Wi Fi View Wireless Antenna HowTo:

This is the information central for antenna construction. It's here to help you to learn the different types of antennas, and show you how to build them and install them yourself, affordably.

Types of Antennas

There are several kinds of antennas available on the market.

It is best to do some research on what you are trying to cover before you run out and buy an antenna. If you are simply trying to saturate an apartment or house, an omni will do just fine, but over distance you are generally best off getting a directional to cut down on noise and take advantage of AntennaGain. Different types of antennas have different beamspreads and it is good to familiarize yourself with which antenna is the right one for the job.

• OmniDirectionalAntenna

  • SlottedWaveguide (maybe either omnidirectional or unidirectional)

  • Quarter-wave Spider (see Other Interesting Links, below)

• DirectionalAntenna

  • TinReflector

  • DirectionalBiQuad

  • DirectionalCorner

  • DirectionalParabolic

  • DirectionalPatch

  • DirectionalSector

  • DirectionalWaveguide

  • DirectionalYagi

Build an Antenna Yourself

Here's a list of the homebrew antenna designs on the wiki.
Build a parabolic reflector, below, before replacing any client or AP antenna.

• TinReflector

• Coffee Can TinCantenna (waveguide) ***recommended***

• PringlesCantenna (yagi)

• SardineCanAntenna (BiQuad)

• CookieCantenna (waveguide with funnel)

• CardboardHorn

• MicroTVAerial (yagi)

• N-Omni

• Note: please update this list often with new local pages, add offsite links to the end of this page

Chinese parabolic cookware! Woks and cheap mesh scoops GREATLY enhance (by ~15dB) USB Wi-Fi adaptor's range--to several Km LOS typical. Construction's a breeze, "dongle" adaptors are cheap, AND just normal loss-free USB cable & connectors are used.
Bonus: Cable runs of ~5m (maybe more) allow "signal sweet spot" locating too. Recommended!
Update: Jan 2005. Check our classy Mk.2 "boutique" version, based on a modified desk lamp base & flexible support stalk + kitchen sieve. When spray painted black this looks most professional and almost invisible beside a laptop. NetStumbler (NS) shows 12+ dB gain over a bare dongle.
Dehandled cookware scoops can also be persuaded, and NS indeed shows slightly higher (~15dB?) gain. HIGHLY recommended.

Ham Radio operators have been designing and building homebrew microwave equipment for years. QSL.net is a storehouse of engineering and practical knowledge: W1GHZ Online Microwave Antenna Book

If you are looking for a way to mount an antenna on the roof without drilling into the roof, one approach is on the WaterProofBoxes page.

Comparision Tests

Gregory Rehm

Gregory Rehm had performed a Homebrew Antenna Shootout (2002.02.14), comparing the following:

• Lucent "range extender" omni directional

• Flickenger design PringlesCantenna Yagi

• Rehm's modified design PringlesCantenna

• Flickenger design coffee can waveguide TinCantenna

• Coffee can TinCantenna waveguide with corrected radiator placement by Rehm

• A Hunts 26.5 oz. pasta sauce can waveguide TinCantenna that fell in the optimum size range

• A Nalley's 40 oz. "Big Chunk" beef stew can Waveguide TinCantenna

Gregory Rehm's test showed that the TinCantenna waveguides variety should be the preferred cantenna design. It consistantly pulled more gain than the PringlesCantenna, and requires very little assembly.

Martybugs

Another Antenna Comparison Testing by martybugs compares the following:

• Modified 24dBi Conifer (ex-Galaxy) dish.

• Cantenna (similar to TinCantenna)

• Two BiQuads

• Two 8-slot 180-degree downpipe SlottedWaveguides

• 8-element Collinear Omni Antenna

The Conifer dish performed best in this test with the SlottedWaveguides coming in second.
The BiQuads and the TinCantenna performed comparably.

Ever wondered what would happen if you connected up two can antenna in a shotgun arrangement? Ever wondered what a 1 Watt amplifier would do for you?

• Take a look at the testing using Netstumbler: http://windsurf.mediaforte.com/wifi/wifi_antenna.html

Other Interesting Links

There are some other interesting ideas for easy ways to build antennas, such as spray-on antennas. Other antenna approaches are at FreeAntennas, which is a great repository of antenna designs.

Quarter-wave "spider omni" (22 December 2005), in Do-It-Yourself Wireless Antenna Update. This is also in Flickenger, Wireless Hacks, 1st ed., 2003, pp.177-8; Flickenger and Weeks, 2nd ed., 2005, pp.331-3.

Forum thread of Antenna Links has best omnindirectional, directional, basic antenna info and calculations links (July '03).

Another SeattleWireless member has provided pictures of high gain antennae he has made. See gallery.tje1 album59 and album62. [21-23 Apr.'06 "can't find the server at gallery.tje1.com."]

Build a Wi-Fi VSWR meter to test and adjust your homebrew Wifi antenna (test equipment).

Lens antennas links? Is there someone who has tried this? Looks like this works in frequencies higher than 2.4 GHz, qsl.net n1bwt chap3.pdf.

Wi-Fi antenna guide to common Wi-Fi antenna types and outdoor wireless network topics.

Geekcorps 21st-c. application of 19th-c. DIY ingenuity thrives around the planet.

Add a parabolic reflector to a standard factory dipole antenna

One of these can provide a quick, easy basis of comparison that any replacement antenna performs well enough.

