What antenna & AP to buy for 600 euros?

laserite · #1 (**permalink**) 06-13-2006, 06:45 PM

Hi!

I've got 600 euros (aprox. $700) to spend for a wifi setup in a small building (there are some walls to tresspass), so I have to buy an omnidirectional antenna, an AP and the cable (anything else?). Initially I thought of buying the following:

http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WG302.php
http://www.netgear.com/products/details/ANT2409.php
http://www.netgear.com/products/deta...nna_Cables.php (10m model)

What are your recommendations?

NZLamb · #2 (**permalink**) 06-13-2006, 09:19 PM

Looks fine, although the 10m cable states a 7dB loss which is very siginificant. In fact it would reduce the performance of the higher gain antenna to less than that of the of the standard antenna.

If you want to attach an external antenna, keep those cable runs short (1m maximum with the type of cable on that site). You might get better results with two access points spread accross the building and retaining the standard antennas, provided network cabling isn't a problem.

The access point specs look pretty decent for a SOHO product so a good choice there.

laserite · #3 (**permalink**) 06-13-2006, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NZLamb

Looks fine, although the 10m cable states a 7dB loss which is very siginificant. In fact it would reduce the performance of the higher gain antenna to less than that of the of the standard antenna.

If you want to attach an external antenna, keep those cable runs short (1m maximum with the type of cable on that site). You might get better results with two access points spread accross the building and retaining the standard antennas, provided network cabling isn't a problem.

Hmmm I see, I chose that cable following EU requirements, regarding this page:

http://www.netgear.com/products/eu_antennas.php

However, I might break the law this time

NZLamb · #4 (**permalink**) 06-14-2006, 01:07 AM

Given those details I really think you would be better to stick with the default antennas; given Netgear's specs that works out at 300mW EIRP which is in theory over your limit anyway. That's also pretty impressive for a SOHO access point straight out of the box. I'm not up with the regs in the EU but if Netgear can sell the device in that configuration it must be compliant.

If you find coverage isn't quite what you need with the one AP, buy another one for roaming coverage with the money you save from the antenna and cable. You get the added advantages of proper diversity reception for each AP, you don't have all that cable eating up your receive performance (very important!) plus the APs can share some of the load to improve network performance.