Hello Arduino Community,
I am looking for recommendations for an **external Wi-Fi/Bluetooth antenna to use with the Arduino UNO Q.
The application will be deployed in an industrial environment where improved wireless range and signal stability are important. Before purchasing antennas, I would like to get feedback from users who have practical experience with the UNO Q.
Could you please suggest:
- Recommended external antenna models/part numbers
- Antenna gain (2 dBi, 5 dBi, 8 dBi, etc.) that works best
- Omni-directional vs directional antenna recommendations
- Reliable manufacturers (Taoglas, Molex, Linx, Pulse, etc.)
- U.FL/IPEX to SMA cable recommendations
- Any antennas officially tested or validated with the UNO Q
For directional I suggest a Google of 2.4 GHz Cantenna. You can build or buy.
Next dbi:
Why dBi Matters
- Rule of Thumb: A higher dBi number does not mean a "better" antenna—it means a more directional one.
- Long-Distance: For point-to-point connections, satellite, or long-range outdoor setups, you want a high dBi antenna.
- Short-Range/Mobile: For general roaming, home Wi-Fi routers, or rough terrain, a lower dBi is generally preferred so the signal isn't easily blocked by obstacles.
Simply put a higher dbi number does not mean better, 
Choose your antenna based on your specific application.
Ron
How many feet range do you need?
I need upto 100m i'm plan to use 2.4GHZ 5dBi RP-SMA Omni Antenna but i need suggestion what type of WCB3536A Mating MFHx? and Does External Antenna require any hardware changes onboard?
100m for BT is impossible, for WiFi under perfect conditions, it is still marginal, in an industrial environment, I doubt it. You should have tested that before spending time and $ on the project.
Good luck, I have no more advice.
The image of the UNO Q on the Arduino Store seems to have a connector for an external antenna but I can't find any information on how to use it in the online docs. Maybe that's why you are asking here.
Maybe one of the Arduino representatives like @ptillisch will have more information.
I can see that the Bluetooth radio is not a class 1 so getting 100 m range will not be possible unless you can add a high gain directional antenna and even then it won't be a slam dunk.
Hi @annoflash.
The UNO Q is not designed for use with an external antenna connected to its WCBN3536A wireless module. The board is intended to only be used with the built-in antenna and we do not support use with an external antenna. So no testing or validation has been done for use with an external antenna.
I understand the presence of the connector on the module might lead some to the conclusion that an external antenna is supported, but this is present only because the WCBN3536A is a general purpose module (not created solely for use on the UNO Q hardware), which might be used in other hardware applications where the connector would be utilized.
If the on-board wireless capabilities of the UNO Q don't meet your requirements, you could look into using the board with separate hardware that does provide the required communication capabilities.