Convert roof antenna to wireless antenna?

Termina · #1 (**permalink**) 08-05-2006, 04:35 AM

I have one of those old fashioned (big!) roof antennas on my building.

It'd like to convert it to the frequency needed for wireless. Two coax come down from that antenna; I plan on replacing that wiring, and hooking it up to a router in the small enclosure below the antenna itself.

Hopefully this way I can boost my signal so my friend two blocks away from me can connect.

Can anyone give me some pointers, or a good place to start?

Noodles · #2 (**permalink**) 08-05-2006, 08:09 AM

Unfortunately the roof antennas used for TV/radio aren't suitable for wireless and the coax that is running to the roof is probably very lossy when trying to run 2.4GHz/5.8GHz over it.

What I'd suggest is running some LMR400 coax cable up to the roof and attaching either a directional antenna, like a cantenna or a parabolic antenna or an omni directional antenna.

dan · #3 (**permalink**) 08-19-2006, 08:47 AM

or just go back to listening to the national program

seriously though, yer you'll need an antenna that is built for that band.

NZLamb · #4 (**permalink**) 08-20-2006, 06:18 AM

To get an idea of what an equivalent design of a standard VHF television yagi antenna looks like scaled down for wireless use, check out MicroTVAerial - Seattle Wireless