Best Antenna for Helium Hotspot / Bobcat Miner 300

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Best Antenna for Helium Hotspot

Are you looking for Best Antenna for Helium Hotspot? If so, then this article is perfect for you. Helium hotspots are becoming increasingly popular because of their low cost, high-speed data transfer rates, and the fact that they can be set up anywhere.

In this article, we will review and discuss some of the Best Antennas for Helium Hotspots. We also take a look at what you should be looking out for before making a purchase decision.

What Is an Antenna for Helium Hotspot?

An antenna for helium hotspot is a device that emits radio waves, which are electromagnetic energy. The first antennas were made of metal rods; for instance, on an old-fashioned TV set, the long rod was the antenna. Nowadays you will find many different types of antennas on wireless devices like phones and laptops as well as in your car or home’s entertainment center.

Helium Hotspot antennas are very useful because they allow many people to connect at once without slowing down connection speed while using internet service from helium hot spots providers such as Tep Wireless, Project Fi, etc.

What Do I Need to Know About Antennas?

When purchasing an Antenna it can be difficult to determine what type of coverage area you require because every location has differing levels of strength or signal reception depending upon several factors including but not limited to: How high off ground level (height) you place your aerial/antenna, how far away from any broadcast towers, the type of building materials used in your home/office, the number and directionality of broadcast towers from your location.

Things You Should Know About Antennas:

When it comes to an antenna there are several types that would suit different purposes. This includes ones for boats, caravans, or even camping trailers which are quick to set up when on holidays away from normal TV signals, etc. 

These may not be so effective as a permanent solution at your primary residence where reception is more important just because they use telescopic rods which tend to have less gain than other designs do especially with UHF digital broadcasts coming through now since 2009+. 

More expensive models offer “gain” over lower-priced versions but this does not mean better performance unless you live very close to the broadcast towers.

Different Types of Helium Antenna

There are three (main) types of antennas you can choose from:

Indoor Helium Antennas

Indoor Antennas which look like a “rabbit ears” TV antenna and vary in size depending upon how powerful they need to be, typically have about 14 – 20 dBi gain but as low as 0 dB for some indoor flat panel designs. 

These typically should not exceed 30-60 cm or 12 inches high because it may obstruct other signals that could degrade reception on your other devices. The longer the rod length the higher up into space the signal will travel so do keep this point in mind when deciding what type of antenna is right for you based on where you live geographically ie city vs country.

Outdoor Antennas

Outdoor Antennas are usually made of solid metal and should be mounted on a rooftop or other high area so it is not obstructed by anything. They should never be placed behind or above any metal objects like air conditioning units, TV antennas, etc. 

Outdoor antennas come in many different designs with the most popular being either a UHF/VHF combo antenna which is also known as a bowtie design because they look like an upside-down bow tie. Or you can choose to have separate VHF and UHF antennas if your reception requires this type of broadcast band splitting for better signals. 

The higher up into space these go the more likely it is that they will receive all types of broadcasts from further away but remember that digital transmissions travel much faster than analog signals so faster-acting electronic circuits are required to process these types of broadcasts.

Aerial Amplifiers

Aerial Amplifiers or preamplifiers boost the signal that is received by your indoor/outdoor antenna before it reaches your TV set. They come in many forms but typically resemble power splitters with multiple outputs for sending amplified signals through RG-59 coaxial cable. 

These can be fixed indoors or outdoors and will not affect overall performance because they only amplify what comes into them unlike repeaters which re-broadcast everything including noise around you, this type should always be placed at the end of a run so any problems caused by amplifying weak signals do not get worse over longer runs. 

Modern aerial amplifier units have an “inline” indicator light to tell you when they are working, these units usually have between 15-25 dB gain and only amplify the signal once so there is no degradation of that broadcast.

Why Do You Need an Antenna for Your Hotspot?

You’re essentially creating a mini cell tower by using an antenna for your hotspot. The most common reason to use one is that it will boost the signal strength of our hotspots and improve coverage in areas where there isn’t much service. 

