Internet Connections: How a Wi-Fi Antenna Works

The world has been digitalized in almost every aspect. Now, internet use is very important in both business and personal environments. 

Smartphones, computers, printers, and other like devices are now capable of solid communication between each other. But how is this made possible? You may know the answer to that; of course, it is through Wi-Fi. But do you know how your Wi-Fi internet antenna works to make this possible? 

Well, there is no need to ponder on this. In this read, we will be discussing the workings of a Wi-Fi antenna and other aspects relating to it. Let us get right into it. 

Wi-Fi Antenna – How it Works 

A wireless device communicates wirelessly via radio wave to another wireless device. The wireless signal that facilitates the communication is an electromagnetic wave that usually contains information packets. 

Now, a Wi-Fi antenna converts these electromagnetic waves to electrical signals. This also works vice versa. Your wireless device like hotspots, tablets, laptops, smartphones, wireless routers, and so on have transmitting and receiving antennas. 

Their receiving antennas are used to receive electromagnetic waves and then convert the waves to electrical signals which the device can now process. On the other hand, a transmitting antenna changes electrical signals to electromagnetic waves. 

Wi-Fi Antennas Types

Wi-Fi antennas can be classified into two broad types: directional and omnidirectional. 

Omnidirectional Wi-Fi Antennas 

Omnidirectional antennas offer wide signal coverage. A perfect way to explain the workings of this type of antenna is an incandescent un-shaped light bulb. Visit here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incandescent_light_bulb to learn more about incandescent light bulbs.

When the incandescent un-shaped light bulb is switched on, it distributes light evenly to every direction of a room, ensuring that everywhere is properly illuminated. 

However, the range of this type of antenna is shorter than that of directional antennas. Yet, they can be used both outdoors and indoors. 

Omnidirectional Antennas – Types 

The following are omnidirectional antennas types:

• Outdoor: These are typically used to boost outdoor Wi-Fi signals. To do this successfully, they will have to be linked to your router or an access point. 
• Dipole or Rubber Duck: These are normally found on access points, Wi-Fi USB adapters, and routers. 
• Ceiling Dome: These are connected to an access point or Wi-Fi router with a coaxial cable. They are then mounted or installed on a building’s ceiling. 

Directional Wi-Fi Antennas

As you can guess from their names, these simply place their focus in a specific direction. Their workings, therefore, can be likened to that of flashlights. 

When you switch on your flashlight and point it towards a particular direction, the flashlight will merely illuminate the area where it is being pointed at. The beamwidth of the flashlight is shaped like a triangle. Anything that is outside this triangle will not get even the slightest bit of light. 

The good thing about this antenna type is since they are focused as explained, they are capable of receiving and transmitting wireless signals from a farther range or distance. Simply put, the flashlight can illuminate more than a room; however, it can’t illuminate the whole room. 

This is the major difference between directional and omnidirectional Wi-Fi antennas. 

Directional Antennas – Types 

The following are directional antennas types:

• Parabolic Grid: These are very directional with an ultra-high gain. Their radiation pattern is often very narrow, usually between 3 to 20 degrees. You can read this week to learn more about radiation patterns. 
• Mini Panel: These are designed to send radio waves from and to a particular area. They are often used to boost outdoor Wi-Fi signals. Therefore, they could serve as a replacement for a dipole or rubber duck antenna on Wi-Fi USB adapters, access points, and routers. Their radiation pattern is about 60 degrees. If connectivity issues must be eliminated, you must ensure the antenna is made to face where the signal is coming or going to. 
• Panel: These can receive and transmit signals from a distance further away. If the need is to transmit signals further, they will be attached to your router. But, if the need is to receive further distance data, they will be attached to your USB Wi-Fi adapter. When compared to a mini panel antenna, a panel antenna is considered more directional. Their radiation pattern is about 35 degrees. 

The antenna you use for your home or office should be one that perfectly suits your needs. All you need to do to decide on which is best for you is to consider all the types that we have discussed. 

Conclusion

Wi-Fi is one way through which wireless devices are capable of communicating with each other. In this article, we discussed the workings of Wi-Fi antennas. A Wi-Fi antenna converts electromagnetic waves to electrical signals, vice versa. Electromagnetic waves are what facilitate wireless signals. 

To better aid understanding, we went further to discuss the types of Wi-Fi antennas: directional and omnidirectional. Under these broad categories, we also have subtypes that were also discussed in the article.