive, rugged and versatile.
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Selection Guide
Antenna Read Range
The antenna selection guide will help to break down which type of beam shape is right for your application. Once
you have selected the correct beam shape you can easily determine which A5020 antenna is the right fit for you.
A5020 Radiation Pattern
The A5020 family has a consistent beam
shape that retains its relative symmetry
across the reader power range.
Using innovative design improves the
overall antenna performance, reliability,
accuracy and ensures the beam shape
remains true at all power levels.
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Selection Guide
Applications
The antennas in the A5020 family are all versatile and can be used in customer-facing and indoor /outdoor
applications. However, each member of the family has been designed with specific applications in mind. The
following are examples of where you may choose a specific A5020 variant.
Near Field Applications - A5020 NF
Mid Range Applications - A5020 MR
Direct Contact Reads
The A5020 NF antenna is best used when you only want to read things that
come in direct contact with the antenna. To record a high-value precision
instrument or tool usage, it would need to be scanned before the lock can be
released. Only an antenna with a proximity reader and no far-field reading
ability is suitable for these needs.
Tap 'n Go and touch applications
The A5020 NF antenna impresses with an extremely close read range of 10
cm / 4” from the antenna’s surface, suitable for purchase and payment
applications. Although the A5020 NF cannot read credit/debit cards equipped
with HF RFID, it is widely used to scan proprietary UHF badges to purchase
goods. For example, employees can scan their badges to pay for food bought
from their cafeteria.
Kiosk / Self Check Out / POS
The A5020 MR antenna’s lower gain RF radiation can be confined to a
smaller zone while operating at low power. The antenna is best suited for
kiosks and POS applications where a confined read zone is a key
requirement. The antenna is aesthetically appealing and fits into every
environment.
Cabinetry and Shelves
The A5020 MR has a lower gain than the A5020 CP antenna, yet it can read
across a cabinet shelf without extending its reads beyond the intended
zone.
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Waste Management
The A5020 is IP68 rated, meaning it is suitable for permanent outdoor
installations. The ‘all-plastic- housing prevents the antenna from corroding. The
antenna can also be cleaned with cleaning agents. The ~100° beamwidth of the
A5020 antenna makes applications like wheelie bin detection straightforward.
The physical size of the antenna is small, and thus installation in waste
management trucks is hassle-free.
Selection Guide
Applications
Multi-purpose applications - A5020 CP
For Extreme Environment Applications - A5020 LX
Retail
The A5020 CP is a rugged antenna meaning it is ideal for asset tracking and
encoding RFID tags. This antenna has a typical read range distance of 4m
allowing manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, for example, to track their
inventory throughout the supply chain, from the warehouse shelves all the way
to the sales floor.
Deep Freezer (-90°C)
The A5020 LX can operate at low-temperature extremes. High-value
pharmaceutical assets can be tracked in fridges and freezers using the A5020
LX antenna. The slim design maximizes the usable space inside of a
refrigerator. The antenna can handle general-purpose cleaning agents and is
water-resistant. The grey colored A5020 LX antenna is suitable for hospitals,
medical laboratories, research industries and pharmaceutical laboratories.
Food, Meat and Chemical Manufacturing Processes
The A5020 LX is IP69K rated, so it can survive high-pressure water cleaning,
which is often done in food processing industries. The antenna cover is also
resistant to general-purpose chemicals.
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A 5020 Near ield
Ultra-Rugged, Low Profile Near Field Antenna
The A5020 Near Field is designed to operate in ‘tap 'n go’
environments where only objects that come into close contact with
the antenna will be tracked. This prevents stray reads and is ideal for
situations where accuracy is paramount, like access control and
point of sale. It is specifically tuned to read-only in the near field
zone of 0.1 meters (4 inches).
The A5020 range is built to Times-7’s high standard for quality and
ruggedness. Being rated IP68 the A5020 NF can also be used for
permanent outdoor applications. As well as being durable, its
pleasing and timeless design blends beautifully with most interiors
and makes the A5020 NF very suitable for customer-facing
environments
IP68 rated for tap 'n go applications
A5020 NF Specifications
Antenna Planes:
A5020 NF
865-928 MHz / WB
Part No.
