On today’s episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we delve into a conversation about how even though some antennas from different manufacturers may look the same, they aren’t all equal. Whether it be a horn, a sector, or a dish antenna, you have to look past the fact they may look similar or have a few comparable data points in a spec sheet and assess it across all aspects. Things to take into consideration from an RF perspective are the beam patterns, side and back lobes, balanced patterns across both polarizations, and other characteristics across the frequency range. You also have to evaluate the construction materials and mechanical properties and how they will hold up in harsh environments over time. And finally consider the focus of the manufacturer in question, support available, and the ecosystem supported now and in the future.