Overview
This application note explains how IPXY ingress protection ratings apply to antennas, cable assemblies and IoT installations in real-world outdoor and industrial environments.It focuses on the differences between IP67 and IP68 and practical field use cases such as pole-mounted antennas, wall-mounted antennas, cabinet-mounted antennas, antennas installed in pits or chambers, and antennas exposed to rain, spray, standing water or temporary submersion.
The aim is to help engineers, installers and customers specify the correct level of environmental protection without over-specifying the antenna or misunderstanding what the IP rating actually covers.
| Product Type | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Outdoor Cellular Antennas | Used in exposed environments where rain, spray, dust and temporary water exposure may occur. |
| Low-Profile Antennas | Often mounted on cabinets, enclosures, vehicles, kiosks or outdoor equipment housings. |
| Wall-Mount and Pole-Mount Antennas | Typically exposed to weather, but unlikely to be submerged if installed correctly at height. |
| RF Cable Assemblies | May form part of an outdoor installation where connector sealing and cable routing affect long-term reliability. |
| Panel and Directional Antennas | Generally mounted high for line of sight, where weatherproofing is usually more relevant than submersion rating. |
| Industrial IoT Installations | Includes pole-mounted, enclosure-mounted, underground chamber and remote monitoring installations. |
This application note explains:
Expected Result
At the end of this guide, the reader should understand how to select and install an IP-rated antenna based on the actual field environment, rather than simply choosing the highest available IP rating.
An IP rating describes the level of protection provided by an enclosure or product against ingress from solid particles and liquids.
The rating is normally written as:
IPXY
Where:
The first digit relates to protection against solid objects and dust:
| First Digit | Solid Ingress Protection | Practical Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No protection | No defined protection against contact or solid objects. |
| 1 | Protected against objects greater than 50 mm | Protection against large body parts or large objects, but not deliberate access. |
| 2 | Protected against objects greater than 12.5 mm | Protection against fingers or similarly sized objects. |
| 3 | Protected against objects greater than 2.5 mm | Protection against tools, thick wires or similar objects. |
| 4 | Protected against objects greater than 1 mm | Protection against most wires, screws and small tools. |
| 5 | Dust protected | Limited dust ingress is permitted, but not enough to interfere with normal operation. |
| 6 | Dust-tight | No dust ingress under the defined test conditions. |
The second digit relates to protection against water:
| Second Digit | Water Ingress Protection | Practical Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No protection | No defined protection against water ingress. |
| 1 | Protected against vertically falling water drops | Protection against light dripping water when the product is in its normal position. |
| 2 | Protected against dripping water when tilted up to 15° | Protection against dripping water when the enclosure is slightly tilted. |
| 3 | Protected against spraying water | Protection against water sprayed at an angle. |
| 4 | Protected against splashing water | Protection against water splashing from any direction. |
| 5 | Protected against water jets | Protection against low-pressure water jets from any direction. |
| 6 | Protected against powerful water jets | Protection against stronger water jets and more severe outdoor spray exposure. |
| 7 | Protected against temporary immersion | Typically associated with immersion in water up to 1 metre for 30 minutes. |
| 8 | Protected against immersion beyond IPx7 | Protection against immersion under conditions declared by the manufacturer that are more severe than IPx7. |
| 9 | Protected against high-pressure, high-temperature water jets | Used for specialist washdown environments and is not normally the primary requirement for antenna installations. |
For example:
| Rating | Solid Protection | Water Protection | Practical Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| IP65 | Dust-tight | Protected against water jets | Suitable for many outdoor applications where rain, spray and dust exposure are expected. |
| IP66 | Dust-tight | Protected against powerful water jets | Suitable for harsher outdoor environments, heavy spray and more demanding weather exposure. |
| IP67 | Dust-tight | Protected against temporary immersion | Suitable where rain, spray, flooding risk or short-term accidental immersion may occur. |
| IP68 | Dust-tight | Protected against immersion beyond IP67 | Suitable where deeper or longer immersion may occur, depending on the manufacturer’s declared test conditions. |
For antennas, the IP rating normally relates to the antenna housing or sealed antenna assembly. It does not automatically mean that every connector, cable join, bulkhead interface or device port in the installation is protected to the same level.
