Antenna: Penta-Band vs. Quad-Band

[marefin]

Can anyone explain the difference between a Penta-Band antenna and a Quad-Band antenna?

 

[xmastree]

Guessing here, but I know some stuff about radio so...

An antenna has to be a particular size so that it resonates at the desired frequency. The size is related to the wavelength of the radio signal it's designed for.
Higher frequency = shorter wavelength = smaller antenna.

A quad band one will work at four different frequencies.
So presumably a penta band one will work at five.

73 G6PSK

 

[marefin]

So is one particularly better than the other?

 

[aci78]

Guessing here, but I know some stuff about radio so...

An antenna has to be a particular size so that it resonates at the desired frequency. The size is related to the wavelength of the radio signal it's designed for.
Higher frequency = shorter wavelength = smaller antenna.

A quad band one will work at four different frequencies.
So presumably a penta band one will work at five.

73 G6PSK

Good guess. Is penta-band better? Depends on whether you'll be travelling to asian countries where the 5th band, 800 mhz, is used. One phone I read about (a nokia) actually had a wcdma band as well. Now that would be cool.