Skew Planar vs Cloverleaf – Which One is Better?

Skew planar and cloverleaf antennas are very evenly matched in some regards. However, they are not the same and offer different transmission power to your RC. That’s why these two antennas breed a confusing situation for the enthusiasts.

So what are the differences between skew planar vs cloverleaf?

Well, the skew planar has 4 lobes compared to cloverleaf antenna’s 3 lobes. They both have circular polarization but the skew planar performs better. Because of the additional lobe, the skew planar also is better at multipath rejection. However, when it comes to price, cloverleaf antennas take the lead.

Interested to know more? We’ve got your back. We have a whole comparative analysis on these two antennas.

Let’s check that out!

Skew Planar vs Cloverleaf – A Brief Comparison

The skew planar and cloverleaf antennas are technically the same antennas with some minor differences. The differences sum up mainly the number of lobes and the things that they affect. Because of this, the price is also different.

Remember that both of these antennas are 5.8 GHz antennas. So make sure to use the 5.8ghz antenna length if you are thinking of making one by yourself.

Also, keep the things in mind that hot glue may not stick with everything. Because hot glue comes in very handy when building your own antenna.

Below we have accumulated all the differences based on the important factors. This contains the differences between the skew planar antenna and the cloverleaf antenna. So let’s check it out!

That was a brief overview of the comparison. But hold on! Before making a purchase decision, you need additional information. Due to this, we have discussed each of the aspects below in great detail. To understand the broader comparison, read it through.

However, if you’re looking for an answer right now, go to the final verdict segment. 

So let’s get right to the details without further ado!

Skew Planar vs Cloverleaf – A Detailed Comparison

As you have already seen the core gist of the comparison, here we will elaborate more. This segment will cover each of the factors in detail.

Let’s get started!

Number of Lobes:

The skew planar and cloverleaf can be the same antenna if the lobes were equal. This is the first primary difference you should notice. The skew planar has 4 lobes whereas the cloverleaf has 3 lobes.

The first thing is the signal strength. The skew planar’s signal strength is better because of more lobes. Because it has one additional lobe, circular polarization is also better in it. As a result, it also performs better in multipath rejection.

Here’s a quick view of how skew planar looks like-

Remember that it doesn’t necessarily mean the cloverleaf antenna is bad. But in comparison, the skew planar will perform better. So the winner is quite clear here!

Winner: The skew planar antenna offers better construction with its 4 lobe design.

Circular Polarization:

Circular polarization is present in both types of antennae. With linear antennas, the transmitter and receiver need to be facing in the same direction. This is excellent for static applications where you can set it, such as your WiFi router.

It’s not always possible to maintain the orientations in alignment on an aircraft. Because it’s continually turning and spinning.

However, with circular polarization, the circular pattern still matches the receiver no matter what. The angle the transmitter’s antenna is pointed at doesn’t matter which results in zero losses. Thus, your photograph remains flawless at all times.

So both types of antenna have circular polarization which means it’s a draw.

Winner: Both of the antennas are equally matched.

Multipath Rejection:

Multipath rejection is another additional benefit of circular polarization. In skew planar and cloverleaf both have multipath rejection. But the skew planar offers better multipath rejection.

The reason behind it is its one extra lobe. If you are thinking about why multipath rejection is needed, then here is an explanation.

When a signal is reflected off the ground, you can get two copies of the same signal. Even though the signals are at slightly different times, it can cause interference. And with linear antennas, this typically does cause interference.

However, with circular polarization, it’s not a problem. The direction of the signal as it bounces off the ground changes. Typically it changes from clockwise to anticlockwise and vice versa. This prevents the receiver from picking up the additional bouncing signal.

So since the skew planar does this better than cloverleaf, we have a clear winner here.

Winner: Skew Planar antenna provides better rejection due to its one added lobe.

Price:

The price difference is the second most significant difference between these two antennas. The skew planar prices are around $40 whereas the cloverleaf is priced at around $25. 

Even though these two antennas are very similar in functionality, the skew planar costs quite a lot. So if the price is a concern for you then it can be a big factor in the buying decision. 

If you want to, then check out this Anbee FPV 5.8Ghz Polarized Clover Leaf Antenna! It’s actually a great affordable antenna for your daily use.

However, the skew planar also wins over cloverleaf in a few aspects. So the price can be said to be justified! 

So, if the budget is not a headache, skew planar will serve you well. Especially good products such as HobbyKing Skew Planar Wheel Antenna for 2.4GHz. You can’t really go wrong with either of them!

But do you know the most bizarre thing about these antennas? They often come in a bundle and the price point is insanely good! Take Vehicles-OCS Clover Leaf Antenna & Skew Planar for an example. You can’t really get a better deal than this.

Winner: Cloverleaf antenna wins by a large margin because of the insanely affordable price.

Which One to Choose?

So which one should you choose; Cloverleaf or Skew Planar? Actually, it depends on what you are going to use it for. Many RC enthusiasts use a combination of these two. They are argued to have the best performance while used in a combination.

The cloverleaf is usually used with a transmitter. And the skew planar is used with the receiver unit. So it all boils down to your requirement. It has a very low gain and a great radiation pattern. 

It is great for the receiving end because the reverse polarization rejection pattern is superior. It’s also more consistent in comparison to the Cloverleaf. Also, when comparing 540 with 550 motors, both of the antennas worked fine with them too. 

Now if the price is not a concern for you then go for skew planar. Because it has got better viability and increased circular polarization. The skew planar is almost always a better choice.

Now let’s move on to the FAQ segment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which antenna is easier to build between skew planar and cloverleaf?

The cloverleaf antenna is easier to build. However, it also has some downsides as we have talked about in the article. It has lower circular polarization. It’s also worse for multipath rejection. But if a cloverleaf antenna does the work for you then building it is quite simple.

How does a helical antenna work?

A helical antenna has a feeder line that connects the ground plate to a conducting wire. It connected in a twisted manner into a helical form. It is the most straightforward antenna for producing circularly polarized waves. It is utilized in extraterrestrial communications.

What is a cloverleaf antenna?

A circularly polarized wire antenna called a cloverleaf has a dipole-like radiation pattern. The highest radiation direction of the cloverleaf antenna is broadside the antenna. In the axial direction, the antenna has nulls. There are two antennae “caps” on the cloverleaf, which are close together.