Erskine reports around 12 dB gain for about $0.10 in materials, cardboard and aluminum foil. Ready templates. Erskine reports these outperform standard cantennas! No pigtail required, no voiding of warranty.
Here are some designs:

• The Ez-10 10 dBi Corner Reflector is so elegantly simple that it's also an amazing parlor trick.

  EZ-12 Parabolic Reflector Template with gain plots, so this page takes a bit to load.

• Deep Dish Cylindrical Parabolic Template includes more images, so this page takes a bit to load. Links to ready templates.
  This is also in Flickenger, Wireless Hacks, 1st ed., pp.174-6; Flickenger and Weeks, 2nd ed., pp.328-331.

Other Designs

How to build Wi-Fi antennas and use a pistol grip for mobile operations and wardriving.

• Do-It-Yourself WiFi Antenna Update

Looking for extended-range wireless LAN and Wireless Internet systems? This site has tons.

Male N-Connector	Female N-Connector
N Connectors are usually found on external antenna and antenna cabling. It's usually cheaper to make your own cabling from RG-213 or LMR-400 cable and a couple of N-Connectors, than to buy fixed length cables from your Access Point manufacturer.
Male RP-TNC	Female RP-TNC
TNC connectors are usually found on access points such as the linksys WAP11.
Male RP-SMA	Female RP-SMA
SMA connectors are usually found on PCI wireless cards, such as the Belkin F5D6001 or the Netgear MA311.
Male MC (Lucent) Connector	Female MC (Lucent) Connector
These connectors are usually found on pcmcia cards like the Buffalo WLI-PCM-L11G.

If you need to make an extension cable between the antenna and the pigtail/converter cable, we recommend using either LMR-400 or RG-213 cable as these are durable low loss cables suitable for 2.4 Ghz.

When your setting up a wireless network for maximum range, the wifi antenna cable becomes very important. This is because most of the time your access point or other wireless device will be located inside the building but the antenna must be mounted outside where it is providing maximum coverage and free from obstructions.

A good way is to set up your equipment up as close to where your antenna will be mounted as possible. In some cases it is preferable to mount the device in a weatherproof enclosure with the antenna or in the ceiling space just below the antenna. This configuration is optimal as it minimizes cable losses.

Where your cable length can be kept at reasonable length (around 10m/30ft or less for LMR-400), it may be easier to run a low loss coaxial cable. These cables generally have an ‘N connector at each end. You will just need to make sure of the gender of the N connector on your antenna and the N connector on your pigtail to select a suitable cable. Most wireless devices have a very small connector and a pigtail is required to convert from this connector to an N type.

pigtail adapter to connect your wireless device to the N connector on your antenna cable

Low loss antenna cable with N type connectors

It is important to keep the antenna cable as short as possible even when using very high grade cable. As you can see from the chart below, the 2.4GHz frequency degrades a lot more than lower frequencies along the cable length.

What is F/B?

F/B stands for Front-to-Back Ratio. It is the ratio (in dB) between the forward gain to the gain off the rear of the wireless antenna. The forward gain is the peak gain on the main lobe of the wireless antenna. The gain off the rear may be defined as the gain at exactly 180 degrees from the main lobe, or it may be defined as the average or peak gain from 90 degrees to 270 degrees from the main lobe. The second definition of rear gain is the best to use. A F/B of 10-15 dB is considered fair or poor. A F/B of 15-20 dB is considered good, and F/B of 20-30 dB is very good. F/B above 30 dB is superior!

What Antenna Polarization should I use?

Most Point-to-Multipoint Wireless LAN systems use V-Pol (vertical polarization). This allows the use of inexpensive vertical omnidirectional wireless antennas. Higher-density areas are beginning to use more H-Pol (horizontal polarization) antennas for PtMP. Point-to-Point (backhaul) systems may use either vertical or horizontal polarization as long the same polarization is used at each end. Horizontal polarization may perform slightly better when transmitting through a forested area, otherwise there is very little difference in propagation effects. Most standard Telex Wireless antennas are vertical polarization except -H versions of the dish antennas and the 2445AA sector antenna. The 2401 patch antenna may be mounted for either polarity.

Will CP (Circular Polarization) help my system?

Normally, a wireless LAN or wireless ISP has a set of channels or frequency sets that are either vertically-polarized or horizontally-polarized, or some of each. Since the Circular Polarized wireless antenna responds (theoretically) equally to either polarization at a level of 3 dB down from maximum signal, there is not much reason to add CP to a system that already has vertical, horizontal or both polarizations. This won't gain additional spectrum for the wireless ISP. Polarization discrimination is generally a good thing, and CP wireless antennas have no discrimination against linear-polarized signals or interference. However, CP wireless antennas do work well in situations where the polarization is not pure vertical or pure horizontal, such as in downtown areas with lots of multiple reflections from buildings, airborne applications, over-water systems and indoor applications where the client antenna can be either vertical or horizontal or anywhere in between (such as a laptop or PDA antenna). The 2405 circular polarized, ceiling-mount wireless antenna works great in these indoor situations.

What is the Half-Power beamwidth?

In a radiation pattern cut containing the direction of the maximum of a lobe, the angle between the two directions in which the radiation intensity is one-half the maximum value". The Half-power beamwidth is also commonly referred to as the 3-dB beamwidth. Beamwidth typically decreases as antenna gain increases.

What is VSWR?

