Designing stable and quality WiFi networks to support different users outside of homes and offices can be challenging. Having a highly directional antenna that can transmit and receive focused beams of signals over long distances will help mitigate the common WiFI issues and improve performance of the network. WiFi panel antennas are directional antennas that are used to improve signal strength and coverage in wireless communication systems. They are typically used for extending the range of WiFi networks, improving signal quality, and focusing the signal in specific directions.
What is a Flat Panel WiFi Antenna?
WiFi panel antennas are designed as flat, rectangular antennas which are typically enclosed in plastic or metal casings for protection of the internal components. These are generally used in WiFi networks to provide targeted coverage as they are directional antennas and can focus the signal in a specific direction.
WiFi panel antennas are able to enhance the signal strength, improve signal quality, reduce interference in the targeted direction and thus they are ideal for applications like point-to-point communication systems, long distance WiFi links etc. WiFi flat panel antennas are available in various configurations based on different performance parameters like gain, frequency, polarization, radiation patterns, etc. They operate at most of the common WiFi frequency ranges. WiFi flat panel antennas have lower VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) ratings, meaning that they could efficiently transmit power from the antenna to air with minimal losses and have better performance.
Frequency Bands Supported by WiFi Panel Antennas
WiFi operates across three main frequency bands which are the 2.4 GHz Band (2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz), 5 GHz Band ( 5.15 GHz to 5.825 GHz) and 6 GHz Band (5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz). The 2.4 GHz frequency band is the traditional frequency band for WiFi, however, it is shared among other communication technologies like Zigbee and Bluetooth. Due to this, there is a lot of network traffic and interference in the 2.4 GHz frequency band WiFi networks. As a mitigation strategy, 5 GHz and 6 GHz frequency bands have been introduced for WiFi communication. These frequency bands have much shorter wavelengths high penetration power, and high energy loss compared to the 2.4 GHz frequency band networks, making them suitable mostly for short distance coverage areas.
WiFi panel antennas are generally designed and built to operate at these common WiFi frequency bands like 2.4 GHz (802.11b/g/n), 5 GHz (802.11a/n/ac/ax) and 6 GHz (802.11be). Depending on the model of the WiFi panel antenna, they could operate as single frequency band, dual frequency band or triple frequency band WiFi antennas. Thus, WiFi panel antennas are able to efficiently work across the different WiFi frequency bands.
Signal Strength and Gain
The gain of an antenna can be defined as a measure of the ability of the antenna to direct the signals to a specific direction. Higher the gain, better the signal strength and lower the interferences. WiFi panel antennas typically have a directional gain ranging from 8 dBi to 20 dBi or higher.
Antenna Polarization
Polarization of an antenna can be defined as the orientation of the signal waves emitted by the antenna. WiFi flat panel antennas can be either linearly polarized, horizontally polarized, vertically polarized or even circularly polarized depending on the application to match the polarization of the receiving antenna.
WiFi Panel Antenna with MIMO Technology
SISO (Single Input Single Output) and MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) are two different technologies used in wireless communication systems. WiFi panel antennas are available in both of these modes. MIMO technology is preferred in most of the modern networks as they can facilitate connectivity for a higher capacity and a larger coverage area.
In MIMO technology, multiple WiFi panel antennas are interconnected to create multiple signal paths for transmission and reception. The performance of WiFi panel antennas can be significantly improved when they are integrated with MIMO technology as it can leverage multiple paths for signal transmission simultaneously, thus improving the overall signal strength, data throughput, and the reliability of the network. WiFi panel antennas with MIMO technology can offer much higher speeds and data rates for communication. Connecting multiple WiFi panel antennas in MIMO configuration provides better range and coverage as the different antennas will have gains in different directions spatially which is generally known as spatial multiplexing gains. However, using WiFi panels antennas with MIMO technology can be quite complex and challenging as it requires professional expertise to properly build the network of antennas taking into consideration their placements, signal processing complexities, performance parameters of each antenna etc.
MIMO WiFi panel antennas are used in many modern applications. Stable and reliable WiFi connectivity is paramount in today’s corporate and enterprise world. WiFi panel antennas with MIMO technology are used to establish enterprise networks to ensure robust, high speed and reliable connectivity across large areas. They are also used for public WiFi hotspots in locations such as airports, stadiums, shopping malls etc. where a massive amount of users need to connect to the network simultaneously without any lag or interruptions. MiMo WiFi panel antennas are also used for applications such as IoT applications that require high throughput and reliable connection. They can also be utilized for providing broadband internet in locations where wired connections are not feasible.
WiFi Panel Antenna vs Omnidirectional WiFi Antenna
Omnidirectional antennas provide 360 degree coverage and transmit signals equally in all directions whereas WiFi panel antennas have high directionality and provide coverage only to a specific direction. To achieve 360 coverage, multiple panel antennas have to be used. Omnidirectional WiFi antennas are ideal for general purpose applications where devices/users can be in any direction like in smaller areas such as houses or small office units. Panel antennas are used for applications that require targeted signal transmission and receival like in point to point applications, backhaul links etc. Omnidirectional antennas generally have a shorter range and a lower signal strength than panel antennas. Since panel antennas have focused beams, they are able to transmit over longer distances with higher signal quality. Omnidirectional antennas are also subjected to more interference than panel antennas as they can be obstructed in all directions.
