What is access point wifi antenna

WiFi Antennas Explained – Types of WiFi Antennas

Wireless communication was a revolutionary technology that changed the way we share information. Wireless communication means transfer of information from one object to another that are not physically connected to each other by means of an electrical conductor. In 1880, photophone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell and Charles Sumner which uses modulated light beams to send voice signals from one place to another. This event kick started a chain of events that lead to the discovery of current world wireless technologies like WiFi, Bluetooth etc. Before going further, lets see how wireless communication looks like.

Check out the below video if you are too lazy to read.

Get to Know More About WiFi Antennas – A Beginners Guide

In this model, the sound is captured and converted electrical signals using microphone, which is amplified and modulated using a transmitter circuit. This electrical signal is sent to antenna and these antennas convert these signals to EM waves and is radiated into the atmosphere. The receiving antenna captures these signals and is converted back to electrical signal. These modulated signals are demodulated using demodulation circuit, amplified and is fed to loudspeaker which will convert it to sound.

What is Antenna?

Simply speaking, Antenna is a device that converts electrical signals to EM waves or vice versa. In the case of a transmitting antenna, the electrical signal from the transmitting circuit is converted to EM waves and is radiated into the atmosphere. In the case of a receiving antenna, the EM waves in the atmosphere is captured and is converted back to electrical signals for further processing. The dimensions of various parts of the antenna depend upon the frequency of the EM waves that are being transmitted. The dimensions of components of the antennas will vary to match the frequency or wavelength of the signal to be transmitted.

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Designing a PCB for your Project – The Easy Way

I use Altium Designer to draw the circuit and design the PCB. It is a powerful tool that can be used to design and create your own PCBs for your project as well as complex and multiplayer PCBs for industrial use. Here is the link to the Altium trial version. So make sure you check it out.

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Almost all of the wireless communication devices that are separated by a considerable distance requires antenna of some kind. Some times this antennas will be external and can be observed easily, like routers, while some are etched in the PCB of the module itself.

Frequency = Speed of Wave / Wavelength

Wavelength and Frequency are inversely related. The higher the wavelength, the shorter the frequency. Design of the antenna and its parts crucially depends up on the frequency and wavelength of the wave it will be transmitting or receiving.

WiFi generally uses a frequency of 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.

4. Antenna Polarization

Polarisation of an antenna is simply the orientation of the antenna with respect to the ground. Those antennas that emits RF waves that are parallel to the ground is known as Horizontally Polarised WiFi Antennas and those that emits RF waves perpendicular to the ground surface is said to be Vertically Polarised WiFi Antennas.

5. WiFi Antenna Power Gain

The signal range of an antenna is measured using a parameter called Power Gain which tells us about the effectiveness of an antenna when compared to that of any standard reference antenna. It is measured in decibels (dB).

Most of manufacturers use a value called dBi value for measuring the strength of an antenna. dBi is the gain of an antenna compared to that of an Isotropic radiator. The higher the dBi value, greater will be the area of coverage.

6. Best WiFi Antennas of 2019

Here is a list of World’s Best WiFi Antennas of the year 2019. Make sure you grab one of them for High speed, Long Range, and Stable Internet.

Radiation pattern of omni directional antenna is doughnut shaped. Omni directional antennas are commonly used for indoor purposes such as WiFi Routers and wifi chpsets of mobile phone, laptop, television etc.

8. Directional WiFi Antennas

Omni Directional Antennas are antennas that can radiate power only in one direction.

It is most commonly used in point to point communication. This focused beaming allows increased performance by reducing interference due to unwanted noises.

9. Most Commonly used WiFi Antennas

Dipole Antenna

Dipole WiFi Antennas are one of the most simplest type of antenna. It is also known as Half-Wave dipole antenna because its length is half the wavelength.

It consist of two identical metal rods which are separately fed using two different wires or feed lines.

These antennas are commonly used for indoor purposes such as WiFi Routers, USB WiFi adaptors, television etc.

Mini Panel

Mini panel antennas are directional antennas that are designed to transmit power in a particular direction. Which means you will have to point this antenna to the place where you want to receive this signal. These are generally long ranged, low profile antennas that are mostly designed for indoor purposes.

These mini panel antennas have a 60 degree spread angle and it can punch through normal walls and the radiations can reach hard to reach area.

Panel

Panel antennas are enhanced versions of mini panel antenna that can that can transmit power over a larger distance. They are very strong and sleak antennas that are specifically designed for outdoor uses. These antennas are very focussed and have a 32 degree spread which less when compared to that of a mini panel antenna but, it can travel a long distance with this angle of radiation.