Since they must be mounted outside, antennas work well with mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets which can easily move from room to room inside your home. They also help increase data speeds over a wireless network, allowing you to connect more devices on the same Wi-Fi connection without slowing down performance.

Top 10 Best Antenna for Helium Hotspot to Buy In 2023

1. LoRa Gateway 915MHz Antenna Outdoor 3dBi Fiberglass LoRaWAN Antenna

LoRa Gateway 915MHz Antenna Outdoor 3dBi Fiberglass LoRaWAN Antenna N-Male for Helium Hotspot Miner

Key Features:

  • 3dBi Fiberglass Outdoor Antenna
  • It has a 900MHz – 950MHz frequency range 
  • It comes with mounting brackets 
  •  Includes RG58 Cable with package
  • Very easy to install and use

LoRa Gateway 915MHz Antenna Outdoor 3dBi Fiberglass LoRaWAN is our first choice as the best antenna for helium hotspot in our list. This is probably a universal omnidirectional antenna.

This antenna is specially made for outdoor uses. It has a Frequency Range & Gain between 900MHz – 950MHz(915MHz) / 3dBi. It comes with Connector & Impedance & SWR. 

It is a long helium antenna for miners. The total length of the Antenna is 32cm, which is equal to 12.5 inches. 

This antenna is specially made to use with DOT applications. Also, compatible with RAK Bobcat HNT Hotspot Miner and more. 

I’m using this antenna for my Helium LoRa Gateway, and it works really well. As we know, the bandwidth of LoRaWAN is significantly less, so this antenna is very good at providing a stable signal since it has a wide frequency range. It reaches up to 25 mi away.

I’d recommend installing this antenna on the top of your roof. Keep in mind that the higher you mount your antenna, the better you will earn.

One reviewer says, “I’m surprised how well this has worked for me so far. I am getting about 37 hnt coins a month at this time with this antenna.” On the other hand, I saw some negative reviews on Amazon, but I didn’t find any negatives while using this antenna.

Benefits of LoRa Gateway 915MHz Antenna:

1. It has a wide range of frequencies to reach up to 25 mi away.

2. It is made of high-quality materials, and it’s very lightweight; you can carry or mount it around easily with no hassle.

3. It is very easy to install and simple to set up.

4. It helps you to boost your earnings.

Drawbacks of LoRa Gateway 915MHz Antenna :

  1. Not good as it advertised
  2. It is only 3dBi

2. Nelawya Outdoor LoRa Gateway 915MHz 4.5dBi Omni Directional Antenna

The Nelawya Outdoor LoRa Gateway 915MHz Antenna is a high-performance, industrial-grade antenna designed for long-distance transmission. It is ideal for all-weather operation and built to withstand the toughest conditions. 

The antenna features an integrated pure copper oscillator which provides stable signal transmission at ultra distances.

This antenna is compatible with RAK Bobcat HNT Hotspot Miner, Helium HNT Mining, Low Data Rate Communication Networks, Long Distance LoRa Nodes, IoT & M2M Nodes, Industrial & Environmental Monitoring, Smart Metering Applications, Inventory Tracking, Vending Machine Data & Monitoring, LoRaWAN, Multipoint, and NLOS Applications, Wireless Video and Security Systems.

This LoRa Gateway is a perfect solution for the long-range transmission of high-frequency data signals up to 15km in urban and rural environments. It is also suitable for indoor and outdoor use, even in adverse weather conditions. 

The antenna is designed for use in a wide variety of applications such as industrial, agricultural, environmental monitoring, smart metering, IoT, vending machine data, and security. 

The Nelawya Outdoor LoRa Gateway Antenna 915MHz features an integrated pure copper oscillator that provides stable signal transmission at ultra distances. This antenna is ideal for all-weather operation and built to withstand the toughest conditions. 

The antenna features a high gain, omnidirectional pattern and can be used for both uplink and downlink transmissions. It can receive signals from long-distance locations. Overall, this is the best helium antenna for every miner. 

