Conceptual question about Wi-Fi antenna ranges

[tony1grendel]

How can my cell phone WiFi antenna reach my far-away router with a small antenna but the router needs a large antenna to reach the same distance?

Do the Wi-Fi/radio signals from my cell phone antenna have to reach my Wi-Fi router to connect to it or do the radio signals have to meet in the middle?

Does this mean there are different Wi-Fi ranges (standards?) for transmitting and receiving?

 

[Okefenokee]

The router simply has more Wifi range than your cell phone. I think you will find that other devices like laptops which have bigger Wifi modules than your cell phone will connect to your router at a greater distance.

Do the Wi-Fi/radio signals from my cell phone antenna have to reach my Wi-Fi router

yes

 

[Windadct]

The key is the effectiveness of the system (transmitter and receiver)- the router's antenna is more effective at both sending and receiving.