What Is a Rubber Duck Antenna?
A rubber duck antenna is a variation of the whip antenna, characterized by its rubber or plastic construction.
It operates on the quarter-wave principle, meaning its length corresponds to a quarter of the wavelength of the utilized radio waves. Comprising metal conductors, it supports the emission and reception of radio signals. This antenna type is common in devices like mobile phones, wireless LAN routers, IoT devices, and vehicles, facilitating communication and data transmission. The process involves transmitting current from the device’s circuit board to emit radio waves, and upon reception, transforming these waves back into electrical current for the circuit board.
The rubber duck antenna is noted for its compact size, lightweight, flexibility, and affordability, while providing omnidirectional reception, making it capable of transmitting and receiving signals in all directions.