Return to Analog/Digital | Dual Band | Home/Office | Marine Mount | PCS Antennas
Do I need an Analog, Digital, PCS, or Dual Band antenna?
The type of antenna you need is based on the frequency your phone operates on.
Most phones sold since the year 2000 are Dual Band (sometime referred to as
tri-mode) phones. As a result, the best choice for an antenna currently is
a dual band model. Dual band antennas amplify all current network
frequencies including the 800-900 band and the 1800-1900 band. Because
dual band antennas amplify all frequencies, they are compatible with all
cellular phones, regardless of how old or new. A dual band phone can be
used with analog or PCS antennas, but will only see an increase in the signal
when operating in the frequency the antenna amplifies. The analog or PCS
antenna will not amplify nor decrease the signal in bands it is not designed
for.
If your phone was manufactured before the year 2000, it may be a dual band or single band phone. We recommend checking with your service provider to determine what frequency your phone operates in if purchased prior to the year 2000. If it operates in the 800-900 freq. (phones may be in analog or digital mode in this frequency), analog/digital antennas will increase the signal strength the phone receives. Analog/digital antennas can amplify the signal up to 5dB gain. Some outlying areas still operate only in this band.
PCS antennas amplify only the 1800-1900 frequency generally referred to as the PCS band. The benefits to these antennas is they generally have shorter whip lengths (3.5 to 4 inches) while still providing gains up to 3dB. Many large metropolitan networks operate in the PCS band. If your phone use will generally be in these areas, the PCS band antenna may be a good choice. We recommend checking with your service provider to confirm this is the band your phone is operating in.
What does the dB gain rating mean?
dB gain rating determines how much the antenna amplifies the signal.
Antennas are rated either in dB or dBi gain. The dB gain rating is more
accurate (dBi rating is the dB rating multiplied by 2). Some companies
advertise all of their antennas using the dBi rating to make it seem the antenna
is providing more amplification. We provide the more accurate dB gain
rating related to our antennas.
A 0dB gain antenna will provide the same signal strength as your phone would have in the same location as the antenna. If your phone was attached to the top of your car in the same location the antenna is in, you would have the same signal as you do when using your phone inside the car connected to a 0db gain antenna. They are useful in areas where there is a strong signal outside your car and a weak signal inside.
In areas where the signal is weak, we recommend a 3db or 5db gain antenna. The 5db gain antenna is the highest gain reputable antenna we are aware of at this time.
TNC or Mini-UHF?
To connect your phone to an external antenna, you will need either an external
antenna connector or a full install handsfree car kit with external antenna
adapter. These external antennas will not connect directly to your phone.
We have external antenna adapters available for most phones on the phone
specific main accessory page. If there is not an external adapter listed
on your phones accessory main page, we do not have one available at this time.
Our external antenna connectors all have a TNC connector on them. If you
will be attaching the antenna to an external antenna adapter, order an antenna
with a TNC connector.
If you are ordering an antenna for use with a full install handsfree car kit,
the Mini-UHF connector is type of connector needed.
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