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Summer break. The next Newsletter will be published on 7th September 2026.
Researchers at MIT have solved a problem that has been holding back the development of lidar for years.
Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a new design for optical antennas that significantly increases the field of view of lidar systems without compromising signal quality. The new solution applies to lidar systems, which are devices used to create three-dimensional maps of the surrounding environment. The technology works in a similar way to radar, but uses laser light pulses instead of radio waves. By measuring the time it takes for the reflected signal to return, the system can determine the position of objects around it with great accuracy. The solution eliminates the problem of so-called crosstalk between circuit elements – a phenomenon that has for years been one of the biggest obstacles to the development of miniature on-chip lidar systems. This breakthrough could accelerate the development of smaller, cheaper and more reliable systems for use in autonomous cars, drones and industrial robots. The key to success turned out to be a shift away from the traditional approach to optical antenna design. Until now, engineers had built systems consisting of identical components. The MIT team decided to do the opposite.
Lidar mounted on the roof of an autonomous vehicle. This innovation could enable the lidar system to scan a wider field of view whilst maintaining a low level of noise.
The researchers have designed three different types of antenna, which differ in the width and structure of the microscopic features responsible for light emission. As a result, each antenna guides light in a slightly different way, which effectively reduces the mutual interference between neighbouring elements. At the same time, the scientists ensured that all the antennas emitted light in almost exactly the same way. It is precisely this combination of these two features that has solved a problem the researchers had been grappling with for many years. Lidars are now one of the fundamental ‘senses’ of autonomous vehicles and many robots. Thanks to them, machines are able to detect obstacles, estimate distances and navigate complex environments.
For years, scientists have been trying to replace conventional lidars with modern systems based on silicon photonics. Such systems could be manufactured in a similar way to electronic circuits, which would significantly reduce their cost and size. In practice, however, a serious problem has arisen. For a lidar system to observe a wide area, its optical antennas must be positioned very close to one another. When the distance between them becomes too small, they begin to interfere with one another. This phenomenon, known as crosstalk, leads to signal distortion and a deterioration in the quality of measurements. Increasing the spacing between the antennas was not a viable solution. This is because it resulted in the formation of additional, unwanted light beams, which could generate erroneous readings and limit the effectiveness of the entire system. As a result, the designers were faced with a difficult choice: a wide field of view or high signal quality.
Tests carried out by the MIT team have shown that the new design radically reduces crosstalk between the antennas. In conditions where traditional solutions could lead to very strong coupling between the elements, the new system has limited this effect to around one per cent. Equally importantly, the system retained the ability to produce a single, precise beam of light and enabled a much wider scan of the surrounding space without the appearance of false signals. The technology developed could pave the way for the construction of next-generation lidar systems that will be smaller, cheaper and more reliable than current solutions. Such sensors could find applications not only in autonomous cars, but also in drones, industrial robots, infrastructure monitoring systems and devices used for terrain mapping. MIT’s breakthrough shows that sometimes solving a long-standing problem does not require entirely new technology, but rather a fresh perspective on existing solutions. Thanks to three different types of antennas, the researchers have managed to overcome a limitation that has hampered the development of on-chip lidar for years. If the technology goes into production, the machines of the future will be able to ‘see’ the world more broadly and accurately than ever before.
Anniversary edition of the “Interesting Facts about Antennas” competition.
This is the twenty-fifth time we’ve invited You to take part in our summer photography challenge – we’re looking forward to seeing photos that show antennas in a completely new, creative light!
Antennas, in various shapes and sizes, have become such an integral part of the landscape that we hardly notice them in our everyday lives. We believe that these ‘invisible’ structures made of steel and plastic can be the stars of stunning photographs – all it takes is a little imagination! To back up our words and to inspire you, we invite you to view the photos from the previous 24 editions of the competition.
The photos will be judged by Mr Paweł Zechenter, a well-known photographer and filmmaker from Kraków. In addition, DIPOL’s Technical Department will award two prizes of its own. We are accepting entries until 30 September 2026.
