The Ultimate Technical Guide to WiFi 6/6E/7 Antennas in 2025

　　The Ultimate Technical Guide to WiFi 6/6E/7 Antennas in 2025

　　This article was reviewed by Dr. Feng Botao, who is a senior member of the IEEE and a tutor in wireless communications at Shenzhen University.

　　I. WiFi 6/6E/7 Technology Core

　　WiFi 6 (802.11ax)

　　Uses OFDMA technology to achieve multi-device data bundling transmission, and supports parallel communication with enhanced MU-MIMO. It works in the 2.4/5GHz frequency band, significantly improving the efficiency of multi-device concurrency and reducing latency.

　　WiFi 6E

　　Inherits all the features of WiFi 6, adds 6GHz frequency band support, provides 7 160MHz wide channels, greatly reduces interference, and requires three-band antennas to work together.

　　WiFi 7 (802.11be)

　　Introduces multi-link operation (MLO), supports devices to transmit through the 5GHz and 6GHz frequency bands at the same time, and increases the rate and reliability. The antenna is required to have high-frequency band isolation (≥25dB).

　　2. Analysis of key antenna parameters

　　Gain (dBi)

　　Measures the signal focusing ability: 3-5dBi is suitable for small and medium-sized households, 6-9dBi is suitable for large spaces or narrow areas, high gain ≠ omnipotence, and needs to match the spatial form.

　　Radiation pattern

　　Omnidirectional: 360° coverage, suitable for general home scenarios

　　Directional: Energy is concentrated in a specific direction, suitable for point-to-point transmission or regional coverage

　　Half-power beam width

　　Wide beam (90°-120°) is suitable for large-area coverage, and narrow beam (<30°) is conducive to long-distance transmission.

　　Polarization and matching

　　Use vertical/horizontal/45° mixed polarization configuration to ensure matching with the orientation of the device's built-in antenna and improve connection stability.

　　Efficiency index

　　VSWR<1.8:1 is excellent, >2.3:1 is inferior

　　Port isolation ≥20dB (MIMO system), avoid interference between antennas

　　III. Mainstream antenna types and applications

　　Dipole antenna

　　Omnidirectional radiation, 3-5dBi gain, suitable for full home coverage, tri-band models support WiFi 6E/7.

　　Patch antenna

　　Directional focusing, 5-8dBi gain, suitable for strengthening a single room or transmitting 6GHz signals through walls.

　　Flat antenna

　　Medium-high gain (8-12dBi), strong directionality, suitable for point-to-point communication at a distance of 50-300m (such as home to studio).

　　Sector antenna

　　Covering a 60°-120° sector area, an efficient solution for large outdoor coverage (parks, campuses).

　　4. Selection and optimization points

　　Scenario adaptation

　　Home: 3-5dBi three-band omnidirectional antenna

　　Game/low latency: directional patch antenna + MIMO configuration

　　Outdoor long distance: high-gain flat or sector antenna

　　Installation taboos

　　Keep away from metal objects and interference sources (microwave ovens, etc.), directional antennas must be accurately aligned, and outdoor equipment must be waterproof and lightning-proof.

　　Cables and connections

　　Use low-loss coaxial cables (such as LMR-400), length < 5m, and gold-plated connectors to ensure impedance matching (50Ω).

　　Conclusion

　　The performance release of WiFi 6/6E/7 depends on antenna technology matching. When selecting, it is necessary to balance frequency band support, gain characteristics and environmental requirements, and maximize network performance through scientific deployment.