VSWR stands for Voltage Standing Wave Ratio. It is the ratio of the maximum/minimum values of standing wave pattern along a transmission line to which a load is connected. VSWR value ranges from 1 (matched load) to infinity for a short or an open load. For most wireless LAN antennas the maximum acceptable value of VSWR is 2.0. VSWR of 1.5 or less is excellent. This is approximately the same as a Return Loss of 14.5 dB. What this means is that most of the signal from the transmitter to the wireless antenna is being radiated. (96% radiated and 4% reflected) A VSWR of 2.0 (return loss of 9.5 dB) means that 90% is radiated and 10% reflected.

What is a Yagi Antenna and how is it different from a Panel Antenna?

A Yagi-Uda antenna array, commonly called a Yagi Antenna, is made up of linear wire or rod-type elements, each having a length of approximately 1/2 wavelength. These elements are arranged in a row, with each element parallel to each other. The rear element in this array is called the reflector. The second element is the driven element, which is connected to the transmission line, and all other elements in front of the driven are called directors. The gain of a single Yagi antenna ranges from about 6 to 20 dBi, depending upon the length of the array. Multiple Yagi antennas may be connected together side by side in larger arrays, which may have gains from 10 to 26 dBi or higher. A single Yagi Antenna has a long, narrow profile and UHF Yagi Antennas are usually enclosed in radome tubes to protect them from the environment. Gain, sidelobe and F/B performance of a Yagi Antenna is very similar to a Panel Antenna. The main differences are the appearance and that single Yagi Antennas have approximately the same beamwidth in each plane, while a Panel Antenna may be designed for different beamwidths in each plane.

Wireless Client Equipment

For a WISP system, what wireless antennas should I use for my clients (CPE)?

This depends upon the hub antenna, cable type and length, distance, data rate and terrain. You should test your system first before a final wireless antenna selection. For WISP systems using +36 dBm EIRP at the AP and clear LOS, use the following table as a guide:

How can I route coaxial cable into a customer's house?

Whatever you do, do NOT drill through his roof. This will ultimately cause leaks. Most installers route the cable to a wall location below the eaves and drill a hole just large enough for the cable to enter. Ideally, the inside coaxial connector should be installed after the cable is installed. Seal the wall entry from water using a silicon-based sealant. The best installation uses existing holes or a basement wall entry, however sometimes this is not available or practical.

FCC Wireless Rules and Regulations

How much power can I transmit on a 2.4 GHz, 10 dBi omni antenna and still be legal?

The FCC regulations for Point to Multi-Point allows only 36 dBm (4 watts) EIRP. This is 30 dBm (1 watt) into a 6 dBi antenna. If you use a 10 dBi wireless antenna, you must limit your transmitter (or amplifier) to 26 dBm (10 + 26 = 36 dBm). For a 14 dBi panel wireless antenna, this allows a 22 dBm transmitter (or amplifier). Power is measured at the antenna connector, so subtract any cable loss between the amplifier and the antenna. Refer to the following table:

Can I use any wireless antenna of my choice for my Access Point or CPE antenna?

Yes, up to the highest gain antenna specified in the FCC certification information or the product literature that accompanies the device. (See FCC 04-165 adopted July 8, 2004, 15.204(c)) Those people in countries other than the US will need to consult their own regulations. If you are not sure if the antenna that you plan to use is certified or authorized with the radio system, ask the radio or antenna manufacturer/vendor. If you have the radio FCC ID, you can check on the FCC web site for certification information. Some older certifications are not available on this site.

How much power can I transmit with in my Point-to-Point system?

According to FCC regulations, 2.4 GHz Part 15.247 point-to-point transmitters may use a 30 dBm transmitter with a 6 dBi antenna. For a 3 dB increase in antenna gain, the transmitter power output must be reduced by 1 dB. Power is measured at the antenna connector, so subtract any cable loss between the amplifier and the antenna. Refer to the following table.

Is the Customer or Client (CPE) system considered Point to Multi-Point or Point to Point?

If the CPE system (or Subscriber Unit - SU) only talks with the POP/AP and is at a fixed location, then it is considered to be PtP and can use power and antenna gain associated with PtP systems, as shown below. (This has been verified by FCC Certified systems using a 26 dBm radio and a 17 dBi antenna) If a CPE system is part of a mesh network, then it is considered PtMP.

Should I use 2.4 GHz, 3.65 GHz or 5.8 GHz for my WLAN or WISP system?

Currently, most systems use either IEEE 802.11 or 802.11b operating between 2.4 and 2.4835 GHz. As these frequencies become more congested, the U-NII Band 3 at 5.725 - 5.825 GHz (IEEE 802.11a) will be used more. 5.8 GHz also offers data transmission rates greater than 11 MB/s. However, more antenna gain will be necessary at 5.8 GHz for the same distance on 2.4 GHz. 5.8 GHz will have a smaller Fresnel zone, so there may be certain advantages when shooting a signal through a tight space between trees or buildings. The new 3.650-3.7 GHz band is ideal for WISP use as there is no interference from home gateways, microwave ovens or cordless phones. Also, an easy-to-obtain Part 90 license will be required for users in this band. The WCS and MMDS frequencies between 2.1 and 2.7 GHz are also available to FCC-licensed users. (See IEEE 802.16a)

What frequencies are available to WLAN outside the US?