3. Proxicast 10 dBi 3G / 4G / LTE High Gain Omni-Directional Fixed Mount Outdoor Fiberglass Antenna for Verizon

The 24” easy-to-install Omni-directional antenna from Proxicast improves transmit and receive signals for all 3G and 4G/LTE frequencies on Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Bell Mobility, Rogers, Telus, Sasktel, Telcel, Movistar, Digicel, IUSACELL and many other cellular operators worldwide. 

It is also suitable for unlicensed 900 MHz (ISM) radio applications such as LoRa/Helium and 2.4 GHz WiFi / ISM band and GPS use. This antenna is great for outdoor applications, such as building rooftops, utility poles, surveillance trailers, well sites, remote telemetry units, meters, homes, and offices. 

The small size makes it ideal for any situation and compatible with USB cellular modems and Mi-Fi hotspots, external 3G/4G cellular modems, routers, and signal amplifiers from companies such as CalAmp, Cisco, Cradlepoint, Digi, MoFi, Novatel, Pepwave, Proxicast, Sierra Wireless, SureCall, and ZTE. 

A perfect antenna for any application, the 24″ Omni-Directional Antenna from Proxicast is suitable for all 3G and 4G / LTE frequencies and is also suitable for unlicensed 900 MHz (ISM) radio applications, such as LoRa/Helium and 2.4 GHz WiFi / ISM band and GPS use.

4. Proxicast High Gain 10 dBi Universal Wide-Band 3G/4G/LTE Omni-Directional Outdoor Pole/Wall Mount Antenna for Verizon, AT&T, Sprint

The design of omnidirectional provides high gain without the hassles of the directional antenna. It is ideal for outdoor applications including rooftops, utility poles, surveillance trailers, well sites, meters, homes, and offices, because of its compact size, white finish, and STAINLESS hardware. 

This antenna is compatible with a variety of devices, including cellular modems, Mi-Fi Hotspots, external 3G/4G cellular modems, routers, and signal amplifiers from companies such as CalAmp, Cisco, Cradlepoint, Digi, MoFi, and Netgear.

The omnidirectional design provides high gain without the hassles of the directional antenna. It is ideal for outdoor applications including rooftops, utility poles, surveillance trailers, well sites, meters, homes, and offices, because of its compact size, white finish, and STAINLESS hardware. 

This antenna is compatible with a variety of devices, including cellular modems, Mi-Fi Hotspots, external 3G/4G cellular modems, routers, and signal amplifiers from companies such as CalAmp, Cisco, Cradlepoint, Digi, MoFi, and Netgear. The Omnidirectional design provides high gain without the hassles of the directional antenna.

5. L-com HG908U-PRO 900MHz 8dBi Omnidirectional Antenna

The HG908U-PRO is a high-performance omnidirectional antenna designed for the 900 MHz ISM band. It is ideally suited for multipoint, Non-Line of Sight (NLOS), and mobile applications where high gain and wide coverage are desired. 

Typical applications include 900MHz Wireless LAN, SCADA, Wireless Video Links, and 900MHz Cellular band applications. This antenna has an extremely low profile and can be mounted on a wall or ceiling without the need for a mounting mast or tower. 

The antenna’s internal power supply is a standard DC wall transformer that provides constant power and allows the antenna to operate with minimal maintenance. The antenna is designed for easy installation and comes with a comprehensive installation guide. The HG908U-PRO features a 2.5 dBi gain omnidirectional radiation pattern.      

Things To Consider Before Buying The Best Antenna for Helium Hotspot

There are many factors that should be considered when choosing the right antenna.

These include:

  1. The frequency range of operation
  2. Polarization
  3. Gain and beamwidths

Frequency Range: Your choice will depend on what frequencies your hotspot is operating in, if it’s a simplex or duplex radio system (duplex meaning two radios communicating with each other at different times). If you’re not sure which one to choose just give us a call.

Polarization: Linear polarization works well for line-of-sight applications while circular polarization provides increased resistance to multipath interference caused by reflections off buildings and cars. You can even get both types within one single antenna, but this might increase costs slightly.

