Pointing a Directional Antenna - External Application

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There are several different kinds of directional antennas available. We offer:

Panel Antennas

Yagi Antennas

Grid Antennas

One of the advantages to directional antennas is that they have higher gain than omni-directional antennas. These directional antennas can reach out further and pull in a weak signal. However, being directional means that they have a narrow beamwidth and have to be pointed at the signal.

Here's how to do it.

Survey your location with only your phone in hand and looking at the bars on the display showing received signal strength.

Walk around your location (North, South, East and West). Also try getting up on the roof (if possible and carefully!). Determine which direction the signal seems to be coming from. Choose the location that allows your antenna to face the direction the signal comes from. If you are using a Panel antenna, the cable exits the top or bottom of the antenna and the rounded side faces the signal. Panel antennas can be mounted on a Mast (pole) but are usually mounted to the side of a building. Yagi and Grid antennas need to be mounted to a Mast (pole).

Antennas can also be mounted on a tall tree if needed. These antennas can also be mounted in an attic if there is no metal, concrete or other blocking material on the roof. Still it is usually best to have nothing in front of the antenna.

See also Antenna Patterns here.

Diagram Notes:

- Mount high up (see G rather than H)

- Point towards signal (see E)

- Signal may be reflected. Point at signal.

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