This distinction is especially important when comparing IP67 and IP68.
IP67 is normally understood as protection against temporary immersion, commonly 1 metre of water for 30 minutes. IP68 must be more severe than IP67, but the exact test condition is declared by the manufacturer.
Important RF Note
IP67 and IP68 ratings describe protection against water ingress; they do not mean the antenna will communicate effectively while underwater.Water heavily attenuates RF signals, particularly at cellular, LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi and GNSS frequencies. An antenna may survive temporary immersion without water damage, but the radio link may still fail while the antenna is submerged.
This means one IP68 antenna may be tested at 1 metre for 1 hour, while another may be tested at 2 metres for 30 minutes.
Therefore, when specifying an IP68 antenna, the important question is not only:
Is it IP68?
But also:
What depth and duration was the IP68 test performed at?
In many practical antenna installations, particularly pole-mounted or wall-mounted installations, the antenna is unlikely to be submerged at all. In those cases, rain, spray, UV exposure, connector sealing, cable routing and mounting practice may be more important than choosing IP68 over IP67.
IP67 and IP68 are often discussed together because both relate to water immersion.
The practical difference is that IP67 has a defined immersion test, while IP68 depends on a declared test condition that is more severe than IP67.
| Rating | Typical Water Protection Meaning | Practical Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| IP67 | Temporary immersion, commonly understood as 1 metre of water for 30 minutes. | Suitable for rain, spray, washdown, flooding risk and short-term accidental immersion. |
| IP68 | Immersion under conditions more severe than IP67, as declared by the manufacturer. | Suitable where longer or deeper immersion may occur, depending on the stated test conditions. |
Important Note
IP68 does not always mean the product can be submerged indefinitely or used permanently underwater. The manufacturer should state the actual IP68 test condition, such as depth and duration.
A common misunderstanding is that IP68 is always dramatically more protective than IP67.
In practice, the difference depends on the actual IP68 test condition.
For example, an IP68 test may be more severe than IP67 by using:
Example test conditions could include:
| Example Test | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 1 metre for 30 minutes | Typical IP67-style immersion condition. |
| 1 metre for 1 hour | More severe than IP67 due to longer duration. |
| 2 metres for 30 minutes | More severe than IP67 due to greater depth. |
| 2 metres for 1 hour | More severe again due to greater depth and longer duration. |
This means two different IP68 products may not have been tested under identical conditions.
For this reason, customers should not only ask:
Is it IP68?
They should also ask:
What depth and duration was the IP68 test performed at?
In many outdoor antenna installations, the real requirement is not full submersion.
The customer may simply need the antenna to survive:
In these cases, IP67 may already provide more protection than the installation requires.
For example, a pole-mounted antenna installed several metres above ground is unlikely to be submerged under 1 metre of water during normal operation.
If that antenna is genuinely submerged, the wider site is probably experiencing a much more serious flood event.
Practical Point
Customers often request IP68 because it sounds like the highest or safest option. In many real installations, what they actually need is a weatherproof antenna and a correctly sealed RF connection.
A pole-mounted antenna is normally installed above ground to improve line of sight, reduce obstruction and increase RF performance.
In this scenario, the main environmental risks are:
| Installation Factor | Practical Guidance |
|---|---|
| Antenna IP rating | IP67 or IP68 may both be suitable, but submersion is unlikely if the antenna is installed high on a pole. |
| Connector sealing | The connector and device port should be protected from water ingress using suitable sealing methods. |
| Cable routing | Use a drip loop so water does not run directly into the connector or enclosure. |
| Mechanical support | Secure the cable to prevent wind movement from stressing the connector. |
Wall-mounted antennas are commonly used on buildings, cabinets, kiosks and industrial structures.
