The Speed of your wireless connection will vary depending on
the strength of the signal you can receive and transmit. Antenna selection can
therefore have a significant impact on the speed of your wireless link.
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
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
Fiberglass antenna
Directional Antennas
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
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.