HI Gain Antannas

r3g · #1 (**permalink**) 08-22-2006, 08:28 PM

1st off id like to say hi to everyone on the forum.

now, i got these 7dbi gain atannas (Linksys HGA7T) for my WRT54GS router in hopes of getting more range so i can go outside in front of my house and still get decent signal. ive had them on for a day now and they seem to have made no difference at all =/ any thoughts?

NZLamb · #2 (**permalink**) 08-23-2006, 11:16 AM

Welcome to the forum!

A couple of possible factors with your wireless setup, one is that the new antennas may not offer much gain over the stock antennas which are often rated at 5dBi. The other is that building materials such as brick and concrete will really kill reception so if this is what you are trying to punch through then such a small antenna upgrade may not cut the mustard.

One approach is to try and locate the antennas in a more practical position (e.g. near a window) using short lengths of suitable antenna cable.

r3g · #3 (**permalink**) 08-23-2006, 03:51 PM

intersting.. i knew about the building thing but i heared most wireless antannas are rated at aronund 2-3dbi, so i figured 7 would be a pretty big gain. bleh ive been searching for a few minutes and i cant find anywhere the accually strength of the stock antennas

rguimond · #4 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 03:52 PM

Remember that wireless communication is like playing catch. If I'm strong enough to throw the ball yo you but you're not strong enough to throw it all the way back, it's not much of a game, is it?

I have a powerful AP set up that my laptop will detect a mile away, but I have no hope in hell of establishing a reliable connection with it because my laptop wont transmit that far.

r3g · #5 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 09:42 PM

so its not that my router isnt puttin out its that my laptop isnt catching it.

well i had the Linksys 54G speedbooster card but after reading around the forum i learned that build it wireless on notebooks are better then the pc slot cards. maybe i got it backwards?

NZLamb · #6 (**permalink**) 08-25-2006, 04:51 AM

Often the built in cards do have better wireless performance as they use larger antennas built into the screen of the notebook, as well as often having very good RF performance from the radio itself.

Of course this doesn't mean yours necessarily will be so it might be worth testing it against the performance of the Linksys card with a program like NetStumbler to graph the signal strength and quality as you move about.