It is common knowledge that WiFi signal strength tends to be great when you are close to the router and as you move further away from the router the signal strength gradually declines. Long range WiFi antennas were designed and invented as a solution to this common problem. A long-range WiFi antenna can boost the signal strength and enable the users to connect from a broader and longer range of places. Long range antennas have the ability to pull signals from the router to extend its range beyond its normal broadcast range. These antennas are extremely useful when the end user devices are at the furthest corners of a house, office or building. Long-range WiFi antennas can also extend the signals from the router to outside of the building where the router is located by transmitting the signals to other antennas or internet signal receivers. By strategically placing WiFi long range antennas in a mesh network, it is possible to provide coverage to a massive area as the antennas will bounce off signals from each other to ensure complete connectivity. Long range WiFi antennas can be used to extend network coverage to backyards, garages, attics or other places. They can even transmit signals to devices more than over 1 mile away.
This article provides an overview on long range WiFi antennas, discussing how they work, different types of antennas available, their benefits, applications, considerations when selecting a long range WiFi antenna and so much more.
How do long range WiFi antenna work
In a long range WiFi antenna, the antenna receives the WiFi signal from the router and then uses its built-in amplifier to boost the signal strength. The boosted signal from the long range WiFi antenna is transmitted through the antenna’s radiating elements. In a directional type antenna, the amplified signal will be concentrated in a narrow beam, thus extending the WiFi coverage in that specific direction. In an omnidirectional antenna, the amplified signal will be transmitted simultaneously in all directions in a 360 degree pattern, thus extending WiFi coverage in all directions. The boosted signals from long range WiFi antennas are able to travel further and transmit signals over longer distances with minimal impact from any obstacles or interference. Overall, long range WiFi antennas improve the range and coverage of the existing WiFi network by capturing and amplifying the existing WiFi signals from the router.
Key technical specifications to consider
- Frequency
The operating frequency band is one of the most crucial parameters to consider in long range WiFi antennas. When considering the two most common frequency bands for WiFi, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, the antennas operating in the 2.4GHz have longer wavelengths and hence are better to operate as long range WiFi antennas. However, most of the modern WiFi antennas utilize the 5 GHz frequency band due to the high throughput as well as the reduced number of devices in this frequency band. The 5 GHz frequency band generally has shorter wavelengths. Long range communication is enabled by positioning the long range WiFi antennas of 5 GHz frequency band in much elevated positions where the obstacles and attenuation will be reduced. Long range WiFi antennas can be found in different modes. In single band mode, they operate in either the 2.4 GHz band or 5 GHz mode. In dual band configuration, the WiFi antennas are able to operate in both 2.4 GHz frequency band and 5GHz frequency band on a single device. Some of the dual antennas allow switching between frequency bands while others use both bands simultaneously. Overall, it is better to use the 2.4GHz bands for long-range WiFi systems as the signal can reach further.
- Antenna Gain
Another important technical specification is the gain of an antenna. Gain is a measure of how much the antenna amplifies the signal or how much signal strength can be gained from the antenna. Higher the gain, stronger the signal. It determines the power at which an antenna transmits and receives data. The transmit power can also be boosted by antenna gain. This is especially helpful in noisy environments and allows to transfer data or communicate over longer distances. Generally, a powerful long-range Wi-Fi antenna is able to transmit or receive data approximately at 30dBm transmit power and 20dBi antenna gain. The dBi rating of an antenna also compliments the gain parameter. It basically indicates the range an antenna can cover. Higher the dBi ratings, higher the range but then the coverage area could be smaller meaning that as the dBi number increases, the antennas are able to reach further but the coverage area decreases.
- Radiation pattern
The distribution of energy when signals are radiated from an antenna is represented by the radiation pattern. The radiation pattern of long range WiFi antennas can be mainly classified into two sections as omnidirectional antennas and directional antennas. An omnidirectional antenna has a donut shaped radiation pattern and generally radiates signals equally in all directions. Directional antennas typically have a single peak direction in the radiation pattern and they dominantly focus and radiate signals in a single direction.
