What is a sector antenna? #

A sector antenna is a special antenna that only transmits radio signals in a specific area, i.e. a "sector". In contrast to an omnidirectional antenna, which distributes the signal in all directions, the sector antenna only transmits at a fixed angle, such as 90° or 120°.

How does a sector antenna work? #

Imagine a flashlight: It only shines in the direction in which you hold it. In the same way, a sector antenna only transmits its radio signals in a limited area. In comparison, an omnidirectional antenna would be like a lantern: it shines in all directions at the same time, i.e. 360°. The signal is therefore distributed evenly in all directions, but with less energy in each direction.

Power Distribution and Range #

An important factor for antennas is the power output. In Germany, WiFi are generally allowed to transmit a maximum of 100 MW (milliwatts). A sector antenna concentrates the entire available energy in a smaller area, e.g. a 90° sector. This has some major advantages:

Stronger signal #

Within this sector, the signal is stronger because more energy is concentrated on a smaller area.

Greater range #

This bundling allows the signal to reach further in the desired direction. For example, a sector antenna achieves a greater range in its sector with the same energy, while an omnidirectional antenna can only distribute the signal over shorter distances in all directions.

Targeted signal coverage #

The signal is concentrated on a specific area and is stronger and more stable there.

Fewer glitches #

Due to the targeted radiation, there is less interference in other areas.

Applications #

Sector antennas are often used where many people access the network at the same time. Several sector antennas can be attached to a mast to cover different directions or zones and thus efficiently cover a wide area.

Conclusion #

A sector antenna concentrates the available energy on a defined area, which not only ensures a stronger signal, but also a greater range in this direction. This makes the sector antenna ideal for providing specific areas with a stable and powerful connection, in contrast to the omnidirectional antenna, which distributes the signal more weakly in all directions.