[SATLUG] Linksys Wireless Router Antenna

[Lincoln]

Do you need more range/power?  Are you getting less bandwidth/signal quality in further parts of your house/business?  If so, this antenna might help.  It is not difficult to get that kind of gain in an omnidirectional antenna... you are just squashing the toroid (donut shape) that extends out around the vertical axis... quite likely a colinear antenna in this case.

If you do use such an antenna, keep in mind a couple of things:  Your antenna's "cone of silence" will be bigger, so if you are in a multiple-story building, you will find a bigger dead spot above and below and will get less bandwidth/signal quality if you get too close to that cone (above or below).  Probably not an issue, though.  But, you will also increase the antenna's range for not only yourself, but anyone who might try to use your wireless network too (intentional or otherwise).

Radioshack is not the only one selling these (i.e. <http://www.fab-corp.com/> ) ...just make sure you get an antenna with the correct connector (there are too many out there to describe here...).

-Lincoln

(BTW, I prefer top-posting ... a lot less scrolling... I get right to the message right away, especially after having read the previous posts already.  Of all the groups I have been in, this is the first one I have heard someone pitch a fit over it)

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Pearson <rdpearson@sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Nov 2, 2003 9:05 PM

Anybody know if this is true?

FYI... from www.technologyinvestor.com for Friday October 31, 2003

Reviewer's comments

"The greatest gadget: Radio Shack's $30 Range-Extender Antenna really
extends the range of a Linksys Wireless router."
"I tested it. It works. You simply unscrew the antennas (antennae?) you have
at present and screw these taller ones in."
"According to the technical blurb, "these 5.5dBi-gain 2.4GHz Router
Range-Extender Antennae are used to extend the"
"range of indoor access points or client bridges in 2.4GHz wireless LAN
environments. Most standard antennas supplied"
"with indoor equipment are only 2.2dBi gain! The 5.5dBi significantly
increases the signal strength to give more range."
"The antenna features a 360° horizontal transmission pattern and a 50°
vertical transmission pattern." I tested them by"
"putting a laptop in another room, turning on its wireless card. When I
screwed into the new antennas, I got a much stronger signal."