Antennas

More Information about Commercial Antennas

Yagi antennas

Yagi antennas radiate and receive radio frequency (RF) energy equally in all horizontal directions. This broad coverage area increases the probability of maintaining connection stability, however the potential for interference and lower throughput is more likely.

Omni antennas

Omni antennas radiate and receive RF energy in a selected direction, usually around 45 to 90 degrees. The signal from the target area is improved through directivity gain as long as there is no congestion. Interference is held to a minimum.

Whip antennas

Whip antennas are the most common type of monopole antenna. They are a flexible, straight rod designed to pick up different frequency waves depending on the length. The bottom of the antenna is connected to the transmitter or radio receiver and is great for picking up the higher frequencies of HF, UHF and VHF radio bands.

Cellular antennas

Cellular antennas cover the entire spectrum of cellular standards including UMTS, GSM and LTE, with speeds from 2G to 5G. A mobile cellular antenna is perfect for applications that need a compact communications solution, such as public transit, automobiles, or remote sites and other industrial applications. Lightweight and customizable, these antennas can be selected by their mounting and connection types.

Connection

Many of these antennas are connected to a transmission line, which carries the signal from the antenna to the receiver, or from the transmitter to the antenna. The type of transmission line used will depend on the specific requirements of the system.

There are a vast number of commercial antennas available on the market, each with their specific designs, features, and capabilities. These can be ordered directly from the manufacturing company or through distributors. Furthermore, commercial antennas must be constructed with high-quality materials to ensure longevity and reliable performance. Therefore, it's essential to order antennas from reputable manufacturers.

FAQs

How many companies manufacture and design commercial antennas?

It is safe to say there are hundreds of companies that manufacture commercial antennas and they span numerous different markets and applications, from telecommunication, broadcasting, and satellite communication, to industrial, scientific, and medical applications.

Antennas: Omni vs Yagi

Yagi Antennas

Yagi Antennas are directional antennas that can transmit and receive data coming from a specific direction (the direction the antenna is facing). Thus, directional antennas must be aimed in the direction of the potential signal transmitter. Aiming the antenna correctly is essential for optimal reception. Knowing the width of the antenna's signal pattern is the best way to ensure optimal aim.

Omni Antennas

Omni Antennas can pick-up signals coming from all directions. They are most commonly used for signal reception over a large area where the potential location of any incoming signal's transmitter varies. Therefore, unlike Yagi antennas, Omni antennas do not need to be pointed in a particular direction. Each specific antenna has a gain rating or dBi (decibel isotropic) number which coincides with the performance of the antenna. The higher the dBi rating, the larger area covered.