- Polarization
Polarization of antenna basically describes the orientation in which a majority of the signals will be radiated from the antenna. Although there are many different kinds of polarization, most Wi-Fi antennas are linearly polarized. They could be either vertically or horizontally polarized. Polarization is an important factor to consider in long range WiFi antennas because it describes the orientation in which most signals will be transmitted and hence the direction in which the end users must be located to connect to that network.
- Connectors
Long range WiFi system require cable connections and the most common among them are the Ethernet cable and coaxial cable. Ethernet cables are generally used to connect devices such as a router to another router, while coaxial cables are used to connect the devices to the antenna. Ethernet cables are digital cables and can be used to connect devices over distances of 328 feet while experiencing minimal losses. Coaxial cables are analog cables and can generally be used to connect up to distances of 100 ft, however they experience higher dB losses. Overall, it is better to select the cable with the shortest cable length and thickest cable type possible.
Types of Long Range WiFi Antenna
- Directional vs. omnidirectional long range WiFi antennas.
Long range WiFi antennas are available both as directional antennas and omnidirectional antennas. The directionality of the antenna plays a major factor in the performance of the antenna as it determines the strength of the signal towards one region and the size of the coverage area. Directional antennas are generally compared to flashlights where the focus area of the light beam is smaller, but can reach a much longer distance. Meanwhile, omnidirectional antennas are compared to lamps where they distribute light equally in all directions, yet only cover a limited range in terms of distance. Long range WiFi directional antennas can reach up to a maximum of 8 miles and further they reach the smaller the broadcasting pattern. Hence it should be a balance of the range and coverage area to get the optimized performance from a directional long range WiFi antenna. Directional antennas are the best option when the signals need to be directed in one particular direction for a specific application. Long range WiFi directional antennas are available in different types and shapes such as parabolic dish antennas, panel antennas, Yagi antennas and sector antennas. These directional antennas are ideal for point to point communication applications as they target the signals in a single direction with greater throughput and efficiency.
Omnidirectional long range WiFi antennas reach up to about 1 mile distance at their best. Although their transmission and receival distance is shorter, they are able to provide signals simultaneously in all directions, thus making them ideal for applications such as power amplifiers in outdoor networks.
Overall, the directionality of the long range WiFi antennas should be decided based on the application.
It honestly depends on the situation. But in general, directional antennas are able to reach far distances but cover less area while omnidirectional antennas cover more area but do not reach as far.
- Directional long range WiFi antennas
Discussed below are some of the directional antenna types that are available as long range WiFi antennas.
Yagi Antennas
Yagi wifi antennas are well known for their highly directional capabilities. They are designed to transmit and receive signals from far off distances and are even used for testing the security of a wireless router. The drawback of Yagi antennas is their massive size and hence cannot be used in smaller applications. However, long range Yagi WiFi are ideal for applications like RV travelers, boaters, detached buildings, or any place trying to get the best distance from a WiFi signal.
Parabolic Antennas
Parabolic wifi antennas are also directional antennas that are commonly used for long range applications. Parabolic WiFi long range antennas generally perform better when they are pointed directly at the source compared to when they are pointed away from the source. The performance of the long range parabolic WiFi antennas can be optimized by adjusting the placement, orientation, and alignment of the antenna. Similar to Yagi antennas, parabolic antennas also tend to be somewhat bulky and hence are not very portable as well as not ideal for small scale applications.
Panel Antennas
Panel wifi antennas are directional antennas that are generally flat, rectangular shaped antennas that provide a wider beam width compared to yagi or parabolic antennas. These long range WiFi antennas are typically used for applications such as point-to-multipoint systems where signals need to be transmitted or received in multiple directions. Considering the directionality, long range panel WIFi antennas are less focused than yagi or parabolic antennas. However, they are able to transmit and receive signals over fairly long range distances.