The 2400-2500 MHz band is used worldwide. There are certain channels within this band that are allocated to certain regions, however. The 5725-5825 MHz band is used only in the US with 4 watts EIRP. Europe uses the HiperLAN frequencies of 5470-5725 MHz outdoors with 1 watt EIRP. The indoor band at 5 GHz is 5150-5250 MHz in US/Japan and 5150-5350 in Europe. There are also frequencies between 3.4 and 4.0 GHz which are available in Canada, Asia and Africa and the Far East. (See IEEE 802.16a)

If I obtain a Ham Radio license, can I run more power on my WISP?

NO! Ham Radio is licensed under FCC Part 97 as a not-for-profit service, which provides communications for public service, experimenters and hobbyests.

How much power can I transmit on a 5.3 GHz 10 dBi omni and still be legal?

The FCC regulations for PtMP and PtP allows only 30 dBm (1 watt) EIRP in the UNII-2 band. This is 24 dBm (250 mW) into a 6 dBi antenna. If you use a 10 dBi antenna, you must limit your transmitter (or amplifier) to 20 dBm (10 + 20 = 30 dBm). For a 15 dBi panel antenna, this allows a 15 dBm transmitter (or amplifier). Power is measured at the antenna connector, so subtract any cable loss between the amplifier and the antenna.

How much power can I transmit on a 7 dBi omni on 5.8 GHz and still be legal?

The FCC regulations for PtMP allows only 36 dBm (4 watts) EIRP in the UNII-3 band. This is 30 dBm (1 watt) into a 6 dBi antenna. If you use a 7 dBi antenna, you must limit your transmitter (or amplifier) to 29 dBm (7 + 29 = 36 dBm). For a 15 dBi sector antenna, this allows a 21 dBm transmitter (or amplifier). Power is measured at the antenna connector, so subtract any cable loss between the amplifier and the antenna.

How much power can I legally transmit on a 23 dBi panel at 5.8 GHz?

Wireless Antennas in Point to Multi-Point

How do I know which wireless access point antenna to select for my outdoor WLAN / WISP?

This depends on how your subscribers or clients are located with respect to the access point and what type of terrain is in between. You can place an omni-directional antenna such as our 2439 (10 dBi gain) near the middle of your group of clients at a hub (Access Point) location. This works best if your facilities/customers are no more than 6 miles (9.5 km) from the hub and unobstructed by hills, trees or buildings. You may also select to use several sector antennas at an Access Point location. Our model 2443 (12 dBi 120 degree panel) or model 2444 (14 dBi 90 degree panel) wireless antennas work great for distances up to 12 miles (19.4 km) with clear LOS or up to 6 miles with some trees and buildings in the path. Greater distances may be obtained by using tower-mounted amplifiers with antenna heights above 100 feet HAAT. Whichever wireless antenna you choose, please make sure that it is Industry Canada or FCC certified with your radio!

How high should I place my outdoor wireless Access Point antenna?

This depends upon a lot of factors. If you have a building with roof access, this is usually the best option, since the feedline losses may be minimized if the equipment can be placed near the antennas. A minimum height is usually around 75 feet. This places the antennas above most trees. This height will also give a radio horizon of approximately 12 miles, assuming flat terrain. If you have taller trees, or tall buildings nearby, you may wish to use an antenna height of 200 feet or more. This gives a radio horizon of 14 miles. As towers may fall under local zoning ordinances, you may also wish to consider water towers, grain elevators or utility poles as other options. Placing Aceess Point antennas higher than 100 feet exposes them to greater amounts of interference, more feedline losses, zoning restrictions, FAA lighting requirements, and larger cell areas. Existing towers may be located using these sites - TelecomSiteSource, FCC Antenna Structure Registration and Wireless Radio Tower Locator.

What are the advantages of using Sector Antennas instead of an Omni-Directional Antenna?

There are several good reasons to use sector antennas:

• More capacity - By using 3 sector antennas on DSSS channels 1, 6 and 11 with 3 AP's, you can triple the number of clients in a given area.
• Better signal levels - Sector antennas usually have more gain than omni's and can be mechanically downtilted to focus where the users are. This results in fewer retries and less packets lost. A WIPOP sector antenna will pay for itself if just one customer did not need an amplifier.
• Channel Re-Use - Because the sector antenna can be downtilted, the signals are not thrown out to the horizon. This allows that channel to be re-used several miles away at a different cell site.
• Eliminate interference - Because a sector antenna is directive and usually has good front-to-back (F/B), it can reduce or eliminate interference from sources that are behind the sector antenna.

Example of channel reuse

How do I hook up four 90 degree sector antennas on one tower?

Conventional thought says that there aren't enough non-overlapping 2.4 GHz DSSS channels to put 4 channels on one tower. Usually, panel antennas with high F/B are selected, and channel 1 antennas are placed on opposite sides (e.g. North & South) and channel 11 antennas are also placed on opposite sides (e.g. East & West). If separate access-points are used for all 4 antennas, the isolation may need to be increased between antennas on the same channel by spacing them farther from the tower face or on opposite corners of a building. FHSS systems may use separate frequency sets on each panel without problems.

However, there is new evidence that supports the use of DSSS channels 1,4,8 and 11 on the same tower. A white paper from Cirond Networks discusses this possibility. Also, check out this article from ExtremeTech. Isolation will need to be increased between antennas in this case by spacing them farther from the tower face, or by vertical separation of 10 feet or more.

What wireless antenna should I use to cover a small campus area of a few buildings?

If your coverage area is small with distance to the hub of less than a mile (1.6 km), a small omnidirectional antenna such as our 2437AA (7.5 dBi gain) may be used. If the AP will be located on the edge of the campus, a 120 degree sector antenna such as our 2443AA 12 dBi panel antenna may be used.

