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The Best Long-Range Wi-Fi Antenna

Best Long range Wi Fi Antenna

Some may find it fascinating to hear that the wireless Internet we all know and love can reach distances that are far beyond the ranges achieved by typical home or café routers. 50 to 100 meters can very easily be transformed into 50 to 100 kilometers given the right circumstances and the right hardware. Granted, it would be monodirectional and not designed for end devices, but it would be wireless nonetheless.

Uses. Homes and office spaces make use of devices with short-range Wi-Fi antennas because the distances there are short and interference is relatively minimal. Equipment with long-range Wi-Fi antennas, on the other hand, is primarily used for industrial purposes. These devices are designed to deliver incredible amounts of throughput in extremely short periods of time, over very long distances, and in rather challenging environments.

The telecommunications industry is by far the most common user of equipment with long-range Wi-Fi antennas. Such solutions are extremely useful in establishing back-up telecom links, expanding the area of coverage, and delivering connectivity to hard-to-reach locations. Besides that, the practicality of being able to transmit voice, video, and other types of data over the same equipment and links cannot be overstated.

Strive for the Best. The success of a wireless device is often attributed to a combination of different factors, including overall practicality, return on investment, and the implemented marketing strategy. However, when browsing for wireless data transmission solutions, the main (and often only) determining factor is the hardware. And if there is a need to establish long-range links, look no further than what the device’s antenna has to offer.
There are several aspects to consider when browsing for the best long-range Wi-Fi antenna solutions:

Shape. Antennas can come in many different shapes and sizes. The parabolic dish antenna (e.g. the satellite dish) is one of the most popular options for long-range wireless data transmission and reception. Other highly-functional antenna solutions include drum, grid, and flat panel antennas. Each type has its individual advantages and fit specific scenarios, so it is necessary to consider the circumstances under which the device will function.


Power. With great power come great distances… which is why it is important to consider the antenna’s transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) power. These indicators show the energy strength at which a signal is transmitted and received. Transmit power can also be boosted by antenna gain, which is especially helpful in noisy environments. A powerful long-range Wi-Fi antenna should deliver approx. 30dBm transmit power and 20dBi antenna gain, but remember: stronger means better.




Frequency. Another factor to note is the frequency band. Due to the characteristics of radio waves, lower frequencies travel longer distances. Therefore, when it comes to wireless technologies, 2.4GHz antennas are better for long-distance data transfer. However, virtually all modern long-range wireless equipment utilizes 5GHz antennas because they provide significantly greater throughput and the 5GHz frequency is often much less crowded by other devices. The shorter potential range is compensated by deploying the equipment in elevation, where there are no physical obstacles.

PT(M)P. Lastly, there are several ways that a long-range Wi-Fi antenna can transfer data to other devices. Antennas can communicate with a single device or with multiple devices simultaneously. These two modes are called Point-to-Point (PTP) and Point-to-Multi-Point (PTMP) respectively. While PTMP devices can interact with several devices at the same time, this comes at the cost of reduced maximum distance. PTP devices, on the other hand, focus their power at a single device, thus delivering undivided throughput over significantly longer distances.
Robust. Reliable. RapidFire. The LigoPTP RapidFire 5 is LigoWave’s solution to long-range data transfer. It is a dedicated outdoor wireless point-to-point bridge that delivers outstanding performance, guarantees superior reliability, and provides simple and practical solutions to otherwise complex challenges.

The RapidFire 5 brings high-performance long-range wireless bridges to the next level. With its 1.2GHz CPU processor, the point-to-point device provides exceptional data processing power and ensures ultra-high packet delivery. It can reach throughputs of up to 700Mbps, which is made possible only by utilizing advanced wireless data transfer technologies, such as 256QAM and the W-Jet Proprietary Protocol.

The best part about the RapidFire 5 is its spectacular long-range Wi-Fi antenna. LigoWave’s conducted field tests have determined that the RapidFire 5-N—a variation of the RapidFire device that supports external antennas—is capable of ensuring impressive throughput over ranges exceeding 100 kilometers. The RapidFire is therefore the ideal solution for bringing connectivity to the most remote and hard-to-reach locations.

Bottom Line. Veterans in the field claim that wireless technologies are the future. Considering how and at what rate technologies are evolving, some may say that the future has already begun. Take the next step with the best long-range Wi-Fi antennas to guarantee a strong presence in the most remote and hard-to-reach places. Be reliable, be universal, and be prepared with LigoWave’s RapidFire 5.

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