# Antenna length for 868 and 433 MHz

**URL:** <https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/antenna-length-for-868-and-433-mhz/5378>\
**Category:** Hardware\
**Created:** [February 13, 2017, 9:39am UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/antenna-length-for-868-and-433-mhz/5378 "2017-02-13T09:39:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 3

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**Author:** ![douglarue](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/douglarue/32/25844_2.png) [@douglarue](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/douglarue)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/antenna-length-for-868-and-433-mhz/5378/3 "2017-02-22T23:15:13Z")

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A dipole is really good and simple and a simple ground plane even better. Simple dipole has your radiating element in one direction and a ground wire in the opposite direction. If you want a bit more range, 5/8 wave will slightly squash the radiation envelope.

Did you see this?

> [@Very simple homemade outdoor 868Mhz antenna (groundplane)](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/very-simple-homemade-outdoor-868mhz-antenna-groundplane/3160/17):
>
> I have tried to simulated a 868Mhz groundplane in freespace, and 0.25m, 0.5m, 1m and 5m above average ground. The results and the NEC files can be found on my 868 Mhz groundplane simulation page : [http://www.ph2lb.nl/blog/index.php?page=simulation](http://www.ph2lb.nl/blog/index.php?page=simulation) GP in Free space [image] GP 0.25m above ground [image] GP 0.5m above ground [image] GP 1m above ground [image] GP 5m above ground [image] Conclusion : GP preform better above ground and height does matter. wink Fancy 3D pictures on my [pa…](http://www.ph2lb.nl/blog/index.php?page=simulation)

From the sites I’d found, for 915MHz 7.8cm was the desired radiating antenna length. For 902.3MHz single channel devices I got 7.9cm.

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