Omnidirectional Antenna

From Pretoria Wireless Project

An omni-directional antenna (omni) is designed to work in 'all directions', transmitting to, and recieving from, all round it.

This is a bad idea. Use a directional antenna instead.

WARNING!

The PWP does not recommend the use of omni's. If you wish to join us, and have not bought a antenna, do NOT buy an omni, even if you can get one cheap / free.

Omni's are evil!

Overview

In a three dimensional space, a omni does not really transmit in all directions, but on a plane around it, like a disc, usually horizontally. This makes it possbile to transmit across the landscape.

While omni's can cover a large area around them, they are not suited for long distance and/or point to point connections.

Also, antenna's are sensitive to noise and interference, and the larger the area they can recieve to and from, the more interference they recieve, and the more interference they create. Omni's create a nightmare of interference and noise.

Bad Practice

Many unscrupulus wireless users use omni's with amplifiers to boost their signal strength above the legallimit. They do this because omni's are poorly suited for the task they are put to. These misinformed / inept users are not only violating the law, but are also polluting the radio spectrum that every body else needs to use.

PWP will not associate itself with anybody who uses boosted omni's or any other boosted antenna. We do not recommend the use of omni's in general.

We are pleased to note that there has been a decrease in the amount of these boosted omni signals. We can only hope it is our contry's communications authority closing down and fining these abuseive users of the radio spectrum.