Recommendations for a cheap u.FL antenna

Hardware
1

I didn’t realize I’d ordered the u.FL core, so I can’t really set things up until I get the antenna. I’ve been looking around for a cheap one and suggestions.

I did find this from SparkFun - https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11320

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2

That’s one of the cheapest I’ve found online as well, unless you’re ordering in bulk in the hundreds. :slight_smile:

3

Not as cheap, but a little nicer for mounting in an enclosure and more gain:

Adapter Cable http://www.adafruit.com/products/851 $3.95

5dBi Antenna http://www.adafruit.com/products/945 $8.95

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4

Digikey has this antennas which is a bit cheaper and you can buy them in quantity of one. But I guess it depends on shipping what it all will end up at

http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?WT.z_header=search_go&lang=en&site=us&keywords=994-1030-ND&x=-1830&y=-51&formaction=on

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5

Digikey offers First Class USPS mail for small orders, and it usually works out very well as you can see here shipping to IL

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6

Great recommendation, @BDub! We’re hoping to be able to provide u.FL antennas designed for the Core through our online store in the future, so we’ll keep you posted if/when those are available :smile:

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ok day 1 of open box of new core, attempt the easy 1,2,3 at spark.io/start.
Game over before it starts … Need to have an antenna to connect (i bought the ufl type) BECAUSE I had an ufl to duck antenna from sparkfun.
The trouble is spark core is a male and so is the sparkfun (not the one mentioned in this post , it was assoc. with a gps unit) damn.

Where is the compatible ufl antenna for core? please post the accepted by spark team of where to purchase ?
I will go to the spark store to see if there is one to get so i can move past a stupid blue blinking led.

Dead in the water for now.

8

@micfiz The antenna option posted by @dkobia above should work just fine.

9

I am having success with this u.fl to bulkhead BNC pigtail and antenna from eBay. The same seller also has bulkhead RP-SMA and RP-TNC (linksys style antenna) along with non-bulkhead options. Bulkhead is handy for mounting the antenna on the outside of an enclosure.

I did not measure return loss but as a quick test this is working non line of sight through about 150ft of house internals.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IPX-u-fl-to-BNC-jack-female-bulkhead-pigtail-1-13mm-cable-for-Wlan-Mini-PCI-/150988234369?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:US:3160

Pic of setup (I cannot figure out how to post an image)

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@mattande if you upload your image to http://imgur.com and then paste the direct link to the image on a line all by itself in the editor window, it automatically inserts an image. Hope that helps!

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11

Any recommendations for outdoor (and weatherproof) antenna?

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@elbeardo I would suggest using a Bud Industries NEMA 4X rated plastic enclosure. Just leave the antenna inside the box to avoid issues with corrosion on the connections.
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?pv70=344&pv70=507&pv70=334&pv70=345&pv70=336&pv70=338&FV=fff40021%2Cfff803a6&k=bud+nema+4x&mnonly=0&newproducts=0&ColumnSort=0&page=1&stock=1&quantity=0&ptm=0&fid=0&pageSize=25

http://www.budind.com/sealed_plastic.php

You can use water tight connectors known as “cable glands” to get your power and signal wires into the box.
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?FV=fff4001a%2Cfff80258%2C1180006%2C1180008&k=cable+gland&mnonly=0&newproducts=0&ColumnSort=1000011&page=1&stock=1&pbfree=0&rohs=0&quantity=&ptm=0&fid=0&pageSize=25

http://www.budind.com/view/NEMA+Boxes/Cable+glands

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13

Thanks @BDub. Very useful. Now to get experimenting.

First venture into proper Electronics.

2 Likes
14

Same experience as @micfiz: ordered the u.fl type, can’t wait to start tinkering after uboxing the beauty, but completely forgot to order an antenna. I’m just going to give this one a shot:

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15

Worked well for us…