What do liquids, dust, sand, screwdrivers, wires, insects, and fingers have in common? They all can wreak havoc on electronic devices if they get inside. That’s why IP ratings are an important spec to consider when comparing devices such as antennas.
IP stands for “ingress protection” and refers to the enclosure’s ability to keep those foreign objects from getting inside. Examples of enclosures include a laptop’s shell and the housing around an external antenna mounted on a vehicle roof.
IP ratings are used worldwide and defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60259 standard and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 20653 standard. That standardization makes them a convenient, effective way to make apples-to-apples comparisons between different manufacturers’ products rather than taking descriptions such as “ruggedized” or “water resistant” at face value.
All IP ratings include two numbers, such as IP67. The first digit is for solid materials and is on a scale from 0 to 6. The second digit is for liquids and is on a scale from 0 to 9. The chart below summarizes this:
When comparing antennas, common IP ratings are IP21, IP41, IP44, IP52, IP54, IP65, IP66, IP67, and IP68. For example, IP21 indicates that the enclosure keeps out objects larger than 12.5 mm or 0.49 inch. That’s roughly the size of a finger. IP21 also indicates that the enclosure protects against falling drops of water, such as light rain. The higher the numbers, the greater the protection.
It’s important to note that IP68 is not a fixed rating. Instead, it’s based on each customer’s unique requirements. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 16 both have an IP68 rating. But the S24 is designed to withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes, while the 16 is designed for up to 6 meters for 30 minutes.
By comparison, IP67 is a fixed rating. Every device with that label can withstand up to 1 meter submersion for 30 minutes.
The highest possible rating also is one of the few with a letter following the two digits: IP69K, where the K indicates the ability to keep out water projected by high-pressure jets at temperatures of about 80C. The K also indicates that the IP test procedure followed ISO20653, which is for automotive applications. However, the device itself may be used in other types of applications besides vehicles.
For example, the Taoglas Raptor X MA8007 cellular/GNSS/Wi-Fi antenna is designed for applications such as first responder vehicles, which typically are washed with pressurized water for faster cleaning. The MA8007 also can be used in industrial applications where pressure washers and water up to 80C are routinely used to clean equipment, such as food production.
Another example is the Taoglas Neptune XAHP.30 multi-band GNSS antenna, which is designed for marine applications such as boat navigation, tracking cargo containers and mapping. Between temperature extremes, pounding waves, and corrosive salt spray, the marine environment is as demanding as it gets. To withstand that abuse, the Neptune has an IP67-rated enclosure and mount, while the antenna itself designed to operate in conditions from -40C to +85C.
The Taoglas website makes it easy to browse antennas by IP rating. Visit https://www.taoglas.com/product-category/external-antennas and then select a rating to see all available models. For example, Taoglas offers 218 external antennas with an IP67 rating.
How Impact Ratings Measure Durability
Another key spec to look for is IK ratings, which measures a device enclosure’s ability to withstand physical impact. Like their IP counterparts, IK ratings have two digits, with a higher number indicating greater protection, which is measured in joules.
For example, the Taoglas GW.22 dipole antenna has a rubber duck enclosure rated IK07, which means it can survive a 0.5 kg object dropped from 400 mm. That durability makes it a good fit for any device that needs 2.4 GHz connectivity for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Zigbee, such as point-of-sale kiosk terminals, routers, gateways, and smart home devices.
Taoglas has nine antennas with an IK10 rating, which means they can withstand a 5 kg object dropped from 400 mm. One example is the aforementioned Raptor X MA8007, whose low-profile form factor makes it ideal for mounting on vehicle roofs.
To learn more about how to select the right GNSS antenna, speak to Taoglas’ Engineering team by clicking on the button below.
