BSN NAL 12 Meter Filtered Antenna Kit (ASE-FA12)

BSN NAL 12 Meter Filtered Antenna Kit (ASE-FA12)

BSN (Blue Sky Network) catalogs list ASE-FA12 as a passive antenna kit supplied with a 40 ft (12 m) LMR400 coaxial cable, a passive antenna, and an antenna mount. Some resellers and procurement documents also describe the kit as “filtered” or “RF shielding,” reflecting its positioning for challenging RF environments, even when the core manufacturer catalog entry emphasizes the passive-kit configuration and included cable/mount.

Design and Features

Passive remote-antenna architecture

ASE-FA12 is a passive antenna kit, meaning the antenna itself does not require external power (unlike active antennas that incorporate amplification and usually require power injection). Passive kits are valued for simplicity and reliability, but they make coaxial cable loss and mounting location especially important: a poor cable choice or a heavily obstructed mount point can negate the benefits of an outdoor antenna.

BSN’s resiliency catalog explicitly defines the kit as:

• Passive Antenna kit

• 40 ft (12 m) LMR400 cable

• Passive antenna

• Mount

12 meters as a “standard building run”

A 12 m cable length is commonly suited to “roof-to-room” installations—mounting the antenna on a roof edge, mast, pole, or exterior wall and routing coax down to a communications room, office, bridge, or security desk. The inclusion of LMR400 in ASE-FA12 is significant because it is a lower-loss RF cable than thinner consumer-grade coax, which can improve real-world performance in satellite-band installations where every dB matters.

Mounting flexibility

The kit includes a mount intended to support common fixed installations (pole/pipe or structure mounting depending on site hardware). In practice, the mount’s goal is to place the antenna with a clearer 360° sky view, minimizing blockage from walls, roofs, masts, or superstructures.

Technology and Specifications

What the BSN/ASE catalog specifies

The BSN “Resiliency Solutions” catalog provides standardized compliance and logistics data for ASE-FA12, useful for procurement and international shipping:

• Harmonized Code (HTS): 8517.70.0000

• ECCN: EAR99

• Shipping dimensions: 16 × 14 × 8 in (41 × 36 × 20 cm)

• Shipping weight: 6 lbs (≈3 kg)

Lightning protection as a recommended accessory

The same catalog line lists ASE-LA02 as a lightning arrester for antenna kits (ASE-FA12 and ASE-FA20), indicating that lightning/surge protection is considered a relevant accessory for outdoor installs.
(Actual grounding/bonding requirements depend on local electrical code and site conditions.)

Iridium band compatibility (from kit ecosystem specs)

Retail technical listings for the ASE passive antenna family (covering the FA12 configuration) describe Iridium-band operation and typical passive antenna characteristics used with Iridium handsets and docking stations, including:

• Frequency: 1616 MHz to 1626.5 MHz

• Antenna head connection: TNC female

• Polarization: Right-hand circular (RHCP)
  These characteristics are commonly associated with Iridium external antennas intended for reliable satellite link acquisition across different satellite geometries.

Applications and Use Cases

Indoor Iridium satphone operation (dock, cradle, or fixed station)

A common ASE-FA12 deployment is a satphone that must be accessible indoors (office, security post, emergency operations center) but cannot reliably connect from inside due to roof attenuation, reinforced concrete, or metal construction. By moving the antenna outside, the handset can often be used more consistently without requiring the user to step outdoors for every call or message.

Marine and offshore environments

On vessels, Iridium handsets often struggle below deck because steel structures and waterline geometry reduce satellite visibility. A remote antenna kit can be mounted on a mast or rail to provide better sky exposure while allowing the phone to remain in the bridge or communications space.

RF-congested sites and “shielding/filtered” positioning

Some procurement references describe ASE-FA12 as a “Passive Antenna Kit w/RF shielding”, which aligns with use in sites where interference or dense RF infrastructure may degrade reception. In these cases, installers typically focus on: improving antenna placement, ensuring correct cable type/length, and (when needed) adding surge protection and proper grounding.

Advantages / Benefits

Better satellite visibility without moving the user

ASE-FA12’s core benefit is separating antenna location from handset location. Instead of forcing users to find a “sweet spot” outdoors, the antenna can be mounted where it has better satellite line-of-sight.

Engineered cable length and kit consistency

BSN specifies a complete passive kit with 12 m LMR400, a known cable type and length that supports repeatable installations.

Simplicity of passive systems

Passive antenna kits avoid powered components and power injectors used in active antenna solutions, reducing installation complexity for standard-length runs.

FAQ Section 

What is the BSN NAL 12 Meter Filtered Antenna Kit (ASE-FA12)?

ASE-FA12 is a passive Iridium remote antenna kit that includes a 40 ft (12 m) LMR400 cable, a passive antenna, and an antenna mount to support indoor or marine satellite-phone installations.

How does ASE-FA12 work?

ASE-FA12 improves performance by mounting the antenna where it has better sky visibility (typically outdoors) and routing the RF signal indoors over LMR400 coax to the satphone or dock.

Why is ASE-FA12 important?

Satellite phones frequently underperform indoors due to building materials and obstructions. A remote antenna kit addresses the root cause by improving antenna placement while keeping the phone accessible where users need it.

What are the benefits of ASE-FA12?

Key benefits include improved Iridium connectivity indoors, a standard 12 m cable run, passive-system simplicity (no power required at the antenna head), and compatibility with common Iridium handset/docking workflows.

Does ASE-FA12 support lightning protection?

BSN lists ASE-LA02 as a lightning arrester for ASE-FA12 and ASE-FA20 antenna kits, indicating it as a relevant accessory for outdoor installations.

Summary

The BSN NAL ASE-FA12 is a standardized 12-meter passive Iridium remote antenna kit built around LMR400 coax, a passive antenna, and a mount—aimed at improving satphone reliability in in-building and marine environments. BSN catalog data further documents its shipping/compliance attributes (HTS 8517.70.0000, EAR99) and identifies lightning protection (ASE-LA02) as a related accessory for fixed installs.