I’ve run into some debate on the floor about which of the two flavors of XBee antenna gives the most range: Whip (left) or chip (right)?
I can’t get a straight answer from the floor, but science delivers thanks to MaxStream’s research on the issue. Turns out the antenna type only makes a difference for long-range outdoor applications:
XBee Antenna Performance
| Antenna | Outdoor (ft.) | Indoor (ft.) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| XBee | Chip | 470 | 80 |
| Whip | 845 | 80 | |
| XBee-PRO | Chip | 1690 | 140 |
| Whip | 4382 | 140 |
(Source: Page 3 of Application Note XST-AN019a.)
Photos: Whaleforset, Blankdots