Outdoor WiFi Antennas

Civilian WiFi networks of the past were short range, typically no larger than an office. Today, however, WiFi networks are capable of enough power that low- to no-cost connectivity is available in many major metropolitan areas, as well as some smaller, high-tech municipalities.

Using Mesh to Network Outdoor WiFi Antennas and Entire Communities

A WiFi mesh incorporates a large number of hotspots into a network while providing important redundancies as well as interoperability. In many areas, for example, one or more WiFi mesh elements can provide connectivity. However, should one of these elements fail, the others will take over and keep access available to anyone in the area.

Proxim Wireless manufactures the ORiNOCO AP-4900MR. This mesh access point is capable of AP-to-AP communication, as well as 802.11b/g and 4.9 GHz operating capacity. In addition, the ORiNOCO AP-4900MR can be connected to additional external antennas, which makes it possible to provide service to areas beyond the normal range of the mesh. This in turn reduces the need to add infrastructure in areas that would be difficult to access or maintain (mountains, rural areas, etc.).

Additional Outdoor WiFi Network Options

If you do not need a WiFi mesh to extend over a large area like an entire city, then sector antennas and Yagi antennas are directional antennas that can provide targeted access to customers who are within the horizontal beam width. Directional antennas provide high signal output within a narrow beam, but can be coupled with others to provide a full 360 degrees of coverage.

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