Omnidirectional Antennas VS Directional Antennas
The outside antenna usually comes in two types: omni antennas and directional antennas. So what’s the difference? I would like to explain the differences between the Omni-Directional antennas VS the Directional antennas. Much like a lantern VS. a flashlight. Read on to learn more.
Omni-Directional Antennas
Omni directional antennas are used for Point-to-Multi-Point systems，they collect and broadcast signal in a 360-degree pattern , similar to how a light bulb throws light in in a room. The omni-directional antennas provide good all round coverage in indoor and outdoor wireless applications .Types of Omni-directional antennas include outdoor omni antenna,rubber duck antenna.
Advantages of omni-directional antennas:
*Easy to install
*Amplify cell signals from multiple carriers with different cell towers in multiple locations.
*Great for boosting 3G & 4G signal when building material is the main problem of cellular interruption
* suited for applications requiring good all round coverage
Disadvantages of omni-directional antennas:
*Range is less compared with a directional antenna
*Not ideal for areas where poor signal areas where the culprit is cell tower distance
Directional Antennas
Directional Antennas are used for Point-to-Point or sometimes for Multi-Point systems，depending on the setup.These antennas focuses the wireless signal in a specific direction ,so they are typically used to extend the range of a Wi-Fi network into hard-to-reach corners of buildings or other specific environments where 360-degree coverage is not needed.Types of directional antennas include Parabolic Grid,Yagi, Patch, and Panel antenna styles.
Advantages of directional antennas:
*More powerful than omni-directional antennas.
*suited for people in rural areas where the distance between cell towers is much greater than in urban or suburban areas.
Disadvantages of directional antennas:
*Generally boosts signal for one carrier
*Need to point the antenna towards the direction of the cell tower
We carry a wide range of antennas of various form factors and sizes so that you can pick the perfect one for your application. And if you are unsure, which antenna would work best for your project, ask us, we would be happy to help!
