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 —- $30–30 - $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
| Scenario | Recommended Antenna | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First outdoor fixed node | ALFA 5 dBi Mini | Affordable, forgiving beam pattern |
| Solar repeater in mixed terrain | RAK 5.8 dBi Fiberglass | Good gain, wide enough beam, weatherproof |
| High-site node, flat terrain | 8 dBi Low Profile | Maximum horizontal range |
| High-site node, hilly terrain | RAK 5.8 dBi Fiberglass | Beam pattern covers elevation variation |
| Point-to-point backbone link | ALFA 12 dBi Yagi | Directional, 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
2–2 - 3 metres of extra height can make a significant difference in real-world conditions. - Weatherproof outdoor N-connector connections with self-amalgamating tape.