New Training: Describe Wireless AP Modes and Antenna Types

In this 7-video skill, CBT Nuggets trainer Jacob Moran teaches you how to differentiate between the various types of antennas. Gain an understanding of the pros and cons of each type of antenna. Learn the differences between autonomous and lightweight access points, and cover the different modes that are available for specific business or surveillance needs. Watch this new Cisco training.

Watch the full course: Cisco CCNP Enterprise Core

This training includes:

• 7 videos

• 31 minutes of training

You’ll learn these topics in this skill:

• Intro to Antennas and AP Modes

• Describing Wireless Antenna Types

• Identifying Omnidirectional Antennas

• Identifying Directional Antennas

• Differentiating Between Autonomous and Lightweight Access Points

• Identifying Client-Supporting Lightweight AP Modes

• Identifying Utility-Based Lightweight AP Modes

What are the Three Types of Antennas?

Today, radio transmission broadcasting, facilitated by the antenna, is primarily accomplished via three distinctly different types of antennas known as Omni-directional, Directional, and Semi-directional. At a high-level, antennas are designed to transmit and receive analog and digital information via electromagnetic wave transmission. These three uniquely different types of antennas each fit a unique use case determined by scope of the transmission architecture.

Omni-directional. Omni-directional antennas are designed to propagate electromagnetic waves in all directions, whereas semi-directional and directional antennas propagate transmission waves in a constricted fashion to only transmit data in certain directions. The intention of designing antennas that offer different directional constrictions comes down to how the transmission beam is localized.

Semi-directional. To this point, directional antennas can narrow a beam such that the beam in the target direction can be maximized. This unique design consideration all comes down to where the target receivers are located.

Directional. If the receiver is located in one location, a directional antenna may optimize the data transmission process, whereas if the receivers are located in a variety of locations, the transmission process can be optimized by the use of using an omni-directional antenna.