It's 6 DBI. I don't understand why better gain would cause it to NOT receive my transmissions.
Is there some place I can read more about this that doesn't require the background knowledgr of someone with an EE degree?
An anology of "you're shouting in my ear with a megaphone, so no, I can't understand you" would be the level of detail I'm lookong for. Just practical tips & explanations. I'm not super interested in the theory of antenna design (yet 😅)
In short, the higher gain the antenna is, the flatter the radiation pattern becomes, and therefore it cannot deal with elevation changes well, where the lower the gain on the antenna, the more circular the radiation pattern. Here's a link that shows a easy picture.
Antennas don't add power. They can only redirect existing power. Higher "gain" antennas have a narrower beam. Inside that narrow beam, better signal. Outside that narrow beam, worse signal because you stole ability to receive from that spot and moved it to the other spot.
Easy visual. Flash light vs laser pointer. Aim a flashlight and it hits a specific spot. Replace the flashlight with a laser pointer on the exact same vector, it might still hit that spot or it might not. The intensity of the light will be brighter in the spots it does hit though.
I'll zap you for this as soon as I get my coinos NWC fixed or I get my personal lightning node finished.
