| Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz Antenna |
Types of Wi-Fi Antennas
There are two basic types of antennas for WLAN and cellular products :
Omnidirectional and directional. The two types are categorized by the direction in which they beam radio signals.
Omni-directional
| Omnidirectional Antenna Pattern |
Omni-directional antennas are designed to radiate signals equally in all directions. Use this type of antenna if you need to transmit from a central node, such as an access point, to users scattered all around the area. Omnidirectional antenna consist of 2,
Dipole antenna, and
Dipole antenna, and
| Dipole Omnidirectional Antenna from TPLink Wi-Fi Antenna |
| Phonetone 6 dB 3G WCDMA Fiberglass Antenna |
Fiberglass antenna
Directional Antennas
| Directional Antenna Pattern |
| TPLink Directional Wi-Fi Antenna |
Directional antennas provide a more focused signal than omnidirectional antennas. Signals are typically transmitted in an ovalshaped pattern with a beam width of only a few degrees. With higher gain, directional antennas can also be used outdoors to extend point-to-point links over a longer transmission distance, or to form a point-to-multipoint network.
Antenna Connectors
| N Type Female Connector |
| PRSMA Connector |
| MCX Connector |
Before you purchase an antenna for your wireless device, you should check the type of antenna connector that your device uses. You will need to buy an antenna with a matching connector. There are several types of antenna connectors, including MCX, TNC, N-type, SMA, and RP-SMA (RP stands for “reverse polarity” or “reverse ping”). On WLAN devices, the most commonly used antenna connector is PRSMA and N-type for IEEE 802.11 wireless applications. Make sure you are buying an antenna with the right connector type.
