14 dBi Backfire Series Antenna

Rubicon1 · 02-24-2004

Looking into this antenna. I need to cover about 1/2 a mile los distance from my WAP11 AP to my Orinoco card with omni-mag antenna. Torn between a cantenna and this Backfire series. Anyone have any experience with this antenna, good or bad? Any other recommendations? Thanks.

cst · 02-24-2004

I can't be sure, but I'll bet the Backfire antenna is of the same design as this homebrew:
http://www.saunalahti.fi/elepal/antenna1.html

I don't think any of the simple cantennas out there approach the 14 dBi gain of the Backfire design (despite the outrageous claims). Unless you put a large cone collector on a good cantenna, the real gain is likely to be 8dBi to 11 dBi at very best.

With that Backfire antenna and a good external omni with no obstructions between the two, 1/2 mile should be doable.

peekitty · 02-24-2004

I built one with the assistance of those plans and a few other sources. Although I believe the tolerances are pretty close, the performance is only marginally better than a homebrew cantenna. IIRC, the backfire has a slightly less focused pattern which makes it easier to aim. A panel or patch antenna might also be a good choice.

hydro27405 · 02-25-2004

I have a Backfire on a customers house about 6 miles from my tower, the tower is using 13dbi antennas on a 17.5dbm radio, same type radio on clients side. stable and lovin it.
Hydro

02-24-2004	#1 (permalink)
Rubicon1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 2	14 dBi Backfire Series Antenna Looking into this antenna. I need to cover about 1/2 a mile los distance from my WAP11 AP to my Orinoco card with omni-mag antenna. Torn between a cantenna and this Backfire series. Anyone have any experience with this antenna, good or bad? Any other recommendations? Thanks.

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02-24-2004	#2 (permalink)
cst Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 28	I can't be sure, but I'll bet the Backfire antenna is of the same design as this homebrew: http://www.saunalahti.fi/elepal/antenna1.html I don't think any of the simple cantennas out there approach the 14 dBi gain of the Backfire design (despite the outrageous claims). Unless you put a large cone collector on a good cantenna, the real gain is likely to be 8dBi to 11 dBi at very best. With that Backfire antenna and a good external omni with no obstructions between the two, 1/2 mile should be doable.

02-24-2004	#3 (permalink)
peekitty Macaca Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S. Florida Posts: 1,056	I built one with the assistance of those plans and a few other sources. Although I believe the tolerances are pretty close, the performance is only marginally better than a homebrew cantenna. IIRC, the backfire has a slightly less focused pattern which makes it easier to aim. A panel or patch antenna might also be a good choice.

02-25-2004	#4 (permalink)
hydro27405 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: MN Posts: 96	I have a Backfire on a customers house about 6 miles from my tower, the tower is using 13dbi antennas on a 17.5dbm radio, same type radio on clients side. stable and lovin it. Hydro