Read more: omnidirectional vs directional antenna
Range and coverage of WiFi panel antennas
WiFi panel antennas are highly directional and thus their focused approach offers increased range and optimized coverage. Since the signals are concentrated in a specific direction, WiFi panel antennas are able to transmit and receive signals over longer distances. The signal strength is much higher with a higher gain and the overall performance of the WiFi panel antenna is ideal for long range applications. Although a WiFi panel antenna can only provide coverage to a small sector or a specific direction, by strategically placing multiple WiFi panel antennas or by using MIMO technology, WiFi panel antennas can provide greater coverage.
Applications of WiFi Panel Antennas
WiFi panel antennas are used in various applications and they are specifically used to improve the performance and range of wireless networks.
- Point-to-Point communication
Point to point communication is one of the major use cases of WiFi panel antennas. They can be used to establish connectivity between long distances such as between buildings or between two base stations. They are also ideal for bridging two isolated networks to share resources.
- Point-to-Multipoint communication
WiFi panel antennas are used in centralized systems where a central device needs to communicate with multiple devices in a specific area. Panel antennas can be used to transmit a focused and targeted beam of signal in that direction. By using multiple such antennas different sectors or even 360 degree coverage can be provided effectively and with better overall performance.
- Indoor applications
WiFi panel antennas can be used in various indoor applications inside houses, offices, warehouses or factories. In offices, areas where high quality network connectivity is required such as in conference rooms or reception areas, the network can be established using WiFi panel antennas. In warehouses and factories, they are used to ensure seamless connectivity for user devices as well as industrial equipment. Inside houses, WiFi panel antennas can be used to improve coverage and reduce dead zones in the property. They can be used for specific areas like basements, garages, balconies, attics etc.
- Outdoor applications
One of the key use case of WiFi panel antennas is establishing public WiFi hotspots. Due to their ability to reduce interference and provide quality communication, they are used in public places like airports, stadiums, shopping malls, parks, live events etc. where a large number of users will be gathered. WiFi panel antennas are great to serve the network connectivity for such high demand occasions. In such occasions or venues where a massive gathering is expected and monitoring or surveillance systems are required, WiFi panel antennas are also ideal for these devices to ensure a speed, quality and reliable experience.
- WiFi for rural and remote areas
WiFi panel antennas are extremely useful in providing internet to rural and remote areas where implementing wired traditional infrastructure might not be feasible. These panel antennas can enable the users to connect over them to distant WiFi hotspots or other cellular networks.
- Specialized industrial applications
Similar to rural residential areas, remote industrial sites such as mining fields could also benefit from WiFi panel antennas. These can provide reliable communication links for the tasks carried out in such sites and the machinery that might be used such as monitoring and control systems. Transportation hubs, huge industrial zones etc. can use WiFi panel antennas for their regular operations as well as to provide smooth connection to users and passengers.
- IoT applications
IoT applications require robust, high speed, high throughput, and reliable connections for optimal performance and thus WiFi panel antennas are crucial in implementing concepts like smart cities and smart agriculture.
- CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) systems
WiFi panel antennas can be used in CCTV systems to ensure video streaming at high data rates and high quality resolution. These antennas are useful in surveillance and monitoring applications over long distances.
WiFi Panel Antennas in Mesh Networks
WiFi panel antennas play a crucial role in mesh networks. For optimized performance of the mesh network, each access point of the network needs to transmit and receive signals seamlessly with minimal interference. WiFi panel antennas are ideal to establish secure, highly reliable, and resilient connectivity between the access points.
Choosing the Right WiFi Panel Antenna
Choosing the right WiFi panel antenna for a specific application depends on several factors. Firstly, it is important to consider all the performance parameters of the antenna. The frequency band that the antenna operates in is a critical factor. It is possible to choose either dual or triple frequency band panel antennas for better performance. The gain and polarization of the antenna also should be chosen with much care. Matching polarizations could improve the performance of the system.
Besides the performance parameters, it is also important to consider the placement and alignment of the WiFi panel antenna. Proper installation of the WiFi panel antenna will help to minimize obstructions and provide connectivity with minimal interference. It is also important to consider the operating environment of the antenna as WiFi panel antennas that are optimized for indoor and outdoor use are available separately in the market today. Size of antennas, mounting options, and ease of maintenance are a few more factors to consider when selecting a WiFi panel antenna.
Conclusion
As discussed in this article, WiFi panel antennas are widely used in the modern world across various sectors for smooth and quality communication. These antennas play a critical role by providing focused, uninterrupted, high quality connectivity at high data rates for everyday applications as well as for crucial applications such as time critical operations in healthcare, education, industrial automation, and emergency services. The significance of WiFi panel antennas in providing seamless communication and connectivity will grow even more in the future with the rapid pace of development in technologies in the digital era.
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