Attractive prizes await the winners and those receiving honourable mentions:
- 1st place: Lego NASA Artemis SLS rocket
- 2nd and 3rd places: Lego Polaroid OneStep SX-70 camera
- honourable mention: mugs from the DIPOL collection
- 2 prizes from the Technical Department: TP-Link ES208GP – Omada Easy Managed Switch, 8 PoE+ ports
SIGNAL PROfessional multiswitch installation.
In the town of Szczyrk, a communal aerial system was installed on the flat roof of a multi-family residential building. Due to the building’s location in a mountainous area and the need to ensure adequate structural stability, an ATLAS-11 E8748 ballast mast was used. A DPL-120 A9684 satellite dish, 120 cm in diameter and fitted with two ‘quatro’ converters, was mounted on the ballast structure, designed to receive satellite signals, which are particularly important in areas exposed to adverse weather conditions. In addition, a 3-metre-high, 50-mm-diameter steel mast (E905131) was used, on which a set of terrestrial antennas was mounted: a Dipol 44/21-48 Tri Digit A2670 television antenna adapted for receiving DVB-T2 terrestrial television in the UHF band, and a DIPOL-4/5-12 DAB DVB-T2 A0140, designed to receive DVB-T2 terrestrial television in the VHF band and DAB+ digital radio, and a DIPOL 1/RUZ/PM A0221 omnidirectional radio antenna designed to receive FM radio signals in both horizontal (H) and vertical (V) polarisation. Subsequently, an 11-core cable trunk was routed to the server room. |  |  |
Two SIGNAL Professional MS-916 R69916 multiswitches have been installed in the building’s server room, forming the central component of the RTV-SAT signal distribution system. SIGNAL Professional switches distribute signals from Quatro converters and terrestrial antennas to subscriber sockets located within the building. Thanks to the use of multiswitches, each user is provided with independent access to the full range of satellite programmes, as well as terrestrial television and radio signals, whilst maintaining the appropriate signal quality parameters. To ensure optimal reception of terrestrial signals, a TERRA PA-420 programmable channel amplifier has also been installed. The use of a channel amplifier is particularly important in mountainous areas, where signal levels can vary significantly.
The entire system has been configured to ensure the stable and reliable distribution of satellite, television and radio signals to all reception points covered by the communal installation.
New! Signal Fire AI-12 fibre optic splicer – improved optical system, better fibre positioning.
Dipol now offers a new model of the fibre optic splicer from Signal Fire, a brand well-known and highly appreciated by installers.
Signal Fire AI-12 L5876
The AI-12 L5876 model incorporates all the tried-and-tested features and capabilities of the AI-9 model, which has been one of the world’s most popular budget splicing machines for several years. These include, amongst others:
- 6 motors enabling the fibres to be centred relative to the core and the sheath,
- a touchscreen providing access to everyday functions such as electric arc calibration,
- a smartphone app allowing, amongst other things, access to ‘smart’ features – such as temporary device lock, user-specific access restrictions, geolocation, etc.,
- a built-in OPM power meter and VFL visual fault locator,
- a high-capacity 7800 mAh battery with an LED charge indicator, enabling approximately 240 splicing cycles and weld cover sealing cycles.
Comparison of the fiber positioning process on the Signal Fire AI-12 L5876 splicer (left) and the Signal Fire AI-9 L5875 splicer (right).
The most significant change compared to previous models is the significantly higher fibre positioning accuracy of 0.05 μm. This is made possible by higher-resolution cameras and advanced image analysis algorithms. Improved fibre positioning results in even lower attenuation in the splices produced, which places the AI-12 model amongst the splicers that can be used both for subscriber connections and for connections on fibre-optic trunk lines.
 | The Signal Fire 15 fibre cutter included in the set allows you to cut the fibre in a single motion. Made from a magnesium and aluminium alloy, it weighs just 252 g. It is fitted with an integrated waste container. It offers easy access to the adjustment screws (from the underside) and the option to remove the bottom cover to access components requiring periodic cleaning. The factory-fitted blade has 24 cutting positions, enabling approximately 48,000 cuts to be made with an average cutting angle of 0.5°. | |
Integration of the Hikvision IP video door entry system with the 2-Wire IP system (Y version).