Gain & Beamwidths: You also need to consider the gain and beamwidth of your antenna. The higher the gain, the more focused it is but this does not mean that you cannot get high-gain antennas with large beams if needed.

Advantages and Disadvantages of External Antennas:

The primary advantage of using an external antenna is that it provides a more stable connection. External antennas are typically larger than the ones built into hotspots, and they provide better signal strength (typically measured in decibels or dBm). 

If you want to use your phone or tablet indoors with less Wi-Fi congestion from other users, then you should definitely go for an external antenna instead of relying on its source device’s internal one. Of course, there is no clear disadvantage when using an external antenna unless someone trips over your cable line while walking by.

Helium Hotspot: Helium does not require any contract commitments like most carriers do; however, customers will need to buy their own data before connecting up which can be expensive depending on your data plan. Helium Hotspot is the best choice for international travelers who need an unlocked hotspot with no contract commitment to rely upon while they’re away from home.

How to Use the Antenna for Helium Hotspots?

To use the antenna for the helium hotspot, you just have to follow these simple steps:

  1. Set up your Helium Hotspots device in a central location. The ideal place is at least 30ft from any obstructions such as buildings or trees that could interfere with the signal transmission.
  2. If there are multiple devices being used by different people/companies, set up a separate WiFi network for each one of them and connect their equipment accordingly. You can do so either through your computer or directly on the wifi router itself if it has an option available for this purpose. Keep in mind which password belongs to what device when doing so because you will need access to all of them later on. This way no one else can tamper with them.
  3. The final step is to make sure that the hotspot antenna for helium has a clear line of sight in all four directions because this will let you get an optimal signal strength which ensures the best possible transfer speeds.

Which dBi Antenna Is Best for Helium?

There are many different dBi antennas on the market, but which one is best for helium? Different antennas will work better in different environments. What might be the best option for one mine might not be the best for another. That said, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing an antenna for helium mining.

The first is the mining environment. For example, if you’re mining in an open area with little interference, then a 20 dBi antenna will likely be enough. However, suppose you’re working in an environment with much interference. In that case, a 10 dBi or 8 dBi antenna may be a better option.

Another thing to consider is the size and weight of the antenna. A 20 dBi antenna will be larger and weigh more than a 10 dBi or 8 dBi antenna. So if size and weight are important factors, you may want to consider a lower dBi antenna.

Ultimately, the best dBi antenna for helium depends on your specific needs and environment.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Much Does It Cost for a Good Quality Antenna?

Ans: Cost varies based on the quality of antenna you are looking for. However, prices range between $50 to $250

What Is an Antenna Gain? What Does It Mean by dBi or Dbd?

Ans: The definition used in wireless communication is that power gain refers to the ratio of output radiation intensity from a device compared with input signal strength. There are two forms of measurement that may be referred to as Decibel-isotropic (dB isotropic) and decibels relative to dipole which means half-wave dipole). 

Generally speaking, antennas can have different gains depending upon their orientation and configuration with respect to desired directionality.

Is There Any Difference Between Omnidirectional and Directional Antennas?

Ans: Yes. Directional antennas focus the transmitted power in one direction, so it requires less transmitting power to achieve a good signal over greater distances and requires a clear view of the horizon or sky for maximum effect. 

Omni-directional antennas on the other hand direct their signals everywhere around them somewhat like a sphere with equal strength throughout 360 degrees. The main difference between omnidirectional antennas is that they have low gain as compared to a directional antenna which has high gain. 

Due to this reason omnidirectional are used where their requirement is coverage from all directions rather than putting more transmitter energy into only one particular direction.

What Frequency Does an Antenna Work?

Ans: In general, most communications equipment works within a certain radio frequency range. For example, a cordless phone operates within the “Very High Frequency” (VHF) range – 30 MHz to 300 MHz. In terms of antenna gain, an omnidirectional antenna provides the highest gain in low frequency, and gradually loss is seen as we increase the frequency from the lower end.

