First, what is "DBI" vs. "DB"?
Techno-Labs uses "DBi" not the more common "db" terminology.
Anybody have real-world experience with their small, triangular, Mega-Wave directional antanna? Any reviews posted anywhere?
dB or decibels is a ratio. For power, it's dB = 10 * log (ratio) Decibel means 1/10th of a Bell, which nobody uses. When you're talking about gain or loss, the common term is dB.
dBi is decibels over an isotropic radiator. It's the common term in antenna design. An isotropic radiator is a mythical point source radiator with a gain of 0dBi. The antenna gain, in dBi, is the increase in signal strength produced by the antenna when compared to an isotropic radiator.
Since an isotropic radiator cannot be built and exists only in antenna modeling programs, some people prefer dBd or decibels over a dipole antenna. In theory, a dipole has a gain of 2.15dBi, so the two reference levels can be abused interchanegably.
Not with that particular brand, but the antenna itself is common enough. It's a log periodic antenna on polysulfone circuit board. It has enormous bandwidth (which you don't really need) and a gain of about 4dBi (which is quite low). Normally, such antennas are used for broadband interference and radiation testing, lab work, dish feeds, cellular panel antennas, ATV, and exotic modulation schemes where the group delay at the band edges is critical.
The web page claims 12dBi gain, which methinks is rather optimistic. A quick check with 4NEC2 shows 4dBi gain. It's also a common antenna:
Anyways, not recommended due to lack of suitable gain.
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