Xbee + stainless steel antenna?

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telarium
 
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Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2011 11:28 pm

Xbee + stainless steel antenna?

Post by telarium »

This might be a silly question, but I don't know much about antennas or wifi signals.

I have the Xbee model with the trace antenna. It works okay, but I have to install it in a device that is surrounded by glass and a small casing of stainless steel. The range after installation isn't that great... maybe 20 feet or so. So here's my question:

Is there any possibility that I could use the stainless steel body as the antenna? Kind of like what Apple did with the iPhone. I don't know if it's even possible to wire an external antenna to the trace antenna.

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Franklin97355
 
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Re: Xbee + stainless steel antenna?

Post by Franklin97355 »

You would not be able to match the antenna to the xbee circuit without adding extra circuitry and the propogation would be an unknown factor. Your best option is to get the xbee with the u.fl antenna jack and add a proper external antenna.

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