Cellular Antennas

More Information about Cellular Antennas

A Cellular antenna comes in various forms, each designed for different situations and environments:

Directional Antenna

Directional antennas, also known as Yagi antennas, are designed to focus the cellular signal in a specific direction. They are used when a cell tower is far away or when the signal is particularly weak. They are typically mounted outside a building and pointed towards the nearest cell tower for the best signal.

Dome Antenna

Dome antennas are typically used indoors and are designed to distribute signals evenly in all directions. They are ideal for use in commercial buildings or large homes where multiple devices need to connect to the cellular network.

Outdoor Antenna

Outdoor antennas are designed to be mounted outdoors, typically on the roof or the side of a building, where they can get the best line of sight to the nearest cell tower. These antennas can be either directional, focusing on a specific direction, or omnidirectional, receiving signals from all directions.

Indoor Antenna

Indoor antennas are used to boost cell reception inside a building. They work in tandem with an outdoor antenna, receiving the signal it brings in and distributing it indoors.

Installation of these antennas and signal boosters usually involves mounting the antenna at a point with the best signal (often outside or on the roof), connecting it to the booster unit via a coax cable, and then connecting the indoor antenna to the booster. Some systems may require a splitter if multiple indoor antennas are to be connected. High gain antennas or boosters are often used to ensure the best signal strength.

These antennas often feature a compact design for easy installation and minimal visual impact. Depending on the system, they can support a wide range of frequencies, ensuring they can carry signals for multiple devices or even multiple carriers at once.

FAQs

What is the benefit of using multiple outdoor antennas?

Multiple antennas can have several benefits, especially when it comes to improving cellular reception and performance in certain situations. These benefits include: improved coverage, reduced interference, increased capacity and enhanced signal reception.

How can a weak signal be improved for an inside antenna?

Improving a weak signal for an indoor antenna often involves a combination of techniques and equipment upgrades, including using a signal booster, repositioning the antenna, upgrading the antenna, using a direct connection or using multiple antennas.

Antennas: Omni vs Yagi

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.

Advantages and Disadvantages

• Easy setup and install

• Can send and receive signals from multiple locations with just one antenna

• Limited on the distance it can communicate

• Not a great option from areas with poor signal strength