L-Com Antennas

Antenna Gain Patterns and Wireless Network Design

When considering the right antenna for your application it's not just a question of whether it's a directional or Omni directional type antenna you need.

Every WiFi antenna exhibits unique horizontal and vertical antenna RF gain patterns.

Say you wanted to provide 360° coverage for an outdoor café. You know you need an Omni directional antenna

But you must also consider the gain pattern as you need to reach users close to the ground with smart phones, laptops and tablets.

You can see the centrally located Omni antenna is rated at 15 dBi. This high gain will project the wifi signal well beyond the required 300 foot

coverage area and actually give better signal quality to people far outside the courtyard.

For this application a lower gain antenna such as a 5 or 8 dBi antenna would actually provide better signal quality and coverage to the cafe’s

users .

An example of a good antenna for this application is the HGV-2404U which provides excellent wide, vertical coverage as well as 360°

horizontal beam width.

Another example would be an application where you need a very precise point to point wireless link. In this case you would need a gain

pattern that provides a narrow horizontal gain pattern like the HyperLink HG2430G.

For our next design scenario a downward widespread RF gain pattern is required to achieve wifi connectivity

to users in a defined work area.

For this application the HG2412P would be a good choice as it provides a wide 65° horizontal beam

width. This antenna features a versatile mounting bracket which allows you to move the antenna up to

30° up or down.

Many issues need to be considered when selecting the most suitable antenna for your application.

ITM Components have the expertise to help you make the best selection for performance and price, to fit your application.

Find out more at:

• www.itm-components.co.uk/l_com.html

• Telephone 01202 872771

• email techsales@itm-components.co.uk