When installing a video door entry system, it often turns out that the premises already have existing cabling in place. If this is computer twisted-pair cable, the matter is straightforward and we can implement the IP system straight away, whilst enjoying its full functionality. The problem arises when only standard straight or twisted-pair cable is available, or when the installation is of a hybrid nature (where some points are connected via twisted-pair cable and others via a different type of cable). One solution could be to use a 2-Wire system exclusively. However, it is important to bear in mind that, under this standard, the permissible distances between devices and the distributor tend to be shorter than with IP technology, and the bus itself is more susceptible to interference. In the case of hybrid cabling, the optimal solution is to create a mixed system. Where twisted-pair cable is available, we install IP devices. In areas with straight-through cable, we use the 2-Wire IP system (Y version) and then integrate both solutions at the network level. For the end user, this means access to the full functionality of an IP system, whilst for the installer, it means network configuration identical to that of a uniform IP network.Diagram of a hybrid installation based on a Hikvision IP video door entry system and 2-Wire IP system
The diagram above shows a hybrid installation based on IP and 2-Wire IP (Y version) devices. A twisted-pair cable and an additional 2 x 1 mm² cable have been a twisted-pair cable and an additional 2 x 1 mm² cable have been routed. This allows full use to be made of the advantages of the IP system, which guarantees a communication range of up to 100 metres and power supply to the end device directly via PoE. An IP gate station (model DS-KV6114-MWBE1 G73613) was installed at the gate and connected to a PoE switch (model DS-3E0106HP-E N310112). An independent 12V power supply has also been routed to the station, which is necessary to activate the electric strike via the built-in relay. Inside the building, the installer laid 2 x 1 mm² straight cables to the four points designated for monitors. The distance from the power distribution unit to the furthest monitor does not exceed 20 m. Due to the specific nature of this cabling, 2-Wire IP DS-KH6320Y-WTE2 G74021 monitors were used, connected to the 2-Wire IP DS-KAD706Y G74824 power distributor. Connecting the distributor to a PoE switch enables both systems to be integrated into a single unit. Configuring a network set up in this way is exactly the same as in a standard IP system. In this scenario, pressing the call button on the gate station will trigger the doorbell on all four monitors simultaneously. Additionally, connecting the AC12G AC1300 N2933 router to the switch provides internet access, allowing the video doorphone to be operated remotely via the Hik-Connect mobile app. The connection to the internet can also be established using the Wi-Fi modules built into the monitors
RACK cabinets are ideal for the system of patch panels, switches, computers and optical devices. In the cabinet, using the shelves, you can also place non-RACK-19" devices, such as multiswitches, RF/SAT amplifiers, modulators, recorders, etc.
When selecting a RACK cabinet, of course, the number of panels should be provided for proper cable termination. However, this is not all. In addition to the height of the cabinet itself, it is worth thinking about:
- an adequate amount of space for mounting active devices; in the case of a typical multi-family building, this will be the set of amplifiers and multiswitches shown in the picture, performing RF/SAT signal distribution. Adequate width and depth of the cabinet will allow to mount the above devices on the side or rear. This saves valuable space on the front.
- vertical cable organizers – since the number of cables that enter the cabinet is large, the number of cables that cross the operator's devices (LAN switch optical splitter, etc.) with termination panels will also be large. Therefore, choosing a cabinet model equipped with vertical cable organizers seems to be the only right one. Without this element, sooner or later, there will be a huge mess on the front of the cabinet.