72057
Antenna Product Code Band
A5020 NF
Ordering Information
Please quote product code, band and part no when ordering
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Polarization Not Applicable
Dimensions 150.7 mm x 149.4 mm x 14.5 mm 5.93" x 5.88" x 0.57"
Connector
Far Field Gain
Far Field Beam width
Nominal Impedance
Antenna Detection
Maximum Input Power
SMA female (Jack) / side connector
Equivalent to -30 dBi
Not Applicable
50 Ω
100 Ω resistance
3 W
Net: 0.18 kg / 0.38 lbs. Gross: 0.23kg / 0.5 lbs.Weight
Mounting Options Flush or 100 x 100 mm VESA mount
Environmental rating IP68
UV Resistant and Fire-Retardant WHITE ABS
Not Applicable
180 mm x 155 mm x 25 mm 7.09" x 6.10" x 0.98"
1.4 typical
Not Applicable
865-928 MHz (ETSI & FCC)
30mm 8g Phillips, white colored wood screws
Operating and Storage temp -30° to +65°C / -22° to +149°F
Randome Material
Axial Ratio
Boxed unit Dimensions (L x W x D)
VSWR:
Front to back
Frequency range
A5020 Flush Screws

902-928 MHz / FCC
Antenna Product Code Band
A5020 MR
A5020 MR 865-868 MHz / ETSI
Part No.
72388
72389
A 5020 Mid Range
Ultra - Rugged , Low Profile Mid Range Antenna
Equipped with the familiar and industry-leading Times-7 SlimLine™
profile, the A5020 MR offers a compact footprint of only 150 mm /
5.9-inch square in a very smart-looking design. The A5020 MR is
designed to operate in complex and busy environments where stray
reads risk productivity and accuracy. It is specifically tuned to read
beyond the near field zone, ensuring that things in the mid-range
proximity of up to 1.5m are accurately tracked while ignoring items
further away.
The A5020 range is built to Times-7’s high standard for quality and
ruggedness. Being rated IP68, the A5020 MR can also be used for
permanent outdoor applications.
IP68 rating for permanent indoor / outdoor use
A 5020 MR Specifications
XZ Plane YZ Plane
Ordering Information
Please quote product code, band and part no when ordering
A5020 MR
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Radiation Pattern and Antenna Planes
Polarization RHCP (Right Hand Circular Polarized)
Dimensions 150.7 mm x 149.4 mm x 14.5 mm 5.93" x 5.88" x 0.57"
Connector
Far Field Gain
Far Field Beam width
Nominal Impedance
Antenna Detection
Maximum Input Power
SMA female (Jack) / side connector
-3 dBiC typical
115° in XZ and 105° in YZ plane
50 Ω
10K Ω resistance
3 W
Weight
Mounting Options Flush or 100 x 100 mm VESA mount
Environmental rating IP68
UV Resistant and Fire-Retardant WHITE ABS
2.5 dB typical
180 mm x 155 mm x 25 mm 7.09" x 6.10" x 0.98"
1.8 typical
-8 dB
865-868 MHz (ETSI) / 902-928 MHz (FCC)
30mm 8g Phillips, white colored wood screws
Operating and Storage temp -30° to +65°C / -22° to +149°F
Randome Material
Axial Ratio
Boxed unit Dimensions (L x W x D)
VSWR:
Front to back
Frequency range
A5020 Flush Screws
Net: 0.20kg / 0.44 lbs. Gross: 0.25kg / 0.55 lbs.

902-928 MHz / FCC
Antenna Product Code Band
A5020 CP
A5020 CP 865-868 MHz / ETSI
Part No.
60010
60011
A5020 CP
A 5020 Circular Polarized
Ultra - Rugged , Low Profile Multi Purpose Antenna
IP68 rated in a compact and smart design.
A 5020 CP Specifications
XZ Plane YZ Plane
Ordering Information
Equipped with the familiar and industry-leading Times-7 ultra-low
profile, the A5020 CP offers a compact footprint of only 150 mm /
5.9-inch square in a very smart-looking design. With a significantly
improved radiation pattern than most other antennas of similar
size in the market, the A5020 CP antenna creates a new
benchmark for multi-purpose UHF RFID antennas.