The key risks are:
For wall-mounted installations, weatherproofing and connector protection are often more important than whether the antenna is rated IP67 or IP68.
Some antennas may be installed in underground pits, utility chambers, roadside enclosures or holes in the ground.
These are more demanding environments because water may collect around the antenna or cable assembly.
The key risks are:
| Risk | Practical Impact | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|
| Standing water | The antenna or connector may be temporarily submerged. | Use an antenna and connection method suitable for immersion risk. |
| Connector exposure | The connector may fail before the antenna body. | Use IP-rated connectors or seal the connection properly. |
| Cable strain | Movement, pulling or poor routing can damage the seal. | Provide strain relief and avoid tight bends. |
| Poor drainage | Water may remain around the antenna for extended periods. | Improve drainage or move the antenna to a better location if possible. |
In these installations, IP68 may be more relevant, but the complete installation must be considered. An IP68 antenna body connected to an unsealed SMA connector may still allow water into the system.
For many IP-rated antennas supplied with a cable and SMA connector, the IP rating applies to the antenna body or sealed antenna assembly.
The SMA connector at the end of the cable may not be included in the same IP test.
This is an important practical distinction.
IP-rated antenna body ≠ IP-rated complete installation
A typical antenna installation includes:
Any one of these points can become the weak point in the installation.
| Part of Installation | Common Issue | Practical Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Antenna body | May be IP67 or IP68 rated. | Select a suitable antenna rating for the environment. |
| Cable exit | Can be a water ingress point if damaged. | Avoid pulling, twisting or sharply bending the cable near the antenna. |
| SMA connector | May not be waterproof by default. | Protect with sealing, heatshrink, boot, gland or IP-rated connector. |
| Device port | Water can enter the router, modem or enclosure. | Use enclosure glands, bulkhead connectors or internal connection points. |
| Cable route | Water can track along the cable. | Use drip loops and correct cable strain relief. |
Antenna installations can be improved by protecting the RF connection point.
Possible methods include:
| Method | Relative Cost | Use Case | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adhesive-lined heatshrink | Low | Outdoor installations where the connector will remain fixed. | Provides a practical seal around the connection, but is not convenient where frequent disconnection is required. |
| Self-amalgamating tape | Low | Field sealing of RF connectors. | Common practical method, but must be applied correctly. |
| Weatherproof boot | Medium | Installations where connector access may still be required. | Can provide a cleaner and more serviceable solution than permanent heatshrink. |
| IP-rated bulkhead SMA or RP-SMA | Medium to high | Enclosure or panel entry points requiring a defined seal. | Useful where a robust waterproof interface is needed. |
| Specialist IP68-rated RF connector assembly | High | Demanding outdoor, industrial or immersion-risk installations. | Best suited where the connector itself must form part of the environmental protection strategy. |
Important Note
A waterproof antenna connected to an unprotected RF connector may still result in water ingress. The complete installation should be designed as a sealed system.
For pigtail assemblies, the IP rating may refer to the sealed side of the assembly rather than the entire connected system.
For example, an SMA female bulkhead or pigtail may include an O-ring seal on the panel-mount side.
This can help protect the enclosure entry point, but the installer must still consider:
A pigtail with a sealed bulkhead connector can improve the environmental protection of an enclosure, but it should not be assumed that every connected component is automatically protected to the same rating.
Directional antennas are normally installed high on a pole, mast, wall or bracket to improve line of sight to the serving base station or remote link point.
The purpose of this type of installation is usually to:
Because directional antennas are usually mounted at height, full immersion is often not a realistic operating condition.
| Customer Request | Practical Question |
|---|---|
| “We need an IP68 directional antenna.” | Will the antenna actually be submerged, or does the application only require outdoor weatherproofing? |
| “It will be mounted 10 metres up a pole.” | If it is submerged for an extended period at that height, the site has a much larger problem than antenna ingress protection. |
| “It needs to survive rain and outdoor exposure.” | A weatherproof directional antenna may be more appropriate than specifying submersion performance. |
Practical Point
For pole-mounted and wall-mounted directional antennas, line of sight, mounting height, wind loading, cable sealing and connector protection are often more important than specifying IP68.
