Antenna Types

　　Antenna Types

　　As core components of wireless communication, antennas are categorized into various types based on directionality, operating frequency, structure, and application scenarios. Each type has unique design goals and applicable ranges:

　　1. Classified by Directionality

　　Omnidirectional Antenna

　　Radiates uniformly in 360° horizontal direction, with no signal dead zones. Suitable for multi-directional signal transmission (e.g., Wi-Fi routers, FM broadcast towers). Typically in whip or column form, with low gain (usually 2-5dBi) but wide coverage, common in homes and small offices.

　　Directional Antenna

　　Concentrates signals in specific directions, with high gain (5-20dBi) and long transmission distance, ideal for point-to-point communication. Examples include:

　　Yagi-Uda Antenna: Enhances directionality via element arrays, used for TV reception and long-distance wireless communication;

　　Parabolic Antenna: Focuses signals through parabolic reflection, applied in satellite communication and radar systems for transmission over tens of kilometers.

　　2. Classified by Operating Frequency

　　LF/HF Antennas

　　Operate at 30kHz-30MHz, with strong diffraction ability, suitable for long-distance transmission through obstacles (e.g., underground, underwater). Used in maritime communication and short-range RFID (125kHz/13.56MHz).

　　UHF/Microwave Antennas

　　Cover 300MHz-30GHz, with strong line-of-sight propagation, suitable for high-speed data transmission. Applications include:

　　4G/5G base station antennas (600MHz-6GHz);

　　Satellite communication antennas (Ku/Ka bands);

　　LoRa IoT antennas (433MHz/868MHz/915MHz), balancing distance and power consumption.

　　3. Classified by Structure and Purpose

　　Array Antenna

　　Composed of multiple unit antennas, adjusts beam direction via phase control, supporting simultaneous multi-user communication. Widely used in 5G Massive MIMO base stations and radar systems to improve signal capacity and anti-interference.

　　Patch Antenna

　　Flat structure, compact size, suitable for integration into devices (e.g., smartphones, drones). Operates in UHF to microwave bands, common in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz) modules.

　　Vehicle/Marine Antennas

　　Designed for mobile scenarios, such as car shark fin antennas (integrating FM/AM and GPS) and marine whip antennas (salt spray resistant and vibration tolerant), ensuring stable signals during movement.

　　Wearable/Miniature Antennas

　　Made of flexible materials, adapted for smartwatches and medical devices, operating in bands like 2.4GHz, balancing miniaturization and low power consumption.

　　4. Classified by Core Application Needs

　　IoT Antennas: e.g., LoRa antennas (long-range low-power) and NB-IoT antennas (wide coverage), supporting massive device interconnection;

　　Broadcasting Antennas: Log-periodic antennas (wideband coverage) and TV Yagi antennas (directional reception);

　　Satellite Navigation Antennas: Helical and microstrip antennas, receiving GPS/Beidou signals with anti-multipath interference capability.

　　Different antenna types, through optimized radiation characteristics, frequency adaptation, and structural design, collectively support full-scenario wireless communication from short-range Bluetooth to deep-space exploration.