The A5020 range is built to Times-7’s high standard for quality and
ruggedness. Being rated IP68, the A5020 CP can be used for
permanent outdoor applications. As well as being durable, its
pleasing and timeless design blends beautifully with most
interiors and makes the A5020 CP very suitable for customer-
facing environments.
Please quote product code, band and part no when ordering
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180 mm x 155 mm x 25 mm 7.09" x 6.10" x 0.98"
-10 dB typical
865-868 MHz (ETSI) / 902-928 MHz (FCC)
RHCP (Right Hand Circular Polarized)
5 dBiC typical
105° in both planes
Net: 0.23 kg / 0.51 lbs.; Gross: 0.28 kg / 0.62 lbs.
Radiation Patterns and Antenna Planes
Polarization
Dimensions 150.7 mm x 149.4 mm x 14.5 mm 5.93" x 5.88" x 0.57"
Connector
Far Field Gain
Far Field Beam width
Nominal Impedance
Antenna Detection
Maximum Input Power
SMA female (Jack) / side connector
50 Ω
10K resistance
3 W
Weight
Mounting Options Flush or 100 x 100 mm VESA mount
Environmental rating IP68
UV Resistant and Fire-Retardant WHITE ABS
1.4 typical
30mm 8g Phillips, white wood screws
Operating and Storage temp -30° to +65°C / -22° to +149°F
Randome Material
Axial Ratio
Boxed unit Dimensions (L x W x D)
VSWR:
Front to back
Frequency range
A5020 Flush Screws
2 dB typical

902-928 MHz / FCC
Antenna Product Code Band
A5020 LX
A5020 LX 865-868 MHz / ETSI
Part No.
72386
72387
150.7 mm x 149.4 mm x 14.5 mm 5.93" x 5.88" x 0.57"
100° in XZ and 105° in YZ plane
Vertical Linearly Polarized
Not Applicable
2.5 typical
-12 dB
865-868 MHz (ETSI) / 902-928 MHz (FCC)
30mm 8g Phillips silver colored wood screws
-90° to +65°C / -130° to +149°F
A 5020 Linear Extreme
Ultra-Rugged, Low Profile Extreme Antenna
The A5020 LX is designed to operate in environments where
temperature, dirt and water levels are extreme. Being IP69k rated, It
can withstand high-pressure water cleaning, making it ideal for
situations where hygiene is critical, and equipment is subject to
regular and intense cleaning. It has also been designed for the
medical industry’s need to store vaccines, organs and tissues at
temperatures as low as -90C.
The A5020 range is built to Times-7’s high standard for quality and
ruggedness. Being rated IP69k, the A5020 LX can also be used for
permanent outdoor applications.
IP68 and IP69K rated for medical and healthcare industries
A5020 LX Specifications
Radiation Patterns and Antenna Planes
XZ Plane YZ Plane
Ordering Information
Please quote product code, band and part no when ordering
A5020 LX
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180 mm x 155 mm x 25 mm 7.09" x 6.10" x 0.98"
5 dBi typical
Net: 0.23 kg / 0.51 lbs.; Gross: 0.28 kg / 0.62 lbs.
Polarization
Dimensions
Connector
Far Field Gain
Far Field Beam width
Nominal Impedance
Antenna Detection
Maximum Input Power
SMA female (Jack) / side connector
50 Ω
0 Ω resistance
3 W
Weight
Mounting Options Flush or 100 x 100 mm VESA mount
Environmental rating IP68 and IP69K
UV Resistant and Fire-Retardant GREY ABS
Operating and Storage temp
Randome Material
Axial Ratio
Boxed unit Dimensions (L x W x D)
VSWR:
Front to back
Frequency range
A5020 Flush Screws

Mounting Options
The recessed corner mounting holes of the A5020 support 100 x
100mm VESA spaced mounting brackets, as shown in the picture.
The innovative slim design of the A5020, equipped with an SMA
connector, allows for totally flush mounting using the corner
holes.
If drilling through the surface of the antenna is not an option,
each antenna is provided with a self-adhesive rubber feet kit.
These can be attached over the integrated mounting holes to
stop the antenna from slipping.
Information
The mounting holes
of the A5020 support
VESA spaced
mounting brackets as
shown in the picture.
Caution
Ensure that only finger tightness is used for the SMA
connector.
The use of tools to tighten the connector will apply
excessive force and will damage the connector.
