SETON Anti-5G WR42 LNB Helps a Coastal City Satellite Earth Station Completely Eliminate 5G Interference

As 5G networks continue to expand—particularly with the widespread deployment of the 3.5GHz IMT band—satellite earth stations around the world are facing unprecedented interference challenges.

In 2024, a major satellite communications operator providing maritime broadband services from a coastal city reached out to the SETON technical team for assistance. Their Ka-band satellite earth station, located on the urban fringe, had been suffering from frequent service disruptions ever since three 5G base stations were constructed nearby. During peak hours, downlink speeds dropped by more than 70%, and some users were unable to lock onto the signal at all.

SETON's technical team conducted an on-site electromagnetic environment assessment and identified the following:

• Interference Source: The nearby 5G base stations were operating in the 3.5GHz band, located just 300 meters from the earth station antenna.

• Interference Level: The measured interference signal at the LNB input reached as high as -30dBm, far exceeding the tolerable input level for standard LNBs.

• System Impact: The existing LNB's internal amplifiers were driven into deep saturation by the strong interference, resulting in severe intermodulation distortion that completely overwhelmed the desired satellite signal.

The operator had previously attempted to mitigate the issue using external mechanical filters, but these proved impractical due to their large form factor, difficult installation, and additional insertion loss. A more integrated and robust solution was urgently needed.

Based on the site survey results, the SETON team recommended and deployed the SETON Anti-5G WR42 Ka-band LNB. Its key features and on-site performance are outlined below:

• Technology: Unlike conventional designs, the SETON WR42 LNB embeds a high-performance out-band rejection passive filter directly into the LNB housing, featuring a WR42 direct waveguide input.

• On-Site Result: The LNB was installed as a direct replacement for the original unit—no external filter or additional components were needed. 5G interference in the 3.5GHz band was effectively suppressed, and the LNB's internal circuitry operated free of saturation, even with the 5G base stations still fully active.

• Technology: The integrated filter is specifically optimized for the IMT 3.5GHz band, providing steep rejection within a 100MHz guard band and achieving interference suppression of more than 50dB.

• On-Site Result: Despite the presence of strong (-30dBm) out-of-band interference, the filter effectively blocked it from entering the LNB's active stages, completely eliminating intermodulation distortion.

• Technology: The LNB delivers 63dB typical gain and an ultra-low noise figure of just 0.8dB.

• On-Site Result: While interference was effectively rejected, the LNB's ability to amplify weak satellite signals remained uncompromised, ensuring an excellent system Carrier-to-Noise (C/N) ratio and fully supporting the operator's high-data-rate service requirements.

Following the rapid deployment and commissioning of the SETON WR42 LNB, the earth station achieved the following outcomes:

✅ 100% Service Recovery: All affected user terminals successfully reacquired signal lock, and maritime broadband services were restored to full functionality.

✅ Consistent Anti-Interference Performance: Even during peak 5G network activity, the LNB maintained a clean output signal with no signs of saturation or distortion.

✅ Simplified, Reliable Installation: With no external filter required, the mechanical load on the feed system was reduced, and long-term reliability was enhanced.

Customer Feedback:

"The SETON WR42 LNB solved a problem that had been plaguing us for months. We tried several approaches, but only this LNB with its integrated filter delivered stable performance under such strong interference. Installation was straightforward, and the improvement was immediate and dramatic."

As 5G and satellite communications increasingly share the spectrum, interference mitigation becomes mission-critical. By embedding anti-interference capability directly into the LNB, SETON offers a simple, elegant, and highly effective solution for satellite earth stations operating in dense 5G environments.

If your satellite system is also affected by adjacent-frequency 5G interference, contact the SETON technical team for a professional on-site assessment and a customized solution tailored to your needs.