A radiation pattern is the graphical representation of how an antenna distributes radiated power in space. Reading the azimuth and elevation plots correctly is the difference between a link that closes and one that does not.
Overview
Understanding antenna radiation patterns starts with the physics of the band, then moves through pattern, gain, mounting and the practical constraints of a live deployment. Half-power beamwidth (the angular width between the -3 dB points) sets how precisely an antenna must be aimed; narrow high-gain beams reach farther but demand careful alignment and rigid mounting.
Recommended Antenna Types
The following antenna classes are best matched to antenna radiation patterns:
Directional Panel Antenna
Sector / panel antennas delivering focused gain over a defined azimuth, used for base-station sectorization and fixed point-to-multipoint links.
Yagi-Uda Antenna
High front-to-back ratio directional antennas for long-range point-to-point links and fixed CPE.
Omnidirectional Fiberglass Antenna
Collinear omnidirectional antennas in a UV-stable fiberglass radome for 360 degree outdoor coverage.
Applications and Use Cases
Antenna Radiation Patterns support a range of deployments. The most common are:
- Point-to-Point Backhaul
- 4G / 5G Base-Station Coverage
- Public Safety / Land Mobile Radio
Mounting and Installation
Directional antennas must be aimed in both azimuth and elevation, and the mechanical downtilt of a sector antenna shapes the elevation pattern to control cell-edge coverage and interference.
Standards and Compliance
Designs and deployments in this area commonly reference:
- IEEE Std 149 antenna measurement
Selection and Comparison
When narrowing down a model for antenna radiation patterns, weigh these trade-offs:
- Omnidirectional vs. directional
- Azimuth vs. elevation cut
- Main lobe vs. side lobes
Typical gain for this category is n/a, usually terminated in a n/a connector, though the interface can be customized.
Recommended Antennas from astronwireless.com
The following models from our catalog match the requirements discussed above:
AW-FG0433-6
- Band: 428-438 MHz
- Gain: 6 dBi
- Polarization: Vertical
AW-FG0890-12
- Band: 824-890 MHz
- Gain: 12 dBi
- Polarization: Vertical
AW-FG1922-11
- Band: 1.9-2.2 GHz
- Gain: 11 dBi
- Polarization: Vertical
AW-FG2400-15
- Band: 2.4-2.5 GHz
- Gain: 15 dBi
- Polarization: Vertical
AW-FG3500-12
- Band: 3.4-3.6 GHz
- Gain: 12 dBi
- Polarization: Vertical
AW-FG5800-12
- Band: 5.7-5.9 GHz
- Gain: 12 dBi
- Polarization: Vertical
Related Topics
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Antenna Radiation Patterns in depth
The pages below break antenna radiation patterns down by band, by antenna class, by application and by how the antenna gets mounted, each with the catalog models that apply.
By antenna type
- Directional Panel Antenna for Antenna Radiation PatternsSector / panel antennas delivering focused gain over a defined azimuth, used for base-station sectorization and fixed point-to-multipoint links. This…23 models
- Yagi-Uda Antenna for Antenna Radiation PatternsHigh front-to-back ratio directional antennas for long-range point-to-point links and fixed CPE. This page covers how the class behaves specifically…6 models
- Omnidirectional Fiberglass Antenna for Antenna Radiation PatternsCollinear omnidirectional antennas in a UV-stable fiberglass radome for 360 degree outdoor coverage. This page covers how the class behaves…11 models
By application
- Antennas for Point-to-Point BackhaulPoint-to-Point Backhaul places its own demands on the antenna: the link budget, the interference environment and the physical install all…14 models
- Antennas for 4G / 5G Base-Station Coverage4G / 5G Base-Station Coverage places its own demands on the antenna: the link budget, the interference environment and the…12 models
- Antennas for Public Safety / Land Mobile RadioPublic Safety / Land Mobile Radio places its own demands on the antenna: the link budget, the interference environment and…25 models
By installation
- Antenna Radiation Patterns outdoor, pole-mountedMounting decides more of the delivered performance than the datasheet gain does. This page covers outdoor, pole-mounted installs for antenna…40 models
- Antenna Radiation Patterns outdoor, wall-mountedMounting decides more of the delivered performance than the datasheet gain does. This page covers outdoor, wall-mounted installs for antenna…5 models
- Antenna Radiation Patterns desktop / handheldMounting decides more of the delivered performance than the datasheet gain does. This page covers desktop / handheld installs for…5 models
Selection and reference
- How to Choose Antenna Radiation PatternsChoosing antenna radiation patterns is a sequence of constraints, not a search for the highest number on the datasheet. Band…
- Antenna Radiation Patterns Specification ComparisonA side-by-side table of every antenna radiation pattern in the catalog, sorted so the gain-versus-size trade-off is visible at a…
- Antenna Radiation Patterns: Common QuestionsThe questions that come up most often in antenna radiation patterns enquiries, answered with the numbers rather than with generalities.