On Mar 1, 2:50 pm, DTC <m...@nothingtoseehere.zzx> wrote:
> Opps...you want a directional antenna. Still keep the output at
> 100 Mw and use a 36 dBi antenna.
Got any links for a 36 dbi antenna? I imagine you're just passing the
legal numbers on!
Anyway, to answer the questions, many directional antennas will work
well but the question is; what is your intended use? Is it to be
mounted indoors or outdoors? Go to a dealer's site and select indoors
or outdoors and then look for a gain pattern to tell how tightly
focused the antenna is.
I imagine many people just go for the highest gain, but that could be
a mistake for many reasons. For one thing, the gain patter is grows
narrower as the gain goes up and you lose coverage and intensify
interference.
I had an application where I needed to connect to various clients
located over a 60-80 degree range horizontally and a 40 degree range
vertically. It was more important to get everybody covered than to
have the highest gain.
I settled on a small 12 dbi panel antenna with a wide 60 degree beam
width. It has served us well and even connects at longer distances
(600 meters) with line of sight.
http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/hg2412p.php
Panel antennas are commonly used and range from 12 - 19 dbi. This is
a good middle ground but again, check the pattern against your needs.
Parabolic reflectors are also commonly used. There's a nice little 14
dbi reflector antenna called a "Backfire" that comes recommended:
http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/hg2414d.php
If you need long distance (caution: 8 degree beam width is tricky to
aim - pinpoint precision), you can go with a larger, high gain
parabolic grid antenna:
http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/hg2424g.php
If you are going with interior antennas, then your options or more
limited, typically panels, which should work fine. Hawking has an
interesting corner antenna that is worth looking at. (No links.)
Whatever you choose, use low loss coax cable to connect, specifically
LMR400 for anything over 10-12 feet. Don't settle for cable over a
foot that does not have a number. Don't buy the cheap department
store (or Ebay) antennas that come with six feet of crappy cable
attached. This cable eats up most or all of the gain.
If you just need an improved directional signal inside your house,
consider putting a reflector on your stock antenna(s):
http://users.picknowl.com.au/~gloaming_agnet/ant2.html This can
really work.
Finally, you do not need two antennas, you can use one side of your
Linksys and disconnect the other, disabling it in the router
interface. I used the right side as you face the router, but may be
mistaken on that.
Cheers,
Steve
Need external antenna for WRT54GL 
Linear Mode