What wireless antennas should I use for my clients (CPE)?

This depends upon the hub antenna, cable type and length, distance, data rate and terrain. You should test your system first before a final wireless antenna selection. For WISP systems using +36 dBm EIRP at the AP and clear LOS, use the following table as a guide:

Wireless Antennas in Point to Point

What wireless antennas should I use for Point to Point wireless data transmission?

Directional antennas should be used for point-to-point wireless transmission. The type of directional antenna depends upon the power output, cable type and length, height, distance, data rate and terrain. We recommend the use of a range table to estimate the wireless antenna types. Whichever wireless antenna you choose, make sure that it is FCC certified with your radio!

Is the Customer or Client (CPE) system considered Point to Multi-Point or Point to Point wireless?

If the CPE system (or Subscriber Unit - SU) only talks with the POP/AP and is at a fixed location, then it is considered to be Point to Point wireless and can use power and antenna gain associated with Point to Point wireless systems, as shown below. (This has been verified by FCC Certified systems using a 26 dBm radio and a 17 dBi antenna) If a CPE system is part of a mesh network, then it is considered Point to Multi-Point.

How do I perform a Point to Point wireless site survey?

Initially, create a path profile using one of the various mapping programs. If LOS and Fresnel zone clearance seems good, check for trees and other unusual obstacles to LOS. A good way to check this is to place a person at each end of the path with a high-powered flashlight and a cell-phone. While talking with each other, flash the light so that the other person can see it. UHF hand-held radios (FRS or commercial frequencies) also work well to determine LOS. Use 1 watt radios for up to 4 miles and 5 watt radios for up to 15 miles. If results look promising, place an AP at one end and a CPE at the other and try connecting using 19-24 dBi grid or panel antennas. (Do not swing both directional antennas at the same time!) Look for interference at each end by using a spectrum analyzer and both vertical and horizontal polarized antennas. If you have Teletronics radios, here is a neat site-survey tool. There are also professional consultants (e.g. Cyber-Doctors) that can perform wireless site surveys for a fee. Wireless site survey tools are available on the AeroNet wireless broadband site.

How much power can I use on the new 3.65 GHz band?

What is the Maximum Distance for a Point to Point wireless link?

The maximum distance for a standard 802.11b Point to Point (or Point to Multi-Point) path is approximately 12 miles. This is primarily due to timing issues in the 802.11b firmware. Other operating systems, such as KarlNet TurboCell, Orinoco COR or StarOS can overcome this limit and produce links up to 70 miles, depending upon terrain.

Pre-Installation and Site Preparation

How do I calculate my network link budget?

You should perform a network link analysis for every Point to Point link, and for a sampling of your Point to Multi-Point links. The analysis should be calculated for both signal directions. There are many online calculators for link analysis. Some of these are Wireless Network Link Analysis from Green Bay Professional Packet Radio, Wicklewood & Wymondham Calculators, and RFProp Software by Colin Seymour G4NNA . A basic explanation of link budget calculations can also be found in a white paper from Intersil. NOTE: Some WLAN radio manufacturers use the EIRP output power instead of true "radio output power" in their advertisements! Make sure that you obtain the TRUE or CONDUCTED radio output power from the FCC Test Report to use in these calculations.

What RF cable should I use for my wireless antenna installation?

We recommend Times Microwave LMR-series , Andrew Heliax , Belden RF-series or NK Cables USA cable for the lowest losses. Times LMR-1200 or Andrew LDF5-50A Heliax will produce 2.3 dB loss in a 100 foot run. Times LMR-400 and Belden RF400 will produce 3.3 dB loss in a 15m (50') run at 2450 MHz. Belden RG-213/U cable may also be used for runs of less than 7.5m (25'). Total attenuation should not exceed approximately 3 dB. Cables and connectors may be ordered through TESSCO. Low-cost pigtail cable assemblies are available from ALLCOM and Cable X-perts. Check out the neat Technical Articles on the Times Microwave site. LAN Administrators and ISP's should check with the manufacturer of the WLAN system hardware before adding new cables and connectors!

What towers should I use for my wireless Access Point antennas?

Trylon "Titan" tower models T200-72 and T200-96 are very popular and inexpensive. The new Rohn SCL towers are also available in heights from 40' to 100'. Rohn SSV series are recommended for heights of 100-150 feet. Check out AN Wireless towers also. As towers may fall under local zoning ordinances, you may also wish to consider water towers, grain elevators or utility poles as other options. Placing wireless access point antennas higher than 100 feet exposes them to greater amounts of interference, more feedline losses, zoning restrictions, FAA lighting requirements, and larger cell areas. Existing towers may be located using these sites - TelecomSiteSource, FCC Antenna Structure Registration and Wireless Radio Tower Locator. Grain elevators may be located using this site - Grain Elevator Locator.

Can I mount an Omni Directional antenna on the side of a tower?

Ideally, an omni antenna should be placed on the tip of a mast above a tower. This will give a nice circular radiation pattern. If your tower is 300 feet high and you wish to place the omni directional antenna at the 100 foot level, you will have to attach the omni directional antenna to a stand-off bracket at some distance away from the tower leg. With a spacing of 6" or even 12", you will have many lobes and nulls created by the reflections from the tower. Also with close spacing, there is a greater chance that these reflections will produce an upwards or downwards beam tilt. The depth of these nulls can be reduced by a greater spacing, such as 5 feet. Make sure that your tower can handle the extra wind load of these stand-off brackets, and that the omni directional antenna is parallel to the tower legs at all times.

