Antennae

One of the most important concepts to understand about antennae is that antennae (sometimes called radiators) do not actually amplify signals. Rather, they simply focus the energy pattern in a particular direction. In other words, the actual power of the radio system is a fixed amount. The purpose of the antenna is to take that energy and reshape it into a specific area, dimension, or pattern. The type of antenna you choose depends more upon the type of application that you are trying to deploy. For example, if you were providing access to wireless clients in the courtyard of a school, you would probably choose an antenna that covered the area in all directions (such as an omni). On the other hand, if you were connecting two buildings that are a mile apart, your antenna selection would be driven by a need to keep a narrow, focused pattern (such as found in a directional antenna).