where to buy the XBee antenna?

[Admin]

I want to buy a bunch of the XBee antenna. Anyone know what its called or where I can get it from?

(I don't want the XBee device, just the antenna)

http://lilypadxbee.katehartman.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/08937-04-l.jpg

[Soeren]

Hi,

Why not drop SparkFun an email, I'm sure they could tell you.

[Admin]

Why not drop SparkFun an email, I'm sure they could tell you.

hmmmm but SparkFun doesn't make the XBee, they only sell it.

They're made by Digi:
http://www.digi.com/technology/wireless/products.jsp

[Soeren]

Yes, but they seem to have the right connections and they appear helpful.

[Webbot]

Not sure if this a relevant one you need to check the datasheet: http://www.roboticsconnection.com/p-66-ufl-antenna.aspx

or try http://www.antennafactor.com/Products/

[Admin]

Thanks Webbot!

This is the type I'm looking for, cheap and tiny:
http://www.antennafactor.com/Products/Embeddable/JJB-Series-Monopole-Antennas/

But I'm still looking around for other options as well, I'll probably buy them all, try each out, and then go with the best.

I'm wondering if the XBee antennas were custom and in-house . . .

[waltr]

The antenna on the XBee in the photo in the above post is just a 1/4 wave piece of wire (adjusted for the velocity of propagation in air) and covered with plastic.

[Admin]

Yea, but I need hundreds of them, to be installed on hundreds of boards

I originally did a PCB trace antenna as its the cheapest and easiest, but it took up too much valuable PCB space.

[Soeren]

Hi,

The antenna on the XBee in the photo in the above post is just a 1/4 wave piece of wire (adjusted for the velocity of propagation in air) and covered with plastic.

Yes and probably more or less Helical wound.

When I was younger, I have made my fair share of those for VHF to help out a friend, They got covered with "rubbery" shrink wrap and "shrink hoods", with the antenna proper made out of thin piano wire with a nut in the bottom to fasten it.

[waltr]

Quote from: waltr on Today at 08:11:33 AM
The antenna on the XBee in the photo in the above post is just a 1/4 wave piece of wire (adjusted for the velocity of propagation in air) and covered with plastic.
Yes and probably more or less Helical wound.

Nope, I just pulled the plastic cover off of the XBee antenna I have. Its just insulated stranded wire. It is 1.065 inch (27.05mm) long from the PCB surface.

Admin, are you having an assemble house build your boards? Just make a drawing to spec the antenna and let them make and install it. If the work is done in China it shouldn't cost more than a few pennies each.

[Admin]

waltr, I think Soeren was referring to the antennafactor antenna.


My needed quantity is too small to make custom antennas worth it. For example, 100 antennas would cost me $120 if I bought it. A custom job would be much higher.

[waltr]

100 antennas would cost me $120

$1.20 for a piece of wire 29mm long?

[Admin]

I'm buying a package: the wire correctly coiled up and at proper length, the plastic covering, and a thickness good for PCB mounting.

$120 is nothing compared to the effort of making 100 on my own.

[Imignant]

I know I'm new at this but maybe one of these will help,
http://www2.mouser.com/Passive-Components/Antennas/_/N-6j78n?P=1yzv8rx ----the one at the bottom
http://www2.mouser.com/Passive-Components/Antennas/_/N-6j78n?P=1z0s7e2