How do I perform a Point to Point wireless site survey?

Initially, create a path profile using one of the various mapping programs. If LOS and Fresnel zone clearance seems good, check for trees and other unusual obstacles to LOS. A good way to check this is to place a person at each end of the path with a high-powered flashlight and a cell-phone. While talking with each other, flash the light so that the other person can see it. UHF hand-held radios (FRS or commercial frequencies) also work well to determine LOS. Use 1 watt radios for up to 4 miles and 5 watt radios for up to 15 miles. If results look promising, place a wireless access point at one end and a CPE at the other and try connecting using 19-24 dBi grid or panel antennas. (Do not swing both directional antennas at the same time!) Look for interference at each end by using a wireless spectrum analyzer and both vertical and horizontal polarized antennas. If you have Teletronics radios, here is a neat wireless site survey tool. There are also professional consultants (e.g. Cyber-Doctors) that can perform wireless site surveys for a fee. Wireless Site Survey tools are available on the AeroNet wireless broadband site.

What connectors does you Wireless Antennas use?

We can supply antennas with almost any connector, or even without a connector for OEM applications. Standard connectors are Type N plug, Type N Jack, TNC, RP-TNC, SMA, RP-SMA, MC-Card, and MMCX. Cable size dictates which connectors may be used on certain antennas. LAN Administrators and ISP's should check with the manufacturer of the WLAN system hardware before adding new cables and connectors!

What do you recommend for weatherproofing connectors?

We recommend 3M vinyl electrical tape for most applications. Apply one layer of high-quality 3M (88+) tape, then one layer of mastic, then a final layer of 3M tape. (Hint: Apply the first layer of tape with the sticky surface out) Do not use any spray-on or brush-on weather-proofing material, as this is VERY difficult to remove. Times Microwave supplies both vinyl mastic weatherproofing kits as well as 3M cold-shrink weatherproofing kits. See the LMR hardware accessories at the Times Microwave LMR-series web site. Andrew also supplies cold-shrink weatherproofing kits and WeatherShield snap-on connector housings for their Heliax cables. See page 472, 499 and 509 of their catalog at the Andrew Heliax web site.

What do you recommend for antenna grounding & lightning protection?

This depends upon the type of installation. For tower-mounted wireless antennas, there should be a good ground wire (#2/0) attached between the tower base and a single-point earth ground. (There is no need for a separate ground wire running along the tower!) For roof-mounts, the mast should be grounded to the steel structure of the building if possible. If no connection to the building is possible, then a large diameter wire may be run directly to earth ground. Lightning arrestors should be added to the coax cable between the wireless antenna and the amplifier or other radio equipment unless built-in to the amplifier or radio. Otherwise, they should normally be installed where the coax enters a building. For more information, see technical documents at PolyPhaser. Data lines running from the wireless antenna must also be protected from lightning surges. We recommend the Tripplite and APC ProtectNet line of surge suppressors. These should be installed where the line enters the house, in a weather-protected area. If you use PoE, then choose a suppressor model rated for T1 service with a voltage-clamp at 75 volts or higher.

How can I check the VSWR of my wireless antenna before and after installation?

The VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) of a 2.4 GHz wireless antenna may be checked with most HP/Agilent or Anritsu RF Network Analyzers that have a maximum frequency of 3 GHz. Lower-cost hand-held units are also available from Anritsu and Bird Electronics. The Anritsu S332B Sitemaster / Spectrum Analyzer combo has both VSWR and Spectrum Analyzer features in one unit. It is also possible to use an IFR spectrum analyzer for return loss (VSWR) measurements. The WLAN expert also has VSWR measurement capabilities for PRISM chipset-based cards. Wireless antennas at this frequency may be checked with an attached transmission line no longer than: 25 feet (LMR-400 & 600), or 5 feet (LMR-195 & RG-58). Longer cables will make the VSWR appear much lower than it really is. When testing an wireless antenna before installation, make sure that the wireless antenna is outdoors and pointing away from the ground and any metallic objects. A VSWR of less than 1.5:1 is excellent, and less than 2:1 is acceptable. Most wireless antenna manufacturers spec their wireless antennas for either 1.5:1 or 2:1 across the bandwidth.

Should I use 2.4 GHz, 3.6 GHz or 5.8 GHz for my WLAN or WISP system?

Currently, most systems use either IEEE 802.11 or 802.11b operating between 2.4 and 2.4835 GHz. As these frequencies become more congested, the U-NII Band 3 at 5.725 - 5.825 GHz (IEEE 802.11a) will be used more. 5.8 GHz also offers data transmission rates greater than 11 MB/s. However, more antenna gain will be necessary at 5.8 GHz for the same distance on 2.4 GHz. 5.8 GHz will have a smaller Fresnel zone, so there may be certain advantages when shooting a signal through a tight space between trees or buildings. The new 3.650-3.7 GHz band is ideal for WISP use as there is no interference from home gateways, microwave ovens or cordless phones. Also, an easy-to-obtain Part 90 license will be required for users in this band. The WCS and MMDS frequencies between 2.1 and 2.7 GHz are also available to FCC-licensed users. (See IEEE 802.16a)

Radio Propagation

What Effect does Terrain or Water have on Radio Propagation?

