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Yagi antennas compared to Flat Panel antennas

PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 9:07 am
by BennyT
Our wireless scoreboard was relocated at the farthest end of the track and we added a high gain antenna to have the best wireless connection with the tower. The antenna we installed is one of the new flat panel antennas and it works really well. RaceAmerica sold the TV style Yagi antenna in the past which I do not have any experience with. Anybody have experience with both types? Which is better?

Re: Yagi antennas compared to Flat Panel antennas

PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 10:05 am
by Richkim
I installed a high gain yagi on a safety light at the far end of the track. Definitely improved the connection with the tower. I checked out the flat panels on the RA website and it certainly looks like a more modern design. Wonder how they compared to my yagi?

Re: Yagi antennas compared to Flat Panel antennas

PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 12:15 pm
by lazdee
BennyT wrote:Anybody have experience with both types? Which is better?

The Flat Panel and Yagi antennas are both high gain focused signal antennas, both on transmit and on receive. Both antennas are designed for permanent outdoor use and pole mounting. Both antennas ship with an antenna extension coaxial cable with a RP-SMA connector compatible with all RaceAmerica wireless hardware. Pricing is about the same, too.

So what is the difference? Outside of the physical design difference and a more modern look to the Flat Panels, the Flat Panels have a slightly more focused signal and higher gain than the Yagi counterparts. This results in a stronger RF signal and allows for greater distances between antennas.

yagi9-1024-200.jpg
flatpnl-1024-200.jpg

Re: Yagi antennas compared to Flat Panel antennas

PostPosted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 8:11 am
by BennyT
If I have a pair of the yagi antennas pointed at each other, can I replace one of them with a flat panel style or do I need to replace both of them?

Re: Yagi antennas compared to Flat Panel antennas

PostPosted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 8:34 am
by raceamerica
BennyT wrote:If I have a pair of the yagi antennas pointed at each other, can I replace one of them with a flat panel style or do I need to replace both of them?

No need to replace both antennas. The Flat Panel can be used with a Yagi antennas as long as they are both on the same frequency range (900MHZ vs 2.4GHz). Even the cabling can be used with either antenna. Both antennas have either a N-sytle connector ot a RP-SMA connector. The Flat Panels ship with a N-to-RPSMA adapter to accommodate both connectors on the coaxial cables.