You can connect this to a wifi router and point it out through your window, or fix it on a pole on the roof of your house, to a building where you want to receive this signal at a distance very far away from the source.

Cantenna

Cantenna is one of the most popular antenna among hobbyists and pentesters. They are also highly directional and compact antennas which can radiate power at an angle of around 36 degrees.

This one focussing its energy on a narrow beam making it highly directional but the radiations are so powerful that it can travel more than 3 miles line of sight under ideal conditions. We can connect USB adapters and WiFi Routers with removable antennas directly into this, Adding this antenna will significantly improve the range of transmission as well as reception.

Parabolic Grid

This one is the best long range antenna that can provide point to point link between the source and the receiver. These antennas have an ultra strong gain but a very thin beam width which makes it highly directional with a radiating angle between 3 degree and 12 degree.

These antennas are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions.

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7 Different Types of WiFi Antennas (WiFi Antenna Guide)

If you are looking to extend the range of your WiFi signal the key to getting a better signal from a distance is to invest in a high quality WiFi antenna. The problem is when you look at the number of WiFi antennas that are out on the market you can spend a great deal of time trying to figure out which one best fits your needs.

If you have an idea of the different antennas which are available it will help you to make a well informed decision as to which antenna will be the best choice for you. Here is an overview of a few of the different types of WiFi antennas to help make your decision a little easier.

Types of WiFi Antennas

1. Point-to-Point Antenna

This type of WiFi antenna is designed to extend a wireless signal from a single WiFi location to another single WiFi location. For example, if you want to extend the connection from one building to the next this is known as a point-to-point connection. The antenna simply delivers a signal from one point to another point. A point-to-point antenna is also referred to as a directional antenna.

2. Point to Multi-Point Antenna

A point to multi-point antenna provides a signal from a single location to multiple locations. This type of antenna is typically used for WiFi Local Area Networks or WLAN. For example, if you place the antenna in your home, other houses around yours can potentially share the WiFi connection. The single point is your house and the multiple points are the houses that neighbor yours. A point to multi-point antenna is commonly referred to as an omni-directional antenna.

3. Mobile Antenna

A mobile WiFi antenna can be used in your vehicle to access high speed Internet connectivity. The advantage of using this type of antenna is the capability to pick up wireless signals from public access points such as when you are traveling. It is important to mention that a mobile antenna should not be used to pick up signals from private homes but it is a handy tool to use while you are on the go.

4. Office Antenna

Office antennas are used to extend the range of a WiFi signal to your office router. Instead of having to run multiple wires you can simply install an office antenna in addition to the other components that are required for connectivity. This may be tricky if you are trying to extend the range between building floors however, using an office antenna is effective when used on a single floor.

5. Home Antenna

A home antenna is an easy base model antenna that allows you to extend the range of your WiFi signal throughout your home. Depending upon how your home is setup you may need to install more than one antenna to increase the range between walls or between floors. The antenna(s) should be installed on each remote computer as opposed to installing it on your router to get the most out of your WiFi signal.

6. Dish Antenna
A dish antenna is also known as a parabolic antenna and provides the strongest signal since the unit is highly focused and sends your WiFi signal over an exceptionally long distance. The trick to getting a great signal is to accurately point the dish since the signal will increase while the pattern for radiation is reduced. This concept leaves very little room for properly pointing the dish so you receive the best signal.

7. Yagi Antenna

This type of antenna provides exceptional signal strength especially when it is used in an outdoor environment. Originally designed as a radio antenna it is now widely used for 802.11 wireless connections. The unusual name originates from its inventor Hidetsugu Yagi and the antenna is typically used point-to-point or to extend the WiFi signal for a point to multi-point connection.

What about the range?

There are many factors that come into play when you are talking about extending the range and getting the most out of your WiFi signal. These are factors such as objects or devices that may be obstructing the signal, the type of wireless card or router that you use, the ability of the wireless card to receive the signal, and many other factors.

One of the main rules of thumb to remember when choosing a WiFi antenna is to get one that you feel may deliver more than you need. Many WiFi antenna manufacturers will exaggerate their claims regarding the range of the signal and because of this and other factors that affect the range of the signal; it is okay to choose an antenna that you think may be over the top or more than you need.

What about interference at long range?
Interference is always an issue that must be dealt with when you are extending the range of your WiFi signal. First, it is important to keep other wireless devices out of range for your WiFi signal as well as your microwave oven, lighting systems, wires, and electronic devices. Depending upon the antenna you choose other objects such as walls, floors, trees, and other objects will cause interference because they obstruct the signal.

Hopefully, this overview of WiFi antennas will help to provide you with a place to start and help you save time when you view the many antennas that are currently out on the market.

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