Why Do I Need the Best Antenna for Helium Hotspots?

Ans: As helium hotspot networks are very popular nowadays you should use the best antennas so that the strength of your signal will be more strong which will result in better internet coverage and data speed.

What Type of Technical Specifications Does It Have?

Ans: It has various technical specifications such as Gain, Directivity patterns, etc… These all things define how much high power efficiency it can handle and how much it can cover.

What is the range of an Antenna?

Ans: The maximum communication distance depends on whether you use a directional or Omnidirectional antenna, what type of frequencies (high or low) you are using, and other factors such as obstacles between your device and the hotspot access point. 

Omni-directional antennas provide greater signal strength in all directions but they don’t go nearly as far; high-frequency signals travel across flat terrain with little problem; lower frequency signals suffer from interference over long distances more quickly than higher ones do – a shorter wavelength means less atmospheric resistance to transmission at any given time. 

Someone may ask that does wifi antenna works in helium hotspots? To answer this question we can say that wifi antenna does work on helium hotspots but their range would be very low.

Why Helium Hotspot Antenna is required?

Ans: There are a few reasons why you may want an external Wi-Fi antenna for your helium hotspots. 

First, some antennas have high gain which produces higher signal strength and covers a large area as compared to others. 

Secondly, different types of antennas come with various features such as omnidirectional or directional patterns, etc.

Thirdly, by adding an aftermarket Wi-Fi antenna to your access point device you can boost the wireless performance and extend its operating distance over greater distances than it could go before without the help of an additional accessory like one. 

The final reason is that most of the helium hotspots which we use in large areas are outdoor devices and they require more power to extend their range.

What is Antenna Gain?

Ans: The gain or antenna factor (in dBi) measures how much stronger a signal becomes when it travels through free space from the source to your device, as compared to traveling directly from its source without any additional amplification. 

When you add extra antennas such as an external wifi antenna for helium hotspots then these all things increase the maximum coverage distance. In general, if one of our primary goals with a Wi-Fi access point installation was simply increased wireless performance – that’s what we want most of all.

Then adding an aftermarket-gain omnidirectional Wi-Fi antenna to the system would be a good investment.

Why Do I Need Antenna Gain?

Ans: Helium Hotspots are a must-have for internet users but these all things require the best wifi antennas because only high gain antennas will work in large areas where helium hotspot signal is not that strong. 

There are various other reasons which make it very important such as High gain omnidirectional wi-fi antenna that provides maximum coverage distance, maximizes wireless performance, boosts the access point device’s power efficiency, etc… Only a high gain external Omni Directional Wi-Fi antenna can solve your problem of low range and data transfer speed etc.

Are All Helium Miner Antennas Omnidirectional?

Ans: No, actually they are not that all antennas which we use in helium hotspots are omnidirectional. There are various types of wi-fi antenna according to their performance and usage such as Helium Hotspot Omnidirectional Antenna, High Gain Antenna, Directional Wi-Fi Antennas, etc…

Is There Any Alternative for an External WI-FI Antenna?

Ans: Yes, there is another option available i.e. you can increase the distance between your device and helium hotspots by using high gain omnidirectional antennas on both ends. 

You will be able to extend coverage area or range up to 1500ft with this technique but it only works if you have a line of sight without obstacles like walls etc. If these all things don’t work for you then another option is to use a high gain directional antenna which can solve all your problems.

Conclusion

The best antenna for Helium Hotspot is the one that provides a stable signal and has an unobstructed view of the sky. As we’ve seen, there are many factors to consider when purchasing your own mobile hotspot device, but these considerations will make or break your experience with this technology.

The two types of antennas that are recommended for use with helium hotspots include yagi and multi-directional. The best choice depends on where you plan to set up your device, how much money you want to spend, and what equipment is compatible with the antenna that will be used.

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Kelly Smith is a Senior Editor at Provaat. She has a special affinity for gaming peripherals, laptops and virtual reality. Before, Kelly covered technology terms, including hardware, software, cyber security and other IT happenings on our community.