The gain and efficiency of WiFi antennas are important factors that affect wireless network performance. This article briefly introduces the concepts of antenna gain and efficiency in WiFi networks and discusses their impact on wireless networks.

Firstly, it is important to understand that antenna gain refers to the ratio of the antenna radiation power to that of a standard radiation source (an ideal point source), typically expressed in dBi (decibels relative to isotropic). The higher the antenna gain, the more concentrated the energy radiated by the antenna in a specific direction and the greater the distance over which signals can be sent and received.

However, increasing antenna gain does not necessarily mean better network performance. This is because antenna gain only represents the performance in a particular direction and if the antenna radiation distribution is uneven or even reversed, high antenna gain may lead to poorer network performance. Therefore, antenna efficiency is also a key factor. Antenna efficiency refers to the ability of an antenna to convert input electrical power into wireless signal power, usually expressed as a percentage. The higher the antenna efficiency, the better the quality of the signals sent and received, and the better the network performance.

In practical applications, selecting the appropriate antenna for the environment is also very important. For example, in a scenario where a large area needs to be covered, a low-gain antenna with weak directional radiation but high efficiency should be selected. Conversely, in scenarios where signals need to be transmitted over long distances, a high-gain antenna with strong directional radiation and high efficiency should be chosen.

In conclusion, antenna gain and efficiency are important factors that affect wireless network performance and the selection of suitable antennas should be based on various factors such as usage scenarios, signal quality, etc.