Laird Technologies Phantom Elite Antennas Power Communications for Speed, Safety on V8 Supercars

Laird's revolutionary Phantom Elite antennas are state-of-the-art antennas for audio and data communications. They are low profile, aerodynamic and weatherproof, making them ideal for outdoor use on racing cars. The ruggedized VHF, UHF, multi-band antennas are used for two-way voice and data communication, cellular (LTE) and wireless broadband network communications for vehicular and mobile applications.

Racecomms, a motorsports specialists based in Australia and the official radio infrastructure supplier for Australian V8 Supercars, researched vehicular antennas in motorsports across the world. “The Phantom Elite offered a lot of advantages on paper for V8 Supercars,” said Matt Gibson, of Racecomms. “But, the true test was to let the race team engineers try out the product. If they thought it gave them an advantage, they would want it for their team, and the Laird Phantom Elite was chosen as the antenna standard for the 2013 season.”

The revolutionary design features field diversity with both vertical and horizontal polarization components. This gives the antennas frequency agility, low visibility, wide bandwidth and a low agile radiation pattern that is superior in most applications. Laird’s Phantom antennas are not only outfitted on Australian V8 Supercars, but they are also used by public safety, utility and transportation providers.

“The Phantom Elite antennas are truly innovative,” said Dion Chua, Laird Technologies territory sales manager. “They are less than half the length of a traditional whip antenna, but they outperform a 3db whip in many applications.”

The Phantom Elite series also features an optional mabd base, which does not need to be removed before the V8 Supercars are stacked for a grueling travel schedule from Australia to New Zealand, the U.S., and other stops. Gibson partnered with Laird’s Australian-based distributor, Control Synergy, to deliver the antennas to the teams.

“All of the teams have had great results so far with the Phantom Elite antennas,” Gibson explained. “The support from both Laird and Control Synergy has been extraordinary.”
2013 marks the first season for the next generation of V8 Supercars with the Car of the Future (CoTF). These cars are lighter, more agile, and more economical. V8 Supercars’ next race is the V8 Supercars Austin 400, Friday-Sunday, May 17-19, the only stopover in the United States and the fifth on the 2013 Australian V8 Supercars schedule

Through innovation, reliable fulfillment and speed, Laird is a trusted partner and supplier for many of the world’s leading companies. An industry leader in the design and manufacture of antennas for mobile devices and wireless data, Laird possesses end-to-end system knowledge and employs advanced, proprietary design tools to bring novel antenna designs to market. Antenna product offerings consists of Industrial Wireless, Telecom, Public Safety and Enterprise and Small Office antennas.