Case Study: Legion Iridium Fire Services Fleet

Co-Designing a Custom Antenna for an Australian Fire and Rescue Fleet

Overview

In mission-critical emergency response, communication can be the difference between safety and catastrophe. An Australian emergency services agency recently faced an operational challenge: their vehicle fleet required simultaneous access to cellular, Wi-Fi and satellite communications—all constrained within a tight physical footprint on vehicle roofs. 
By partnering early with RFI Technology Solutions, the agency deployed a custom-engineered solution within just three months, successfully kitting out over 450 vehicles.

The Challenge: Space Constraints & Multiband Requirements

Emergency vehicles are packed with critical hardware, leaving minimal rooftop space. The agency needed a single, low-profile combination antenna capable of housing multiple distinct communication protocols without signal degradation. 

Technical Requirements:

• Cellular Connectivity: 2x2 MIMO 4G LTE / 5G
  
• Local Wi-Fi: 2x2 MIMO Dual-Band (2.4GHz / 5GHz)
  
• Satellite Fallback: Dedicated Iridium satellite connectivity 
• Form Factor: A single, low-profile radome enclosing all elements 
  

While looking into alternative solutions on the market, the agency discovered that most other antenna brands either did not support the Iridium satellite protocol within a unified combination antenna or delivered underwhelming performance during testing. 

The Solution: RFI’s Rapid Engineering

The Fire Agency contacted RFI to outline the problem. Within three months, RFI adapted the design of its high-performance LEGION-MINI antenna platform to integrate a dedicated Iridium element alongside wideband cellular and Wi-Fi arrays.

The LEGION Mini 5-in-1 Combination Antenna Series

A specialised 5-in-1 screw-mount solution delivered the exact combination required:

• 2 x WiFi Elements 
• 2 x 5GNR / LTE Elements 
  
• 1 x Iridium Satellite Element 
• 5 x 0.8m leads terminated with SMA (M) connectors 

The design maintained superior performance across the cellular and Wi-Fi elements while adding the essential Iridium capabilities crucial for the agency's operations. 

The Results: 450+ Vehicles Upgraded

Working with an experienced, mature antenna partner allowed for a quick turnaround of a specialised solution without sacrificing quality. 

• Fleet Deployment: Supplied over 450 units to completely kit out the fleet. 
• Simplified Fitouts: Enclosing all separate antennas within the same radome allowed for quick, easy, and space-efficient vehicle installation. 
• Reliable Field Links: Fleet vehicles now maintain uninterrupted mission-critical links by seamlessly transitioning across cellular, Wi-Fi, and satellite networks.
  

Key Takeaway:

This project highlights the importance of choosing antenna solutions early as an integral portion of vehicle design. RFI’s experience and deep technical connections allowed for the rapid turnaround of a specialised solution that ensured project success.

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