Type of Antennas - Read before you buy

Dual band antennas are tuned to 800MHz and 1900MHz range signals. They make the best "all around" antenna when you travel in and out of different coverage areas. Connect one of these antennas directly to your phone using an external antenna adapter.

If you need to improve your cell phone reception in 1900MHz Digital areas and/or 800MHz areas, a dual band antenna should do the trick. With an antenna adapter, you can attach one of these antennas directly to your phone and improve the reception of your Audiovox, Kyocera, LGIC, Mitsubishi, Nextel, Nokia, NEC, Samsung, Sanyo Touchpoint, Ericsson, Motorola, Sony or Qualcomm phone.

Single Band Antennas

These are great antennas for border line and rural areas which are mostly 800MHz range Analog or Digital. They will work great with Nokia, Motorola, Ericsson, Sony and Qualcomm phones.

Glass Mount Antennas

Glass mount antennas should be placed on nonmoving glass where no tint or defroster elements exist. Some car glass contains metal (passivated) which will interfere with the wireless signal. Contact your car's manufacturer to determine if this is true with your glass. Since glass mount antennas are made to be glued to your auto's glass and require a bit more work to install, we highly recommend professional installation.

Wilson Trucker Antenna

The Wilson Dual Band Cellular Trucker Antenna was carefully designed to minimize loss and maximize gain on both 800 MHz and 1900 MHz bands. Wilson accomplished this by using a phasing coil and a low loss coaxial phase reversing device that provides high gain on both frequencies. Wilson's innovative design results in high efficiency and low losses and will get the most signal to your cellular phone. Thanks to those innovations and attention to detail, Wilson Electronics has the best performing dual band trucker cell phone antenna available.

Yagi Antennas

We recommend the Yagi Panel antenna only for more remote areas. It's not a easy to install and set up as other antennas. It's a directional antenna so it must be mounted permanently on a pole. You'll have to play around with aiming it in the direction that gives you the best results. Get more info on Yagi Antennas Here.
The word is the name of one of the Japanese inventors of these directional antennas. The other inventor's name was Uda so in technical circles these are Uda-Yagi antennas in honor of the inventor team. The invention is from the early 1900s.

While there is a multitude of directional antenna designs in use today, the Yagi is the most popular, well known and most seen. Some people call these "beam" antennas, namely CBers and Amateur Radio Operators.

Note: the rooftop TV antennas seen all over the US are a cousin of the Yagi design but are called Log-Periodic because they are quite different in serving a huge number or width of frequencies.

How Do These Antennas Achieve So Much "Gain"?

Basically they are directing a major or almost their entire signal strength in just one direction instead of dispersing all around a 360 degree circle. All those single element whips and rods on cars, boats etc are omni directional, doing the 360 degree job. Zero (unity), 3, and 5db gain are the typical numbers for those. Usually the taller they are (for a given frequency) the more gain is laid out on the horizon, where it is needed.

What Is "Gain"?
This is the common term used when measuring decibels (dB) to determine the effectiveness of an antenna in a given direction or plane. Simply put, it is the measure of the intensified signal where it is wanted or needed because antennas cannot create gain. The antenna is designed to manage the power in the wanted direction and thus reduce it in unwanted directions.

What Is Polarization?
Radio signals travel polarized or oriented vertically, horizontally, circularly or in combinations of these. In cellular and most commercial applications signals are vertically polarized. Your cellular mobile antenna on the car is vertically polarized, for example. Your Yagi must be installed with its elements vertically polarized too.

Where Can I Mount The Antenna?
The available length of your feeder cable may determine your mounting spot and cable length considerations will address later. Otherwise any vertical or horizontal pipe, roof edge, wall, window sill, balcony railing or fence post can be used. Also, inside-attic hidden install is acceptable as long as there is no metal in the roof that signals have to penetrate. Wood and concrete are normally invisible to RF signals but at these frequencies (824-894 MHz) gain may be reduced.

Where Do I Point The Antenna?
The front of the antenna has to be directed at the target, the cell site or repeater tower or other user. It is best to use a map and compass and knowledge of target location but usually you can locate the target if it has a signal being sent to you. By simply rotating your Yagi until best signal is found then centering on the estimated location, satisfactory results may be had. Slowly rotate the antenna and stop every 10 degrees. Record signal levels. Note the peak and decline positions and soon a center can be figured out then tighten the mounting bolts. Be sure to stand at least a couple of feet away from the antenna and to the back or sides but never in front of it. Your body can greatly alter signal patterns.

ANTENNA HEIGHT/CABLE LENGTH
The antenna needs to be mounted as high and in the clear as possible. But there is a point at which increasing height to gain 1dB can cause an extra 3dB in cable losses. So good thinking must be utilized when deciding when more height is needed and how much longer the cable will be. On the other hand, if excess cable length is present, either remove it or run a long path to the antenna, never coil or fold up the cable.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
These, like most antennas, are made of aluminum, a great conductor of electric power besides radio frequency energy. You can be instantly killed if the antenna or support structure being worked with touches an electric power line. Never even think of installing an antenna during rain or wet conditions.

Finally, don't stand less than 5 feet in front of the transmitting antenna when using a regular 3 watt phone. Don't install the antenna where the signal has to cross where people will be walking in front of or touch your antenna. While radiation dangers at low power are not proven, don't take chances with RF emissions.