Uni-directional Vs Bi-Directional

We often get asked on what is the difference between uni-directional and bi-directional antennas. Antennas in general are both uni-directional and bi-directional meaning that they can both receive and transmit signals. A particular type of antenna design can influence the pattern in which the antenna communicates.

Directional Yagi Antenna

As you can tell from the above radiation pattern it is directional in nature. And it can be very sensitive in the direction in which it is aimed at and they are usually Bi-directional in nature, meaning that they can send and receive signal from and to the cell phone tower.

Omni Directional Antenna

The omni directional antennas are a sensitive to signal in 360 degree’s and makes them potentially the antenna of choice when you are trying to receive signal from more then one cell phone tower cause you have multiple carriers and they are spread over multiple locations.

Practically all signal booster kits have 3 major components: the outside antenna (to pull in signal), the amplifier (to boost signal), and the inside antenna (to rebroadcast amplified signal indoors).
The outside antenna conventionally comes in two types: omni antenna and directional (yagi) antenna. Well, for starters, both are outside antennas that pull in your subsisting 3G & 4G signals afore sending it off to the amplifier to be boosted.
We often get asked what is the distinction between uni-directional and bi-directional systems. Antennas, in common, is both uni-directional as well as bi-directional meaning that they can both receive and transmit electromagnetic radiation. A particular antenna design can influence the pattern in which the antenna radiates. The amplifiers affixed to the antenna makes all the difference and if the antenna comports unidirectional or bidirectional.
A unidirectional antenna is a subsidiary for fine-tuned installations, where you ken where the most proximate (or best) tower is. The omnidirectional antenna is better suited for times where you don’t ken where the tower is, or you are kinetically circumnavigating a lot. There’s a good video on YouTube describing the difference as well.
In general, Omni antennas are all-around performers utilized in corporate offices, because they pull signal from a 360-degree field, which conventionally avails when boosting multiple carriers with cell towers in different locations. They generally are long rod-like cylinders.
Directional (yagi) antennas are specialized performers that pull in a signal from a 45-90 degree directional field. The competency to fixate on a narrower field sanctions it to reach farther than the omni and pull in more signals. However, unless all carriers are within that directional field, the yagi antenna inclines to only boost one carrier.They generally look akin to an arrow tip or a pirate flag (ahoy, mateys!).
So, directional antennas are very popular with people in remote, rural areas or any place with terrible reception.
Uni Directional (Yagi) Antennas

Unidirectional or yagi antennas are scarcely more advanced than Omni antennas. Once installed high on the roof or wall, the directional antenna will pull in a signal from 45-90 degrees.
A unidirectional antenna can give you considerably more distance, or range, on your mobile signal. You have to ken precisely where the mobile tower that you’re pointing at, and if you can shoot the unidirectional antenna straight at it, then you can reach a lot further – sometimes many kilometers.
With such a narrow field of concentration, it sanctions the antenna to reach out farther to pull in the signal. So it requires being pointed at the cell tower.

PROS
• More potent than Omni antenna
• Best option for people in remote rural countryside areas
• They can boost multiple carriers if they are within the range of field of the yagi antenna
• Great for boosting 3G & 4G signal when cell tower distance is the most sizably voluminous quandary

CONS
• They usually boosts signal for one carrier
• The antenna needs to point towards the direction of the cell tower
So directional antennas are specialized antennas that potentially can pull in more signals; however they do require more work in establishing.
Kenning the location of the cell towers is paramount.

Bi-Directional Antennas:
An antenna that radiates or receives most of its energy in only two directions. The bidirectional antennas have two high-gain directions, customarily oriented antithesis to each other in space. An omnidirectional antenna radiates or intercepts radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields equivalently well in all horizontal directions in a flat, two-dimensional (2D) geometric plane.
Omni Directional Antennas:

Omni-directional antennas are trouble-free installations type. When installed high on the roof or wall, the omnidirectional antenna will pull in signal from 360 degrees. This is when we ken the tower far away and we’re getting some bars. They boosts it a good range. Try imagine putting diminutive antenna up on the top of the window, up a tree, running it out the building, etc. It’s facile and expeditious to do, and you don’t have to do a bunch of quantifying or compass-pointing to make it work.
PROS
• Easy installation
• Amplify cell signals from multiple carriers in multiple locations with different cell towers.
• Best option for boosting 3G & 4G signal when building material is the main quandary of cellular interruption
CONS
• Doesn’t reach as far as compared to directional antenna
• Not worthy for areas with poor signal when cell tower distance is the main quandary
Cerebrate of Omni antennas as the general-use antennas. It’s a popular albeit non-specialized cull for most users.
Many of our immensely colossal business customers cull Omni-antennas because of they accommodation multiple providers like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc.
Albeit it’s possible for two Sprint or any other same-carrier towers to be proximate enough to each other that the omni-antenna pulls in signal from both, but it’s not a prevalent situation. Depending on the location, you’ll most likely be proximate to one of each carrier tower (i.e. one Verizon tower, one Sprint tower, one T-Mobile tower, etc., not two Verizon towers, three Sprint towers, one T-Mobile, etc.).

So Which outside Antenna is the Best?
Well, do you utilize a fork to imbibe soup and a spoon to victual pasta? Even though they’re both kitchenware, it depends on the situation. Both have their strengths and weaknesses.

The omnidirectional antennas are a sensitive to signal in 360 degrees and makes them potentially the antenna of cull when you are endeavoring to receive the signal from more than one cell phone tower because you have multiple carriers and they are spread over multiple locations.
The trade-off between the omni directional antenna to uni-directional antenna is it’s sensitivity difference, the Yagi directional are comparatively more sensitive in picking the most impotent amount of signal and the omni is more sensitive in picking the signal all around albeit it is not the most vigorous signal booting antenna.
But as a rule of thumb, if you’re only looking to amend cell signals for one carrier, go with a directional antenna. It’s more potent and doesn’t take much work to find the general direction of the cell tower.
If you’re looking to boost all the major carriers, go with the omni. And especially if you already have pretty good signal but building material is the main quandary obstructing your 3G & 4G signal, then this is a triumpher, additionally.

The trade off however between the omni directional antenna to uni-directional antenna is the sensitivity, the Yagi directional are more sensitive in picking the weakest amount of signal and the omni is more sensitive in picking the signal all around even though it is not the strongest signal booting antenna.