so I get a high dbi antenna for long range in a high place, but also a low dbi one to service everyone in the area? or that’s too much and not needed?
Wouldn’t the higher antenna also service the local area?
that’s the idea, but those boards can’t handle dual antennas (i think they can’t, the peak of my skills is being able to spell meshtastic)
Why do you need a lower antenna at all?
Nope. Or rather, you can, but it won’t work like you think it will, and at the very least will result in overall poor performance and at worst may damage the device.
I think the fundamental problem here is the term “gain.” Antennas don’t have actual gain, they merely sacrifice radiation in some directions to provide more radiation in others. You don’t magically get more radiated energy by adding antennas, regardless of their published gain figures.