Antenna Arrays 101

April 7, 2016 at 8:00 AM


Not sure what an antenna array is? Want to brush-up on the subject? We’ve got everything you need to know right here with this week’s post… Antenna Arrays 101.


What it is:

An antenna array is a set of two or more antennas working together to form a single Omni-directional signal.


How it works:

When two or more directional Wi-Fi antennas are grouped together, the signals combine and are able to work as a single antenna with improved directional characteristics.  This is usually done with panel-style antennas connected by an RF splitter to a single access point or Wi-Fi amplifier. The number of antennas in an array can be as few as two or as many as four.


Why it‘s used:

An antenna array provides better performance and coverage than a single Omni-directional antenna

Additional benefits include:
    • o   Increased overall gain
    • o   Diversity reception
    • o   Cancellation of interference from specific directions
    • o   Sensitivity toward certain directions
    • o   Ability to determine the arrival direction of incoming signals
    • o   Maximizes the Signal to Interference Plus Noise Ratio (SINR)



Antenna arrays are used in outdoor point-to-multipoint applications.
L-com offers three configurations: 4 - 90° panels, 3 - 120° panels and 2 - 180° panels. To ensure maximum wireless signal coverage, these antenna arrays feature 0°-20° down-tilt capability to compensate for the installation location geography.

There you have it, the basics of an antenna array - antennas working together to achieve better coverage than a single Omni-directional antenna.