WLAN signal paths on 2.4 and 5.8 GHz must be line-of-sight. There must not be any hills, mountains, large buildings or obstructions for the signal to pass through. Visual line-of-sight is sometimes not enough. The University of Kansas Wireless Network Visualization Project can help you visualize coverage areas. The radio path should also allow for Fresnel-zone clearance. (See Reference 1) A few trees (0.3 - 0.5 dB/meter) are not usually a problem, however a forest will block the signal (300 dB/km). You can check topographic maps of your area at Topo.Com or Topozone.Com. Also, there a few cool 3D tools such as Keyhole's Earthviewer. You can find your exact latitude & longitude for any address at Geocode. Find distance and direction between two points at Indo. Find the elevation at any lat & long from Widders. Path profiles may be created using TopoUSA or Terrain Navigator. There are also several companies who market propagation modeling software. We recommend Wireless Valley, EDX Signal Pro, MicroPath 2001 , Pathloss , CET GRIP or NIR. Free terrain modeling software may be obtained at Radio Mobile or MicroDEM. WLAN paths over water or extremely flat ground may require optimization of antenna height at one end of the path. This is due to specular reflections adding in-phase or out-of-phase. Adjustment of antenna height by 1 to 3 meters should move the signal from a null to a peak. Antenna diversity (with height separation) at both ends of the path should work great. Hint: Place one antenna in a peak and the other in a null. CP wireless antennas have also shown to work well over water. Also, with vertical polarization, you may use the Pseudo-Brewster Angle to eliminate all reflections.

What is the Brewster Angle?

The Pseudo-Brewster Angle (PBA) is the angle at which the reflected TM wave (from a flat earth or water surface) is 90 degrees out of phase and minimum amplitude with respect to the direct wave. "Pseudo" is used here because the RF effect is similar to the optical effect from which the term gets its name. Above this angle, the reflected signal is in-phase with the direct signal. Below this angle, the reflected wave is between 90 and 180 degrees out of phase with the direct wave. Some degree of cancellation takes place in either condition, depending upon the difference between the lengths of the direct path and the reflected path. The largest amount of cancellation occurs near zero degrees, and steadily less cancellation occurs as the PBA is approached from below.

The factors that determine the PBA for a particular location are not related to the antenna itself, but to the ground or water surface around it. Surface conductivity, dielectric constant and operating frequency all affect the PBA of a particular system. The PBA increases with increasing frequency, all other conditions being equal.

At 2400 MHz, over fresh water, the PBA is approximately 6 degrees. At 2400 MHz, over land, the PBA is approximately 17-20 degrees. The signal cancellation effect is more noticeable over water than land because foliage and buildings normally attenuate and scatter the reflected signal over land.

There are several ways to reduce the effect of signal cancellation. The best way is to adjust the height of one antenna, either up or down until the signal moves from the null to a peak. At 2400 MHz, an adjustment of 1 - 3 meters in height should be enough. Another good method is to place the path midpoint on a rough area of land by moving the path endpoints. Changing the antenna polarization from vertical to horizontal may help some of the time. If the PBA can be determined, then placement of the antennas at prescribed heights for a given distance can minimize the reflected signal amplitude.

How can I get my signals through trees?

Trees are a BIG problem in Fixed-Wireless systems. They absorb and scatter RF energy and can prevent a WISP/FWA system from functioning.

• 900 MHz systems can usually penetrate trees better than either 2.4 or 5.8 GHz systems.
• High-power systems and FHSS work better than lower power systems and DSSS.
• Placing the both the AP and CPE antenna above the tree-tops works the best.
• If there is a small LOS hole through the trees, 5.8 GHz signals may pass through, due to the smaller Fresnel distance required.
• Horizontal and 45 degree polarization has shown to have a slight advantage over vertical polarization at 2.4 GHz.
• Using an Access Point at extreme height (>500 feet) with mechanical or electrical beamtilt also helps clients within 5 miles because the signals pass through fewer trees.
• Wet trees are worse than dry trees.
• Pine trees are worse than leafy trees

What effect does rain or fog have on performance?

2.4 GHz signals may be attenuated by up to 0.05 dB/km (0.08 dB/mile) by torrential rain (4 inches/hr). Thick fog produces up to 0.02 dB/km (0.03 dB/mile) attenuation. At 5.8 GHz, torrential rain may produce up to 0.5 dB/km (0.8 dB/mile) attenuation, and thick fog up to 0.07 dB/km (0.11 dB/mile). Even though rain itself does not cause major propagation problems, rain will collect on the leaves of trees and will produce attenuation until it evaporates.

Troubleshooting Wireless

How do I eliminate wireless interference from a new competitor's unlicensed system?

The best way to reduce the interference is to work with him and agree upon polarizations, channels and coverage areas. One of you should use vertical polarization and the other horizontal polarization for PtMP. If you are using DSSS channel 1 for a certain area, then he should use channel 6 or 11. Both of you should be using sector panel antennas with good F/B. If you are using DSSS and he is using FHSS, then you must rely upon polarization, distance and sectorization for isolation between the systems. You may be able to place a null in your AP antenna pattern toward his nearest AP location. If possible, place your AP as far away from his AP as possible, so that your customers can use the directivity and F/B of the CPE antenna for isolation. If both of you are using FHSS, then you should agree to use separate non-interfering sets. Wireless video (ENG) systems should also be avoided. The Broadband Wireless Alliance has offered to coordinate frequencies for interested parties.

What effect does rain and ice have on wireless antennas and cables?