Sector Antennas
Sector wifi antennas typically have a directionality that is comparatively lower than a Yagi, panel or dish antenna. However, they have better directionality compared to omnidirectional antennas. WiFi sector antennas have high gain approximately between 13 to 16 dBi and a radio frequency pattern between 60 to 180 degrees. Hence, a WiFi sector antenna can provide connectivity to a wide area with a high range. WiFi sector antennas are commonly used to implement wide spread WiFi networks. They are ideal for high-capacity, multipoint networks due to their superior gain and beam performance.
- Omnidirectional long range WiFi antennas
Omni-directional WiFi outdoor antennas are able to transmit and receive signals in all directions equally thus providing a 360-degree coverage pattern. These antennas are easier to set up as they do not require precise alignment as in a directional-type antenna. This allows end user devices to connect from any direction without signal degradation or signal dropouts. Omni-directional antennas are ideal for applications where the locations of the end users are unknown or vary constantly. Omnidirectional WiFi antennas are commonly used in houses or small offices where there are multiple devices and users accessing the WiFi network from different locations. They are also ideal to be used in applications where users move or change locations continuously such as in parks, stadiums, campuses, shopping malls etc.
Why high gain antenna is important for long range solutions
As the gain of an antenna increases, its power to transmit and receive signals increases. Thus, with higher power, its ability to transmit and receive signals over a longer distance increases. Considering the signal strength, the total output of a high directional gain antenna is considerably higher and hence they can be used to boost the signal at the endpoint. High gain antennas are more tolerant towards interference and can radiate signals for longer distances. Overall, the gain of an antenna has a direct impact on the radiation distance of an antenna.
Applications of Long Range WiFi Antenna
Long range WiFi antennas are used for many applications in various industries. Discussed below are some of the common use cases of long range WiFi antennas.
- Rural Connectivity
Long range WiFi antennas are ideal to set up WiFi networks in rural areas where traditional wired infrastructure might not work. These antennas are ideal for such use cases as they can provide network connectivity from an antenna over to a long range providing coverage for a large number of users with reliability.
- Public Wi-Fi Hotspots
Long range WiFi antennas are useful in creating public WiFi hotspots which are usually implemented in locations such as cafes, libraries, airports, parks etc where the general public gather. WiFi networks in such locations should be able to cater to a large number of users and for a large coverage area. Long range WiFi antennas allow to create WiFi hotspots by enhancing the coverage and capacity in usually congested public areas.
- Outdoor Events
Long range WiFi antennas are commonly used to implement WiFi networks in outdoor locations and events. They are ideal for WiFi networks in stadiums, auditoriums, arenas etc. They are also suitable for networks in warehouses and outdoor spaces where the connectivity should be stable and reliable for longer distances. For outdoor events, generally weatherproofed long range WiFi antennas are utilized.
- Agricultural Monitoring
Long range WiFi antennas are a perfect choice for monitoring solutions in agriculture. Especially with the IoT backed technology that is being used in modern agriculture, long range WiFi antennas allow them to function with reliability. Long range WiFi antennas are ideal for smart farming and smart agriculture applications as they can support reliable performance in outdoor environments where obstructions can generally interfere with long range communications.
- Marine and Offshore Installations
Long range WiFi antennas are used in multiple applications in the marine industry. They are used for navigation and monitoring applications as they can radiate signals for long range distances. This is crucial as navigation and surveillance systems need to operate in real time with reliability and high speed and quality network connectivity.
- Building-to-Building Bridging
Long range WiFi antennas are also used widely in Point-to-point networks. They can be used to extend networks between two buildings.If the interference is low, they can even transmit up to a distance of 1 mile. Long range WiFi antennas are able to establish a stable bridging network due to their performance characteristics which ensure a strong and reliable connection between them.
- Educational Campuses
Long range WiFi antennas are ideal to set up point to multipoint networks wirelessly such as connecting multiple buildings to a central location. For such use cases, omnidirectional and directional long range WiFi antennas can be used together in a mesh network. University campus network is a common example of point to multipoint networks where the central omnidirectional antenna is placed in an elevated location with minimal obstructions in the surrounding and the other directional antennas are mounted on other buildings in specific directions to provide overall coverage to a campus.