Some panel antennas are designed to be fully weatherproof but may not carry a formal IP67 or IP68 rating.
This can be because panel antennas may include mechanical features such as drainage paths, air gaps, venting or structural openings that make formal immersion testing less representative of their intended use.
In many real installations, the panel antenna is mounted vertically, externally and above ground, where the practical requirement is weather resistance rather than submersion.
The important questions are:
The best antenna choice should be based on the actual environmental risk.
| Application | Likely Requirement | Practical Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor cabinet | Minimal ingress risk. | IP67 or IP68 is usually unnecessary unless washdown, condensation or dust exposure is expected. |
| Outdoor cabinet roof | Rain, spray and weather exposure. | Use a weatherproof antenna and protect the connector or cable entry. |
| Pole-mounted antenna | Rain, wind and UV exposure. | Focus on outdoor suitability, mounting strength, cable routing and connector sealing. |
| Wall-mounted directional antenna | Weather exposure, not immersion. | Do not over-specify IP68 unless there is a credible submersion risk. |
| Roadside pit or underground chamber | Standing water and temporary flooding. | IP67 or IP68 may be useful, but the connector and cable assembly must also be protected. |
| Flood-prone low-level installation | Temporary or repeated immersion. | Consider IP68 antenna options and IP-rated connector strategies. |
| Permanent underwater use | Continuous immersion. | Confirm the declared IP68 conditions and whether the product is suitable for permanent immersion. |
| Misunderstanding | Reality |
|---|---|
| IP68 is always much better than IP67. | IP68 depends on the declared test condition. It must be more severe than IP67, but the exact depth and duration matter. |
| IP68 means permanently waterproof. | Not necessarily. It depends on the manufacturer’s stated test conditions and intended use. |
| The whole antenna installation is IP68. | The antenna body may be rated, but the connector, cable join and device port may not be included. |
| A pole-mounted antenna needs IP68. | If the antenna is mounted high above ground, weatherproofing is usually the practical requirement, not submersion. |
| All outdoor antennas need IP67 or IP68. | Many outdoor installations require rain and spray protection rather than immersion protection. |
| Higher IP rating always means better value. | Higher-rated products may be more expensive and may not provide practical benefit if the installation does not require that level of protection. |
Before specifying an IP67 or IP68 antenna, ask the following questions:
For reliable outdoor or immersion-risk antenna installations:
For practical use of IP67 and IP68 antenna ratings:
Expected Result
The reader should understand that choosing between IP67 and IP68 is not simply a matter of selecting the highest number. The correct choice depends on the actual installation environment, the risk of water exposure, the connector arrangement and the way the antenna is installed in the field.
IP67 and IP68 ratings are useful indicators of environmental protection, but they must be interpreted correctly.
For many outdoor antenna installations, the real requirement is resistance to rain, spray, dust and weather exposure. In these cases, a suitable weatherproof antenna with correctly protected connectors may be more important than specifying IP68.
IP68 becomes more relevant when the antenna may be installed in a location where temporary submersion, standing water or flooding is realistic, such as underground chambers, pits or low-level outdoor installations.
However, even when an antenna body is rated IP67 or IP68, the complete RF installation may not be protected unless the connector, cable entry, device port and enclosure are also sealed correctly.
The best approach is to specify based on the actual environment:
Real field risk → correct antenna rating → sealed connector strategy → reliable installation
A well-installed IP67 antenna may perform better in the field than a poorly installed IP68 antenna with an exposed connector.
For reliable outdoor and underground installations, antenna selection, connector protection, cable routing and installation practice should always be considered together.