LoRa / Helium Antennas

We offer two different types of LoRaWAN antennas: directional antennas and omnidirectional antennas. The difference is essentially in the signal opening angle. This defines a zone that can be illuminated by the respective antenna. The performance gain of an antenna is always specified in dBi. The higher the performance gain of an antenna, the higher the theoretical range in the zone defined by the signal opening angle.

LoRaWAN omnidirectional antenna: An omnidirectional antenna transmits and receives the signal evenly 360° horizontally and is therefore able to illuminate a large area. The power gain of the LoRaWAN antenna is evenly distributed over the entire zone defined by the signal opening angle. However, the higher the performance gain of the antenna, the smaller the vertical signal opening angle of the antenna is, as a rule - this must be taken into account!

LoRaWAN directional antenna: With a helium directional antenna, the signal is emitted in one direction. This generates a very high, concentrated power in the transmission and reception area. Compared to the omnidirectional antenna, you have a much smaller area that is illuminated, but you can reach an enormously long range within this area. A directional LoRaWAN antenna is worthwhile, for example, if there is already a limited field of view. An example here would be a closed balcony on which the antenna is to be set up or if the field of view is significantly restricted by other buildings.

Basically, it is always advisable to place the antenna in such a way that there is as free a field of view as possible of the area to be covered from the antenna side.