WiFi Antennas

1. What is WiFi Antenna?

A WiFi antenna is a device used to send and receive radio frequency signals in Wi-Fi communications, it is an indispensable device in wireless networks. It sends and receives signals in the air, enabling seamless connections between various wireless devices without cables. Using wireless networks can avoid laying a large number of network cables, save a lot of manpower and money, and make the home environment tidier and cleaner. It can be said that without a WiFi antenna, wireless Internet access is impossible. WiFi antennas can increase the speed and range of WiFi by receiving wireless WiFi signals from signal access points (such as public hotspots or free campground WiFi), and then enhancing these received signals through WiFi repeaters in your RV to obtain A faster, more secure network. In our daily life, it is actually easy to see WiFi antennas. For example, the few rod-shaped things on the wireless routers in our homes are external WiFi antennas. These WiFi antennas are used to cover wireless WiFi signals. Usually , WiFi antenna cannot be used alone, it generally works together with AP, router, WiFi repeater, WiFi signal amplifier and other devices.

Anteconn provides a variety of WiFi antennas, they work at 2.4GHz or 5.1-5.8GHz, and also include 2.4/5GHz dual band antennas, which are perfectly compatible with all WiFi devices on the market. Nowadays, many 2.4/5GHz dual-band routers are becoming more and more popular, we also provide a variety of dual-band WiFi antennas for you to choose from. Whether it is 2.4GHz, 5GHz, or dual-band antennas, it all depends on your device, when it comes to choosing an antenna, 2.4GHz antennas cannot work with 5GHz devices.

2. The types of WiFi Antenna

WiFi antennas can be roughly divided into the following three different types according to their uses, characteristics, shapes, etc.

• According to the directionality of the antenna: it can be divided into omnidirectional WiFi antenna and directional WiFi antenna;
• According to the usage environment of the antenna: it can be divided into outdoor antenna and indoor antenna;
• According to the shape of the antenna: it can be divided into flat panel antenna, Yagi antenna, fiberglass antenna, parabolic antenna, sector antenna, ceiling antenna, rubber duck antenna, magnetic mount antenna, etc.

NOW, let’s talk about the above three categories of antennas in detail. In fact, the classification of WiFi antennas is not completely fixed. For example, flat panel antennas are directional antennas and outdoor antennas. Therefore, when we understand and choose an antenna, the most important thing is to choose the one that suits us.

(1) According to the directionality:

omnidirectional WiFi antenna and directional WiFi antenna, as the name suggests, is classified according to the direction in which the antenna transmits and receives signals.

A: The omnidirectional WiFi antenna means that the antenna transmits and receives signals 360 degrees around. Its signal radiation pattern is like an apple or donut, as shown below image001:

B: The directional WiFi antenna emits and receives signals in a specific direction. Its signal radiation pattern is as shown in image002 below:

Since signals are emitted to all directions, the gain of omnidirectional WiFi antennas is usually lower than that of directional antennas. Directional antennas focus all the energy in one direction and transmit it, so the gain of the antenna is generally higher than that of omnidirectional antennas. Therefore, omnidirectional WiFi antennas are suitable for regional signal coverage, while directional antennas are suitable for long-distance point-to-point WiFi applications.

(2) According to the usage environment:

It can be divided into outdoor antenna and indoor antenna, as the name suggests, our WiFi antenna is divided into outdoor installation and indoor installation. The gain of outdoor antennas is generally very high, including flat panel antennas, Yagi antennas, sector antennas, fiberglass antennas, parabolic antennas, etc. These antennas are IP66 rated, waterproof and can be used in harsh outdoor environments. Our outdoor WiFi antennas are equipped with heavy-duty adjustable mounting kit.

(3) According to the shape:

A: Flat panel WiFi antenna, which is a typical directional antenna. It looks like a board with a flat surface. It is composed of an ABS radome and an aluminum reflector plate, with the antenna elements inside the antenna.

B: The Yagi WiFi antenna is composed of a main aluminum square tube and multiple round aluminum rod units, it is a highly directional antenna. It is affordable, easy to install, and easy to carry. It is an ideal choice for outdoor point-to-point applications.

C: The fiberglass WiFi antenna is a cost-effective omnidirectional WiFi antenna for outdoor use, it is composed of a fiberglass cover with a string of copper element or PCB element inside. The bottom is a connector for connecting antennas and wireless devices. This outdoor omnidirectional antenna is suitable for wireless hotspot coverage.

D: Parabolic WiFi antennas, including grid antennas and DISH antennas, are named because the antennas resemble parabolas. This is a high-gain directional antenna that can reach a maximum of more than 24dbi. Its beam is very narrow and is generally used for point-to-point WiFi connections over long distances of 15KM or more.

E: Sector WiFi antenna, also called base station antenna, can generally be made into 65 degree, 90 degree and 120 degree beamwidth, it is a good antenna for covering WiFi signals. Depending on your actual needs, you can choose antennas with different beamwidth. If you want 360 degree omnidirectional coverage, you can use four 90 degree antennas or three 120 degree antennas to achieve it.

F: Ceiling WiFi antenna is an antenna installed on the ceiling. It is an omnidirectional antenna used to cover indoor signals. It is generally used in shopping malls, underground parking lots, elevator shafts and other places with weak signals. It is small and beautiful, and is used for Ideal for in-building distributed antenna systems.

G: The rubber duck WiFi antenna, also called the whip antenna, is a dipole antenna that is small in size and easy to carry. It is equipped with an SMA connector and can be directly screwed to routers, APs and other devices for direct use.

H: The magnetic mount WiFi antenna is a very cost-effective and powerful mobile omnidirectional WiFi antenna. It is equipped with cables and connectors, and the antenna can be installed anywhere. Cables and connectors are customizable.

3. The gain and beamwidth of WiFi Antenna

Gain and beamwidth are two important indicators to measure the power of WiFi antenna. The unit of gain is dBi, and the unit of beamwidth is degrees. Generally, the power of the antenna is directly proportional to the gain. The greater the gain, the greater the power and the farther the range of signal transmission. However, gain and beamwidth are generally inversely related. For example, the greater the gain of a fiberglass omnidirectional antenna, the smaller its beamwidth will be, this kind of antenna can cover a relatively large area and is suitable for signal coverage in rural areas with vast land and sparsely populated areas. The fiberglass antenna with small gain will have larger beamwidth and cover a smaller area, it is suitable for signal coverage in places with large crowds in cities. Therefore, knowing the gain and beamwidth of an antenna makes it easier to choose an antenna that suits you.

4. The cable and connector of WiFi Antenna

Our antennas are equipped with common connectors and cables on the market. Common connectors include N type, SMA, BNC, F connectors, etc. Common cables include RG174, RG58, LMR200, LMR240, LMR400, etc. We can tailor it for you according to your needs.