Custom vs. Standard Antennas: How to choose the right antenna for your application.

When deploying a RAIN RFID solution, selecting the appropriate antenna plays a critical role in system performance. While standard antennas offer versatility and quick deployment, certain applications demand tailored solutions.

Blogs

Times-7

July 08, 2025

Custom Antennas

Times-7's offering

Standard antenna

Standard antennas are pre-designed antennas that are part of our current portfolio and cater to a broad range of applications. 

Our comprehensive off the shelf portfolio of antennas, cover near-field, far-field and specialised antennas. These are available in a range of sizes, temperature tolerances and IP ratings to cover the majority of applications on the market. 

Our expert team will provide you with antenna recommendations based on your deployment requirements.

Custom antenna

Custom antennas are purpose-built to address specific application requirements and performance criteria that cannot be met by standard antenna models.

Every project begins with a thorough assessment to determine whether a solution can be achieved using our existing portfolio of standard antennas. If the application demands go beyond what our standard range can support, a custom antenna design is recommended to ensure optimal system performance.

Standard and custom antenna advantages

Standard antenna 

Custom antenna 

Quick deployment: Immediate availability for rapid integration

Tailored design: Optimised for unique form factors and performance

Cost-effective: Lower initial investment compared to custom designs

Tightly coupled integration: The custom antenna components are precisely engineered and electronically optimised to align with the electrical and mechanical characteristics of the surrounding system architecture

Proven performance: Tested and validated for multiple use cases across various industries and environments 

 

Streamlining system design: By incorporating specifically designed components and features, efficiencies can be created within the system

 

The custom development process

Our custom antenna design service follows an easy four stage process, which includes a discovery, design & specification, development & testing, and delivery. 

Discovery Icon 3

DISCOVERY

We begin by discussing your project requirements. This phase includes

  • Assessment of whether any of our standard antennas meet your need
  • Defining the project scope, timelines, and costs
  • Submission of a clear and tailored proposal

 

Design And Specification (4)

DESIGN AND SPECIFICATIONS

Upon proposal acceptance, we would begin the concept and design phase:

  • Delivering product specifications including RF performance,
  • Form factor
  • Functional integration requirements for your review and sign-off

 

Development And Testing (4)

DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING

Our engineering team then

  • Develops
  • Tests
  • Iterates prototypes to ensure they meet all agreed specifications
  • Sample units are supplied for hands-on evaluation to validate fit and functionality 

 

Delivery (5)

DELIVERY

Based on feedback:

  • Final design is locked in and moved into production
  • We ensure manufacturing consistency and provide full support
  • Our commitment doesn’t end with delivery, we offer dedicated after-sales support to ensure long-term success and satisfaction

 

Customisation categories

Custom antenna development can range from minor adjustments to complete ground-up designs.

Every project is unique, but most fall into one of three broad categories. Here's an overview to help illustrate how we tailor custom designs based on application needs.

Note: These are representative examples and can be adapted further based on specific requirements.

MODIFIED STANDARD ANTENNAS

 

When a small tweak to an existing product does the job, we modify standard designs to meet exact needs. This could involve custom colors, connector or cable variations, different sizes, or alternate mounting options.

INTEGRATED ANTENNA ELEMENTS

 

Some applications require antennas to be built into devices or infrastructure. In these cases we create custom antenna components that are seamlessly integrated. For example, embedded antennas, built-in read points, or designs shaped for specific enclosures.

FULLY CUSTOM ANTENNAS / SYSTEM OF ANTENNAS

For applications where standard antennas simply won’t work, we start from scratch. These projects involve everything from design and testing to enclosure development, SKU variations, and mechanical/environmental considerations. This results in a fully custom-built antenna system tailored to the client's exact requirements.

Making the right choice

Whether off-the-shelf or custom-built, you can rely on Times-7 to deliver precision-engineered RFID antennas backed by global expertise and industry-leading service. 

Should you require a custom antenna for your next deployment, please complete the form below and we will be in touch.

Read More