📖 Start Here — Antennas & RF Guide
AntennasAntenna choice and placement together are the single biggest lever you have over LoRa range.range - and height with clear line-of-sight usually matters more than antenna gain. This book covers antenna selection, installation, feedline, and RF fundamentals - from beginner to advanced. (See Understanding Gain and dBi: optimise placement before spending money on a higher-gain antenna.)
🚀 Quick Answers
- "Do I need a better antenna?" → Do I need an external antenna?
- "Which antenna should I buy?" → Portable & Handheld Antennas, Base Station & Outdoor Antennas, or Directional Antennas
- "What's dBi mean?" → Understanding Gain and dBi
- "What cable/connector do I need?" → RF Connector Types Guide
📚 What's In This Book
Antenna Fundamentals
- How Antennas Work at 915 MHz
- Antenna Types for LoRa Mesh
- Antenna Gain and Coverage Tradeoffs
- Understanding Gain and dBi
Antenna Selection
Feedline and Connectors
- Coax Cable Selection Guide
- RF Connectors for LoRa Hardware
- Minimizing Feedline Loss
- Feedline Loss Reference - Loss tables for common cable types
Installation
- Antenna Mounting Best Practices
- Mast and Pole Mounting
- Grounding and Lightning Protection
- Ground Planes for Monopole Antennas
Testing and Tuning
- SWR, VSWR, and Return Loss Explained
- NanoVNA Antenna Testing
- Field Antenna Testing Without Lab Equipment
RF Fundamentals
DIY Antenna Construction
➡️ Related Books
- Network Planning - RF propagation, link budgets, coverage planning
- DIY Build Guides - Enclosures and physical installation