Rain will have no effect upon wireless antennas protected within radomes. The radomes must also have a drain hole for condensation drainage. However, Yagi antennas without radomes are highly vulnerable to rain, as the rain drops will accumulate on the elements and detune the performance. (The droplets actually make each element look longer than it really is!) Water intrusion in coaxial cable will increase the cable losses significantly and raise the VSWR at the transmitter. (See the next question for weatherproofing suggestions) If the link does not come back up after the rain evaporates, then you probably have a water-intrusion problem in the cable. Sometimes you can open both ends of a cable and measure a very small voltage across the center conductor to shield (< 100 mV) if water is inside the cable. This is caused by galvanic action between dissimilar conductors with water as the electrolyte. Ice accumulation on exposed elements can cause the same detuning effect as rain, however it stays around longer. Radomes will protect the radiator from most of these effects, however if the radome surface is very close to the radiator and/or the ice is very thick, then the VSWR may be impaired. Ice can also damage antennas if it falls on the antenna from a higher structure or tree.

How can I check the VSWR of my wireless antenna before and after installation?

The VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) of a 2.4 GHz wireless antenna may be checked with most HP/Agilent or Anritsu RF Network Analyzers that have a maximum frequency of 3 GHz. Lower-cost hand-held units are also available from Anritsu and Bird Electronics. The Anritsu S332B Sitemaster / Spectrum Analyzer combo has both VSWR and Spectrum Analyzer features in one unit. It is also possible to use an IFR spectrum analyzer for return loss (VSWR) measurements. The WLANexpert also has VSWR measurement capabilities for PRISM chipset-based cards. Antennas at this frequency may be checked with an attached transmission line no longer than: 25 feet (LMR-400 & 600), or 5 feet (LMR-195 & RG-58). Longer cables will make the VSWR appear much lower than it really is. When testing a wireless antenna before installation, make sure that the wireless antenna is outdoors and pointing away from the ground and any metallic objects. A VSWR of less than 1.5:1 is excellent, and less than 2:1 is acceptable. Most antenna manufacturers spec their antennas for either 1.5:1 or 2:1 across the bandwidth.

How do I check my coax cable assemblies?

The easiest and quickest way is to use a multimeter (ohmmeter). For each cable assembly, touch each of the 2 multimeter probes to the center conductor at each end of the cable. The multimeter should indicate a "short" or less than 1 ohm resistance. Extremely long cables will show more resistance. Also, touch each of the 2 probes to the sheild conductor at each end of the cable. The multimeter should indicate a "short" again. Lastly, touch 1 probe to the center conductor and 1 probe to the sheild at one end of the cable. The other end must be left unconnected. The multimeter should indicate an "open" or greater than 10,000 ohms.

How can I tell if my Access Point antenna is working correctly?

There are 2 main properties that you can check if you have the proper equipment. The first property is the antenna's VSWR (voltage standing wave ratio). See the separate FAQ on how to measure this. The second main property is the radiation pattern. For an omnidirectional antenna, the received signal strength at a client should be similar for all angles at a fixed radius from the AP. Since the client antenna may have directional properties and terrain & obstacles may affect the AP coverage area, the received signal may vary as much as 6 to 10 dB over different paths at a fixed distance from an AP. For a directional or sector antenna, the received signal strength at a client should be at least 15 dB stronger off the front side of the antenna than off the back side at a fixed distance. If it isn't, then the antenna may be defective or damaged. Another way to check to see if an antenna is working is to unplug the coaxial cable from the antenna. If the received signal off the front side of the antenna doesn't change significantly, then the antenna may be defective or damaged. This may also indicate a problem with the cable or connectors too.

Patrick S. Fisse
Patrick began her career in wireless 1988 with his father the late Frank Patrick Fisse, installing a TV  antenna on the family home. later Independently contracted for Installation of  home satellites by Dish Network he started Re-designing  antenna receivers and setting up wireless networks.Patrick knew of the changes in analog becoming digital and knew that wi-fi would become a cheap source  for free open source broadcasting. This wireless IEEE 802.11 would be not only needed but demanded.As a business over the next decade Patrick not only Improved Wi-Fi  Wireless  Digital Antennas but has donated just as many  all over country.
  Patrick is a avid Hiker,Inovator,and Wi-Fi Guru.In his spare time  restoring  a 1961 Cadillac Convertible  and spending time with his family.
  Patrick is active in a number of Local Charitable organizations including Back Street Missions, Make a Wish Foundation,Red Cross,Chapter of the WI Fi Compliance Association, Digital PCTV .Patrick enjoys Writing in His spare time about a Plastic Society gone sad.. He is also a Advocate for World WI Fi  Free Networks, And a Brother to Riotous.

Greg Jones
Greg Jones, CFP, has been an independent Fee-Only Certified Financial Planner since 1995. He is a Registered Investment Advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He is dedicated to helping clients make intelligent financial investment decisions. His patience and determination ensure that every client is treated with high regard.
Mr. Jones earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management and Communications from Northern Anystate University. Mr. Jones then went on to become a certified Financial Planner. He is a Member of the United Financial Planning Association, Member of the Southern Anystate Financial Planning Association, and is a Chartered Life Underwriter.

Greg Jones is committed to help you identify and reach your financial goals. He will personally study the best products the financial services industry has to offer and tailor the perfect plan for you.

In his spare time, Greg enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with his children Mandy and Robert.

Greg and Nancy joined forces in 2004 to form Smith Jones Financial Planning, LLC. They believe that their combined knowledge and experience will achieve remarkable results for all of their clients.