The mere fact that you are showing some interest to read about what this article on Yagi antennas is all about only goes to show that you are indeed very keenly interested to know anything about it. It will help you effectively gain much-needed signal across various mobile electronic devices. So, with this article, we will touch on gaining cellular signal, but things you will eventually learn from here will indeed find their application in WiFi antennas, TV antennas, among others.
What are Yagi Antennas?
We qualify this type of antenna as a directional antenna, they are significantly helpful in singly enhancing radiation. Radiation is either reception of energy or the transmission of the same, such as cell signal.
This type of antenna comes with a handful of different purposes. They can be taken advantage of in radars, at an industrial level, for movement detection or ham radio. At a consumer level, you can have them enhance the Over-the-Air TV reception. Nowadays, they can help in giving WiFi signals a much-needed boost as well as home and work cell signals where remote regions would be struggling in ensuring the highest quality of telecommunications. However, we are not going to in any way recommend that you use them in boosting your vehicle cell signal.
How Do They Work?
These 3 essential pieces interact together to make Yagi antenna system work, and thus deliver their expected functions:
1. Director(s)
It provides the directional gain and power to the antenna.
2. Line
This serves as the spine of the antenna that holds the reflectors and directors so they would remain connected to the driven element.
3. Reflector
Aside from amplifying what is inside of it, it is also used to reject any signal that is out of its range — much like the way a mirror would be reflecting light.
These pieces are among the underlying reasons why this type of antenna can have a higher gain as opposed to omnidirectional antennas. We can’t describe their performance in a vehicle as something good since it is likely going to create an incessant change in direction. But a Yagi’s directional nature is what’s making it ideal for commercial and residential installations since they allow users to have greater gain and reach.
Yagi Antenna versus Omni Antenna
What makes omnidirectional antennas distinct from yagi antennas? They differ a lot when it comes to improving cell signal at the office, at home, even when on the move. Non Directional antennas or Yagi are capable of collecting signals radiated by cell towers within the range of 90°.
In the case of omnidirectional antennas, their signal is capable of reaching an even wider extent (360°).
In addition, the Yagi type of antenna can reach much farther as opposed to an Omni antenna. The rule of thumb here is, the more directional an antenna is, the farther it’s signal tends to go. An extremely directional antenna would be reaching around 10 miles. The standard Yagi type of antenna usually comes with a radius of 45⁰.