Skip to main content

Base Station & Outdoor Antennas

Base Station & Outdoor Antennas

Outdoor and base station antennas are designed for permanent weatherproof installation at height. They use larger radomes and N-connector interfaces, and are tuned more precisely than portable whips.

ALFA 5 dBi Mini - $18

A compact 7" outdoor omni antenna with an N-Male connector. Good starting point for a first outdoor installation or for sites where a larger antenna would cause wind loading concerns. The 5 dBi gain provides a noticeable improvement over portable whips while keeping the beam angle wide enough to cover nearby nodes at varying elevations.

  • Gain: 5 dBi
  • Height: 7"
  • Connector: N-Male
  • Mounting: Mast or wall mount

RAK 5.8 dBi Fiberglass - $30 - $40

A full-size fiberglass outdoor omni antenna from RAK Wireless. Weatherproof, includes U-bolt mounting hardware, and tuned for 868/915 MHz. The community's most commonly recommended base station antenna for solar repeater builds. The 5.8 dBi gain is a good balance between range and beam width for typical community mesh deployments.

  • Gain: 5.8 dBi
  • Weatherproof: Yes
  • Mounting: U-bolt included
  • Connector: N-Female base

8 dBi Low Profile Outdoor - $38

A 25" outdoor fiberglass antenna with 8 dBi gain and an N-Female connector. Appropriate for flat terrain where the mesh coverage area is entirely at a similar elevation to the antenna. Avoid in hilly terrain or when nearby nodes are at significantly different elevations - the narrow beam creates dead zones above and below the antenna.

  • Gain: 8 dBi
  • Height: 25"
  • Connector: N-Female

Antenna Selection for Different Scenarios

ScenarioRecommended AntennaWhy
First outdoor fixed nodeALFA 5 dBi MiniAffordable, forgiving beam pattern
Solar repeater in mixed terrainRAK 5.8 dBi FiberglassGood gain, wide enough beam, weatherproof
High-site node, flat terrain8 dBi Low ProfileMaximum horizontal range
High-site node, hilly terrainRAK 5.8 dBi FiberglassBeam pattern covers elevation variation
Point-to-point backbone linkALFA 12 dBi YagiDirectional, maximum link budget

Mounting Tips

  • Always mount antennas with the element vertical for standard LoRa mesh use. Horizontal polarisation mismatches with vertical antennas cost 20+ dB.
  • Keep the antenna away from metal surfaces. Metal nearby detunes the antenna and creates reflection patterns. A minimum distance of one wavelength (~33cm at 915 MHz) from metal structures is a practical rule.
  • Higher is almost always better. Even 2 - 3 metres of extra height can make a significant difference in real-world conditions.
  • Weatherproof outdoor N-connector connections with self-amalgamating tape.

No comments to display

Back to top