This blog post has been provided by Juraj Taptic, RF Elements Co-Founder and CEO
RF elements® antennas are built around the TwistPort™ waveguide interface, eliminating lossy pigtails and creating a clean, mechanically integrated RF connection.
To connect radios that use coaxial outputs, RF elements offer TwistPort Adaptors (TPA) — converting standard coax interfaces into a TwistPort male waveguide interface, while providing easy and secure integration and minimized insertion loss..
As networks evolve from 5 GHz to 6 GHz and multi-band deployments, selecting the correct TPA becomes essential.
While a TPA may look like a simple accessory, it plays a critical role in:
Unlike standard pigtails, TPAs use controlled semi-rigid coax internally and are not repeatedly threaded, twisted and bent, ensuring consistent long-term performance.
Every RF engineer understands the principle of matching the intended working band of a radio with the working band of an antenna. Wrong choice can result in radio damage caused by reflected signal coming back from the unmatched antenna to radio output circuits.
TPAs shall be considered the functional part of the antenna once they are connected to it. Therefore use exactly the same rule of thumb - always match the working bands of the radio, TPA and antenna to create a coherent and compatible setup.
The rule is very simple: Freq Range of Radio ≤ Freq Range of TPA ≤ Freq Range of Antenna
In case you are not sure about the intended setup, we are happy to help with our qualified recommendation.
One of the biggest advantages of the TwistPort ecosystem: If a network operator changes radio vendor, the antennas remain. Only the adaptor needs to be replaced. The upgrades and replacements are super easy and quick procedures.
TP ecosystem allows:
Let's take a look at TPAs in terms of frequency segmentation and compatibility to a vendor platform.
To ensure mechanical precision and optimal RF transition, RF elements offers TPAs tailored to specific radio platforms.
TPA for Ubiquiti (UI)
Common models include:
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TPA for Cambium Networks ePMP SeriesSince Cambium Networks keep consistent form factor of their AP radios in ePMP line, all is needed is to focus on a form factor and frequency range Common models include:
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TPA for MikroTikDesigned for MikroTik RouterBOARD allows easy mechanical integration aligned to MikroTik RB form factor. Common models include:
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TPA for MimosaOptimized for Mimosa waveguide radios. Simple waveguide-to-waveguide adaptor with near-zero loss. Common models include:
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Universal TPAs with RP-SMAFor radios not covered by platform-specific TPAs, RF elements offer Universal TwistPort Adaptors (SMA variants). Features:
Universal TPAs allow almost any connectorized radio to be connected to TwistPort ported antennas. Common models include: |
Designed for traditional U-NII-1 to U-NII-3 band deployments, 5 GHz TPAs support standard 5 GHz radios. They maintain optimized impedance and insertion loss in the 5 GHz band. They are ideal for:
With certain symmetrical horn and dish antennas, the legacy TPA feeding structure can deliver acceptable performance even into the 6 GHz band. This is reflected in our recommendations for transition scenarios, where legacy solutions may be used temporarily until dedicated wideband structures are available.
With the expansion of Wi-Fi 6E and 6 GHz PtMP radios, 6 GHz TPAs are engineered for U-NII-3 to U-NII-7 band outdoor deployments. They are optimized to provide tighter tolerances and stable performance across the 6 GHz band
Recommended for:
The Wideband TPA supports both bands within a single adaptor. Designed to cover U-NII-1 through U-NII-8 band deployments, delivering excellent VSWR and class leading port isolation.
The 5 + 6 GHz wideband TPAs are scheduled for release in 2026, alongside radio platforms capable of fully utilizing their wideband performance. Stay tuned for updates on availability.