Avoid any load or bending force from the cable on the
connector.
Connector Protection Plate
Due to the slim design of the A5020 LX, CP, MR and NF the antennas are equipped with SMA connectors. To provide
the connector with extra protection, Times-7 provides Connector Protection Backplates to protect the connector
from hits, especially when mounted on a bracket in free space. The backplate can be used with right-angled or
straight cables.
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Cable Accessories
When purchasing one of our antennas, you will need a coaxial cable to connect our antennas to a reader; just like
with every other component of your RFID application, the better the quality of the selected cable, the better the
performance. That’s why we offer a range of high-quality, low loss cables at attractive prices. All of our standard
cables are equipped with SMA to RPTNC connectors. We can also customize cables to your specific requirements
for length and connectors on request.
How to choose the correct cable?
To help you select the right cable for your application, ask
yourself these questions:
1. Cable loss: How much power loss is acceptable before it
significantly impacts the read performance?
2. Bending radius of the cable: How flexible must the cable be?
3. Cable thickness: Ensure that the cable or cable connector is
not thicker than the antenna when flush mounting an A5020
antenna.
For more information about our cable options view the datasheet here.
Cable Selection
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Cable Type Cable Length Approx. Losses (dB)
T-7 195 2 m 0.65
T-7 240
2 m 0.39
4 m 0.78
6 m 1.17
8 m 1.56
2 m 0.26
4 m
6 m
0.51
0.77
8 m 1.03
T-7 400
Min. Bend Radius
25mm
30mm
51mm

Ordering Information
Antenna Product Code Band/ model Part No.
A5020 CP
A5020 CP
A5020 NF
A5020 MR
A5020 MR
A5020 LX
A5020 LX
902-928 MHz / FCC
865-868 MHz / ETSI
60010
60011
865-928 MHz / WB 72057
72388
72389
72386
72387
902-928 MHz / FCC
902-928 MHz / FCC
865-868 MHz / ETSI
865-868 MHz / ETSI
Cable Accessories and Product Code Cable Type Part No.
Cable 2 m, SMA to RPTNC
Cable 4 m, SMA to RPTNC
Cable 6 m, SMA to RPTNC
Cable 8 m, SMA to RPTNC
T7 195 /240 / 400
T7 240 / 400
T7 240 / 400
T7 240 / 400
71436 / 71782 / 72042
71782 / 72043
71904 / 72044
71788 / 72045
Low Temperature and Water Resistant
Cable Accessories and Product Code Cable Type Part No.
Cable 2 m, RT SMA to RPTNC
Cable 4 m, RT SMA to RPTNC
Cable 6 m, RT SMA to RPTNC
Cable 8 m, RT SMA to RPTNC
T7 RG-142 type
T7 RG-142 type
T7 RG-142 type
T7 RG-142 type
Ordering Information (please quote product code, band / cable type & part no.)
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72395
72396
72397
72398
View the Times-7 Cable Accessory datasheet here.
For additional information such as RoHS, CE, REACH, CAD models, please contact us at [email protected].
Other Accessories Compatibility Part No.
Connector Protector Back Plate A5020 LX/ CP/ MR/ NF 72394-FG

Test Standard Duration
IPX Dust AS60529 - 2004
Temp Notes
8 Hrs Severity: Vacuum, up tp
-2KPa
IPX8
Immersion
AS60529 - 2004 30 Min
Severity: 1.5 Depth
Basic Vibration IEC60068 - 2-64 1 Hrs per
axis - 3 axis
Severity: Vehicle vibration
10-500 MHz 1.04g rms
Severity: Half sine 10g,
11ms
5 pulses/ direction-
6 direction
MiL-STD-810GShock Test
Thermal Shock IEC60068 - 2 - 14 5 Cycles - 2 Hrs
precondition -65 ° to +65 °
+35 °24 HrsASTMB117Salt Fog
Extra Tests For The A5020 LX
Test Standard Duration Temp Notes
IPX Dust IEC 60529 8 Hrs
IPX 9K High pressure
steam jet cleaning IEC 60529
30 seconds at each
angle, 0°, 30°, 60°
and 90°
8000 - 1000 kPa pressure at
80°C temperature
Thermal storage and
operation 2000 + Hrs -90 °C
Environmental Tests
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