SMALL AND MEDIUM YACHTS
Boat Antenna: Marine 4G/5G Antennas for Small and Medium Yachts
On small and medium yachts, the right boat antenna is chosen according to the router's antenna port count, the need for Wi-Fi and GNSS, and the mounting location. Poynting's compact marine antennas provide stable connectivity along the coast and in bays with 2- or 4-port routers.
Start with the Router's Antenna Port Count
A boat antenna must match the number of cellular antenna ports on the router. Small and medium yachts usually use single-modem routers with 2 or 4 ports.
2-port router · 2×2 MIMO
Compact 4G/5G routers and day trips along the coast. A 2×2 MIMO boat antenna is sufficient.
4-port router · 4×4 MIMO
4×4 MIMO 5G routers. Choose a 4×4 antenna for higher capacity and a more stable connection further from shore.
Recommended Boat Antennas for Small and Medium Yachts
The four models cover different needs depending on the size of the yacht and the router in use. All models are omni-directional, so they see the surrounding base stations regardless of heading.
OMNI-402
- Frequency410–4200 MHz
- Gain5.8 dBi (LTE)
- MIMO2×2
- PatternOmni
OMNI-414
- Frequency617–3800 MHz
- Gain4 dBi (LTE)
- MIMO4×4
- PatternOmni
SWIRL-4
- Frequency617–6000 MHz
- Gain6 dBi (peak)
- Cellular4×4 MIMO
- Extra portsWi-Fi · 1× GNSS
SWIRL-4-CPE
- Frequency617–6000 MHz
- Gain6 dBi (peak)
- Cellular4×4 MIMO
- RouterInside the antenna
Which Boat Antenna Is Right for You?
Day trips and coastal cruising
A low-cost, easy-to-install solution for small boats with a compact 2-port router, used in marinas and bays.
OMNI-402Yachts with a 4×4 MIMO 5G router
To use the capacity advantage of a 4-port router and keep the connection as you move further from shore.
OMNI-414Cellular, Wi-Fi and GNSS in one antenna
When connecting to marina Wi-Fi and position data are also needed; reduces the number of separate antennas on deck.
SWIRL-4Eliminating cable loss
The router is placed inside the antenna housing and only an Ethernet / PoE cable runs into the boat. As SIM access is limited, eSIM or remote SIM management is recommended.
SWIRL-4-CPEBoat Antenna Comparison
| Model | Frequency | Gain | Cellular MIMO | Wi-Fi / GNSS | Router |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OMNI-402 | 410–4200 MHz | 5.8 dBi | 2×2 | – | External |
| OMNI-414 | 617–3800 MHz | 4 dBi | 4×4 | – | External |
| SWIRL-4 | 617–6000 MHz | 6 dBi (peak) | 4×4 | Yes | External |
| SWIRL-4-CPE | 617–6000 MHz | 6 dBi (peak) | 4×4 | Yes | Inside the antenna |
Antenna Installation on Small Boats
- Mount the boat antenna at the highest and most open point possible, away from metal structures and the radar beam.
- Keep the coaxial cable short and use low-loss cable; losses rise quickly in 5G bands.
- Leave adequate separation from VHF and other RF antennas.
- Protect connectors against salt water with self-amalgamating sealing tape.
- A lightning arrestor on the antenna line is recommended.
- More details: marine antenna installation · lightning protection for boats · signal range at sea
For Larger Yachts
As the length of the yacht and the number of users increase, multi-port antennas and dual-modem routers come to the fore. For all applications, see the marine antenna selection guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boat Antennas
Does a small boat need a 4×4 antenna?
Will a boat antenna also boost my mobile phone signal?
What is the difference between SWIRL-4 and SWIRL-4-CPE?
How far from shore does a boat antenna work?
Let's choose the right antenna for your boat
Share your boat length, router model and cruising area, and we will define the boat antenna and system architecture for you.