- the possibility of convenient and safe introduction of cables from external operators - vertical cable organizers can also be used by external operators to safely and as conveniently as possible introduce their own cabling into the cabinet. Here we are talking about multipatchcords, cables feeding optical splitters, etc. If this issue is not carefully considered, and operators are left with a free hand in this regard, they will end up with a mess, which in turn will affect the possibility of failures.
The following photos show an example of the implementation of wiring completion in a multi-family building with 102 apartments. According to the current regulations, the cabinet located in the technical room is to be the point of convergence of cables from all apartments. Each apartment should be provided with 2 coaxial cables, 2 twisted-pair computer cables and 1 dual-fiber optic cable.
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SIGNAL RACK cabinet R912016 meeting the above requirements used to terminate the cabling in a multi-family building.
A Terra multiswitch system mounted on the back of the cabinet.
A Terra multiswitch system mounted on the back of the cabinet.
 | Antenna ATK-LOG ALP LTE 10m cable SMA connector angular 800-3000MHz A7044_10K is intended for use in GSM/DCS/UMTS/HSDPA/LTE telephony systems operating in the 800-3000 MHz band. It perfectly solves the frequently encountered problem of a lack of signal in the place of installation of a modem with a GSM/UMTS/LTE card. In such a situation, it is usually sufficient to attach an antenna to the modem to obtain a signal. In addition, the antenna has an integrated cable with a length of 10 metres, terminated with an SMA plug. . | |
 | Hikvision DS-2CD1167G3-LIU IP Dome Camera (6 MPix, 2.8 mm, 0.0005 lux, hybr. ill. up to 30 m, Audio, ColorVu3.0, MD3.0, IK08) K00214 is equipped with hybrid illuminator, ColorVu 3.0 technology and motion detection 3.0. The EasyIP Lite Series cameras have the basic, most commonly used functions and are therefore the ideal solution for most installations where stable and trouble-free operation is required. Thanks to ColorVu 3.0 technology, the camera can record images at night in colour mode while retaining important identification details. Motion detection 3.0, eliminates false alarms by filtering out human/vehicle objects. The camera has a 1/2.4" CMOS sensor with a resolution of 6 Mpix and a hybrid illuminator with a range of up to 30 m, ensuring correct visibility in the absence of light. | |
 | Etrix GR-24K HDMI Grabber (USB 3.0, USB-C, HDMI up to 4K, USB 1080p) M31245 is a device that captures video and audio signals from an HDMI port, enabling them to be recorded or streamed live via a computer using a USB interface. The device converts the HDMI signal into a format recognised by the system as a webcam, meaning it does not require the installation of additional drivers and operates in Plug & Play mode. Once connected, the computer automatically detects the signal source, which can be used in recording and live streaming programmes such as: Camera (Windows), OBS Studio, VLC, or other video editing applications. | |
Worth reading:
SIGNAL PROfessional – the benefits of CWDM technology for SAT and DVB-T2 transmission via fibre optic cable. The technology used in SIGNAL PROfessional devices is based on WDM wavelength multiplexing, in which each signal path — including individual polarisations and satellite bands (VL, VH, HL, HH) as well as the terrestrial signal — is transmitted on a separate optical wavelength. This architecture ensures signal separation in the RF path, which eliminates mutual interference and significantly reduces the occurrence of non-linear distortions and intermodulation products. As a result, each channel retains its integrity, and the RF signal parameters at the receiving end remain stable and predictable, regardless of the system load. An additional advantage of WDM is that each laser operates within a narrower and more linear dynamic range, as it does not process the sum of multiple signals simultaneously. This translates into a better signal-to-noise ratio (C/N) and a higher MER...>>>more
 Optical transmitter TR-501 R69951 (4x SAT IF+Terr) SIGNAL PROfessional using CWDM technology. |  SIGNAL PROfessional TR-901 R69956 (8x SAT IF+Terr) optical transmitter using CWDM technology. |
SIGNAL PROfessional
fibre-optic and copper RTV/SAT installations
fibre-optic and copper RTV/SAT installations
