Advice on RF Antenna Selection

[DireWolf]

I know we have at least several members with heavy RF experience, and was hoping to get a bit of advice, and if avaliable, feedback on a specific product.

Have a (mini)project currently that's stretching the comfort zone quite a bit, and long-story-short, ended up looking at the following product (antenna; meets multiple use cases):

https://www.aaronia.com/products/ant...tional-antenna

Anybody used these before, or can recommend cheaper/better alternatives w/ similar specs?

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

[def90]

What are you using it for?

[DireWolf]

What are you using it for?

I can't really get too specific;

Multiple use-cases related to signal detection, identification, analysis/processing, and manipulation, including origin-vectoring.

Most of this I can already manage to some degree, but trying to fill a few hardware/capability gaps.

Does that help clarify a bit?

[ChadAmberg]

So you're looking for something a bit more advanced than a standard Yagi antenna setup?

[ray1970]

Sounds like some covert stuff to me.

[Grant H.]

Looking at their data sheet, I am highly suspicious of their claims being true, especially the antenna gain spec (my guess is they are including their pre-amp gain to make it look more appealing). Also, the wide frequency range means it will suck across most of them.

It's a 30? directional antenna, so it'll be okay for trying to find the direction a signal is coming from, but it will take some effort.

Edit: stoopid a$$ punctuation bug...

30 degree...


ETA:

when I'm not on my phone, I'll link you a couple alternatives that will cost the ISM bands, and be noticeably cheaper. (Although you still have to have a spectrum analyzer).

[Not_A_Llama]

So you're looking for something a bit more advanced than a standard Yagi antenna setup?

I would bet it is that under the plastic. Maybe a backing ground plane.

[ChadAmberg]

I would bet it is that under the plastic. Maybe a backing ground plane.

Yeah and then a battery powered preamp. Which is useful some times but harmful other times.

I think it isn't as much great technology but it's handheld and has been upgraded with a laser pointer!

[DireWolf]

Looking at their data sheet, I am highly suspicious of their claims being true, especially the antenna gain spec (my guess is they are including their pre-amp gain to make it look more appealing). Also, the wide frequency range means it will suck across most of them.

It's a 30? directional antenna, so it'll be okay for trying to find the direction a signal is coming from, but it will take some effort.
(Although you still have to have a spectrum analyzer).

Yeah, I was hoping someone might have experience with these to know if those product specs were legit or not, as that was a main consideration, as is finding a cheaper alternative.

Sure, there's lots of basic yagi options out there (slightly less when you start looking small/portable), but seems challenging to find a combo of very high gain, very low noise/high-snr, and performance over wide spectrum, while also being easily portable/manageable, and the self-calibration data would be useful I'm thinking.

Beam width/pattern is probably optimal (assuming their graphs are accurate), but will admit there's going to be a little trial & error with that.

Also, while open to the option of multiple antennas to cover the desired spectrum, I don't think that would be optimal for my uses; hoping to find something with acceptable wideband performance, as functional requirements include both rapid wideband sampling as well as signal isolation & resolution.

Also, not sure if relevant, but all signal processing logic will be managed using GNU Radio.

I think it isn't as much great technology but it's handheld and has been upgraded with a laser pointer!

Yeah, the laser did seem kinda gimmicky, but wasn't really a factor I was interested in...

[Aardvark]

The laser makes me think it's not meant for detection, but used as targeting, RF energy intended to transmit and take control or to disrupt.