WiFi/Bluetooth sharing a single antenna?

**Wilco** · 08-24-2011, 01:12 PM

Are there any ramifications to using the same physical antenna for both Bluetooth and WiFi simultaneously? Since they're both operating within the same frequency band, compatibility should n't be a concern. I'm guessing a passive antenna used for receiving data could be wired to multiple things, but since WiFi and Bluetooth both broadcast data, I'm wondering if that would complicate things. Is this the case? If so, are the consequences severe (could I damage the WiFi or BT radios) or would it be a mainly an issue of reduced performance/signal quality?

**SNOtwistR** · 08-24-2011, 01:35 PM

Not sure if its any help but i have a mini pci-e wifi and bluetooth combo card that uses the same antenna's for both SNO

**Wilco** · 08-24-2011, 03:05 PM

So I've been spending some time on Google and from what I've found so far, it sounds like the main concern is interference. A lot of devices that use the same antenna for both tend to either both be in the same chipset (with the ability to coordinate transmissions so as not to overlap), or they have a smart splitter that takes incoming transmissions from both chips and stacks them before sending them out to the antenna.

Again, its still not clear whether two completely different radios broadcasting on the same antenna could somehow damage the other radio. The thought being that the load placed on the antenna wire during transmission from one might damage the other (which, with my limited understanding, is the only thing that comes to mind as a potential problem).