ASE Premium Filtered Antenna Kit - 88 Meter (ASE-PFA88)

ASE Premium Filtered Antenna Kit - 88 Meter (ASE-PFA88)

ASE-PFA88 is commonly selected when standard passive antenna kits are insufficient—typically because cable runs are long, signal conditions are degraded by obstructions, or the installation site is exposed to RF interference from nearby transmitters. ASE’s “premium” positioning emphasizes interference mitigation via RF notch filtering and the use of a matched cable length that is treated as part of the certified system.

Design and Features

Premium filtered, powered antenna architecture

ASE documentation presents the PFA series as a powered (“active”) antenna kit that includes an Iridium active antenna, a breakout/interface box, and an AC/DC power adapter. This architecture is intended to preserve signal quality over long cable runs and support consistent performance for indoor docking stations or fixed-station terminals.

88-meter engineered cable run (LMR500)

ASE-PFA88 is defined by its 88 m (289 ft) coaxial down-lead, specified as LMR500 in ASE’s premium antenna brochure and shown as LMR500 in BSN/ASE catalog shipping/spec tables.
Because coax loss increases with length, the selection of LMR500 is a practical design choice for long installations where smaller coax types would introduce excessive attenuation.

Lightning protection and grounding

Premium antenna diagrams show an inline lightning arrester (ASE-LA01) connected to earth ground, reflecting standard practice for outdoor RF installations.
BSN/ASE catalog entries for PFA kits list a “lightning arrester” as part of the system, and multiple reseller listings describe the kit as including lightning protection components.

Mounting bracket and installation geometry guidance

ASE’s premium kit diagrams emphasize a clear 360° view to the sky/horizon and depict a structured installation layout—antenna mounted above surrounding structures with an unobstructed “clearance angle,” coax routed downward, and the powered breakout box placed near the terminal connection path.
This guidance reflects the practical reality that antenna placement (sky view and interference separation) often matters as much as the radio hardware itself.

Technology and Specifications

What the BSN/ASE catalog specifies for ASE-PFA88

In BSN’s resiliency catalog, ASE-PFA88 is described as:

• Premium Filtered Active Antenna kit

• 289 ft (88 m) LMR500 cable

• premium passive filtered antenna

• lightning arrester

• interface box

• mounting bracket

• Harmonized Code (HTS): 8517.70.0000

• ECCN: EAR99

• Shipping dimensions: 20 × 16 × 14 in (41 × 36 × 20 cm)

• Shipping weight: 38 lb (17 kg)

These standardized identifiers and shipping attributes are often important for international logistics, export documentation, and project quoting.

What the ASE premium antenna brochure adds

ASE’s premium antenna brochure lists the system includes components for powered kits (PFA-27/40/70/88/105), including:

• Iridium active antenna

• Antenna mounting bracket

• Breakout box

• ASE-PS071 AC/DC power adapter

• 0.6 m LMR240 adapter cable (N to TNC)

• LMR cable (length per kit)

• Lightning arrestor

The same brochure explicitly notes that using the incorrect cable at the specified length or shortening the supplied cable can damage the antenna and invalidate warranty—reinforcing that the cable is considered part of the engineered system.

Retail channel “bill of materials” naming

Several reseller listings summarize ASE-PFA88 as including 88 m LMR500 cable, a powered, filtered antenna, a mount, a lightning arrestor, and PS071-2 (often presented as the included power adapter).
(Exact naming varies by storefront, but the component intent aligns with ASE’s brochure and BSN’s catalog descriptions.)

Applications and Use Cases

In-building Iridium fixed stations

ASE’s resiliency line is positioned to support Iridium handsets used indoors (via docking stations or fixed terminals), while maintaining the operational capability to undock the handset when needed (“grab and go”). Long-run premium antenna kits like PFA88 are commonly chosen when the antenna must be mounted far from the indoor equipment due to building layout, roof access, or security constraints.

Maritime and vessel installations

In marine installations—especially where satphones are operated below deck—moving the antenna to a higher external position can improve sky visibility and reduce blockage from superstructures. The “in-vessel” use case is explicitly highlighted in ASE premium antenna marketing materials.

Challenging RF environments and long cable paths

ASE premium kits are marketed as suitable for “challenging environments” and emphasize “intelligent noise reduction” using an RF notch filter alongside low-loss cabling. This positioning aligns with deployments near RF congestion (e.g., co-located radios, antenna farms, industrial sites) where interference can degrade receiver sensitivity.

Advantages / Benefits

Supports long cable runs with engineered performance

The defining advantage of ASE-PFA88 is the ability to support a very long (88 m) coax run while maintaining a system architecture intended for reliable Iridium performance—combining LMR500 down-lead cable, powered components, and installation guidance that prioritizes sky view.

Interference mitigation via filtering

ASE’s premium line highlights RF notch filtering as part of its “noise reduction” approach. In practice, this can help stabilize performance where out-of-band RF energy would otherwise reduce effective receiver sensitivity.

Lightning protection integrated into the kit concept

Premium powered kit diagrams and reseller component lists include a lightning arrestor and show grounding as part of the installation layout. This is especially relevant for rooftop and mast-mounted antennas exposed to weather and transient surges.

FAQ Section 

What is ASE Premium Filtered Antenna Kit – 88 Meter (ASE-PFA88)?

ASE-PFA88 is a Premium Filtered Active Antenna kit for Iridium systems that includes an 88 m (289 ft) LMR500 cable, a filtered antenna system, lightning protection, and an interface/breakout box designed for long-run installations.

How does ASE-PFA88 work?

The kit relocates the Iridium antenna to an optimal external position with clear sky view, routes the signal over a long low-loss coax run, and uses a powered interface architecture (breakout box + power adapter) plus filtering to maintain stable performance at the indoor docking station or terminal.

Why is ASE-PFA88 important?

Long cable runs and RF congestion can degrade satellite phone performance. ASE-PFA88 is engineered for long-distance (88 m) installations and emphasizes filtering and system-matched cabling to reduce noise and preserve link reliability.

What are the benefits of ASE-PFA88?

Key benefits include support for 88 m cable runs (LMR500), RF notch filter-based noise reduction, inclusion of a lightning arrester, and a powered breakout box architecture intended for professional in-building or in-vessel installations.

Can I shorten the supplied cable?

ASE’s premium antenna brochure warns that using an incorrect cable length or shortening the supplied cable can damage the antenna and invalidate warranty, indicating the cable length is part of the engineered system.

Summary

The ASE-PFA88 Premium Filtered Antenna Kit (88 meter) is a long-run, professional Iridium antenna solution designed for in-building and in-vessel deployments where standard antenna kits may fall short. BSN/ASE catalog data defines it as a Premium Filtered Active Antenna kit with 88 m (289 ft) LMR500 cable, an interface box, lightning protection, and mounting hardware, while the ASE premium brochure highlights the powered architecture and filtering intended to reduce noise and improve reliability in challenging environments.