A YAGI antenna is one of the most common types of directional antennas used to send and receive radio signals. It’s distinguished by its long, narrow Y shape, which allows it to focus on a specific target and reject signals that don’t need to be amplified.
In this buying guide, we will talk about the various factors you should consider when looking to buy a YAGI antenna, including the length of the antenna, the material from which it’s made, and more.
How Does a YAGI Antenna Work?
A YAGI antenna is a directional antenna that looks like a pole with at least one straight section. This straight section, called a boom, supports a series of cross-shaped elements called YAGIs.
These are placed perpendicular to each other and secured to a support structure at both ends. When you combine several YAGIs in succession on one boom, you create an array or YAGI array or YAGI–Uda antenna. It is popular among amateur radio operators and others who need maximum gain from their antennas but don’t have space for multiple towers.
A YAGI works similarly to an umbrella: The metal rods on its surface reflect radio waves directly back toward their source and keep unwanted signals from interfering with your device’s reception.
What Are the DIfferent Parts of YAGI Antennas?
Before you buy a YAGI antenna, you should learn about its four primary parts.
The first part is called an active element, which is located at one end of each arm and includes a small bit of gain; all other elements on that arm follow it.
The second part of a YAGI antenna is called a reflector and sits directly across from each active element. The third part is called a director, which comes after each reflector on that same side. And finally, there’s an impedance-matching section at each tip where they connect to cable running back to your TV or radio.
As you can imagine, buying YAGI antennas takes some research if you want them to perform optimally—but we can help!
How Can I Improve My TV Reception with a YAGI Antenna?
You may want to improve your TV reception for several reasons. You might be in an area where your satellite or cable company is weak, or you may want to view additional channels without paying more money. In any case, a YAGI antenna can help you achieve either goal. A simple and affordable addition to your home’s exterior,
YAGI antennas are easily mounted on walls and roofs and connect directly to TVs via coaxial cables that run through windows or walls. If you decide to buy a YAGI antenna for yourself, keep these tips in mind when selecting one
Tips to buy YAGI Antenna
With a wide variety of antennas available in terms of price, size and shape, it is important to know about their range and other factors that determine their performance before making a choice. A YAGI antenna is specially designed to pick up signals from a single direction.
Since these are ideal for receiving signals from one direction, placing them pointing toward the source will allow you to access TV or radio signals without any interruptions. Choosing an antenna from reliable manufacturers can help reduce maintenance costs since most of them have proven track records in delivering high-quality products. Besides, understanding basic information such as length, gain and polarization will give you an idea about how different models can be used for your needs.
How to increase the efficiency of a YAGI antenna
YAGI antennas are a type of antenna used to transmit and receive multiple signals over long distances.
They can be seen on rooftops and other structures across Japan, but are also found in TV broadcasting stations across Western Europe. Although they work well with multiple simultaneous frequencies, you may find that your YAGI does not seem to pick up all channels as well as you would like.
A good way to start boosting your antenna’s signal is by adding better cables. Most YAGI antennas use RG-6 cable to run from your TV set-top box or indoor/outdoor antenna to your outdoor antenna; if you are using cable older than 2002, chances are it will be RG59 or even RG11.
You can pick up a new RG-6 cable at any electronics store, but always make sure that you purchase high quality coaxial cables (e.g., those with double shielding) in order to improve how well they transmit signals. If possible, go for multi-core (three or more) cables instead of single core wires as they offer higher bandwidth and less signal degradation over long distances.