

Pointing a Yagi at a very weak signal (more than 80 dB) can help pick up every bit of those radio frequency waves while disregarding everything else.

Pointing these antennas directly at a cell tower is ideal for environments where the outside signal is especially weak (or very strong), and demands fine-tuned signal strength control. In some cases, however, conditions may present the need to use one or more Yagi antennas. Because an omni antenna detects signals from various towers and carriers, it can amplify those signals indoors so that all incoming cellular devices can experience improved coverage. For buildings with very poor reception, this may be the best choice.

Many installers prefer to start planning the design with an omnidirectional antenna, which will capture all available signals outside. In order to determine which antenna is best for the installation, an integrator needs to consider where the signal is coming from, how strong it is, and what - if anything - might be interfering with that incoming signal. Determine which type of donor antenna to install Omni antennas can pick up cellular signals from any direction, but Yagi antennas usually need to be pointed directly at a cellular tower for the best performance. The directional or Yagi antenna (named after Japanese engineer Hidetsugu Yagi) is a highly directional radio antenna made to receive cellular signal from one specific direction. The omnidirectional (omni) antenna receives signal from a 360-degree field, meaning it can pick up radiofrequency (RF) waves from all directions. There are two types of donor antennas to choose from: omnidirectional and directional - also called “Yagi.” Types of donor antennasĭonor antennas are the outdoor antennas which pull in the existing signal to be amplified inside a building. This helps the installer assess the building’s design, layout, and location in order to determine where the strongest signal is coming from and where to place the donor antenna. The first step in setting up an outdoor antenna, more accurately called a donor antenna, is to complete a cell signal survey. In a broadband commercial environment, this is possible with commercial-grade cell signal booster systems, which include outdoor cell signal antennas that are installed on the roof to bring an outdoor cell signal inside. In many commercial environments, building owners want to improve their cellular signal for all carriers and on all frequencies.