Benefits of Long Range WiFi Antenna
- Enhanced range and performance: Long range WiF antennas are able to extend the range of an existing WiFi network and make it a reliable connection for the users with increased speeds, increased quality of connection. This will enable users to connect even from far off places from the access point.
- Flexibility: By adjusting the placement, orientation and alignment of the antenna, its performance can be improved.
- Customizable: Long range WiFi antennas are available in a wide range of configurations such as directional and omnidirectional and with different specifications in frequencies, gain, polarization etc.
- Specialized Environments: Long range WiFi antennas are able to perform better even in harsh environments. They are ideal to be used in outdoor environments where there might be more interference as well as densely populated locations such as large venues, warehouses, stadiums, arenas etc.
Choosing the Right Long Range WiFi Antenna for Your Needs
Selecting a long range WiFi antenna entirely depends on the application and its requirements. Some of the key factors to consider are given below.
- Range: Decide the total coverage area that needs to be covered by the antenna’s radiation pattern.
- Antenna type: Depending on the spatial requirements decide whether coverage is required in one direction or more and then decide between directional and omnidirectional antenna options.
- Compatibility: Ensure the long range WiFi antenna is compatible with your existing WiFi equipment so that the coverage can be extended without need for an entire new infrastructure setup.
- Installation ease: Certain antennas are available as plug and play options while others may require professional expertise. Based on the requirement, decide on how conveniently the antenna needs to be implemented.
- Signal Strength: Consider the gain of the antenna to ensure it provides the necessary signal strength.
- Environmental factors: Depending on the operating environment and its weather conditions, decide on an antenna that will be able to withstand and provide reliable connectivity in that environment. It is also important to consider the obstructions and level of interference in the operating environment in order to select an antenna that will be able to perform efficiently even within that environment.
These are some of the crucial factors to consider when selecting a long range WiFi antenna to ensure reliable and high-speed internet connectivity for the specific application.
How far can a long range WiFi antenna reach
The maximum distance that an antenna can radiate its signals up to is an important consideration. However, it’s a relative measurement when comparing the type of signals that it is intended to pick up. Long range WiFi antennas can generally reach between 1 mile up to around 10 miles in distance.
How to increase your WiFi signal with a long range antenna
Long range WiFi antennas boost the signal strength by pulling the WiFi signal towards them. They are able to minimize the fading effect of the signal as you move further away from the router. They generally pick up the signals from an existing WiFi router and then amplify it and radiate it towards its radiation directions, thus extending the coverage of the WiFi network.
Installation Tips and Best Practices
When setting up a long range WiFi antenna, it is important to consider certain factors. Firstly, the most important factor to consider is the placement of the antenna and its orientation and alignment. This is crucial as it should be mounted such that it is subjected to minimal obstructions and interference. It is best to place them at elevated locations. Depending on the operating environment, it is also important to take into consideration the effects of the weather conditions. Antennas should be securely mounted to withstand harsh weather conditions. Cables and connectors should be kept as short in length as possible and it is better to have weatherproof protections for the connections. Regular checkups are important to maintain the performance of the antennas at their optimal state.
Cost Considerations and Budgeting
This is an important parameter to consider when selecting a long range WiFi antenna. Based on the application requirements, it is necessary to determine the budget for the antenna as it helps to decide the best antenna without compromising on the quality or functionality. It is also important to be mindful of any additional installation and maintenance costs that might incur.
Summary
This article provides a thorough outlook on long range WiFi antennas. These are antennas that are specifically designed to facilitate applications that require a boost of signals to transmit and receive signals over very long distances without losing on speed, data throughout, quality, or reliability of a normal WiFi antenna. Long range WiFi antennas are available in various performance specifications, and it is up to the user to select the best suited antenna for their application.
