Wireless Antenna

[FrenchTVR]

Hi, can anyone recomend a good reasonnably priced antenna extension for a wireless network? I have a Netgear WGT624 super G with matching netgear cards. My PC is about 40 metres from the router in another building. By holding the PC in the window i get a signal, albeit not a very strong one. I would like to add the antenna to allow line of sight from the router.
Will this help with my connection problems?

Thanks in advance,

Mick

[trevorw]

You could try here

www.broadbandstuff.co.uk/index.php?cPath=26_97

[bogie]

just bear in mind that its a 2 way conversation - upping the gain on the router antenna will up the receive sensitivity a little too - however youve still got the same antenna on the other end

Unfortunately that router dosent support repeater mode, so the best (and more reliable method) would be to use a pair of access points in repeater mode...diasble the radio on the router, plug and AP in the back, and then put another one about 1/2 way in repeater mode - a pair of Netgear WG602v2s would do the job.

If you buy a high gain antenna and just stick it on one end, you may be disappointed with the results

[FrenchTVR]

Thanks lads, did a little experiment where i held my PC (full tower case server m/c) up to the window so the antenna on my PCI card had clear line of sight to the router. Bingo, connected straight away, admittedly only at about 10 or 11 mbps from a super G 108 system, but hey ho.

So i'm looking at just using an extension cable with possibly an outdoor aerial to get the aerial outside with good line of sight.

Had also looked at the Netgear 24D18 exterior antenna thingy, but was worried about the cost compared to the possible results/gain. Seems to be waht you were saying Mark

I can't put any repeaters halfway as the neighbours would object to my PC kit in their gardens

Can't get over the cost of the cable extensions either I looked and found the terminals on Maplins for about £2.50 each, just the cost of the crimpers. Still can't see how companies are justifying £43 for a 3m cable.

Thanks again for the advice, will try a cable extension to the antenna and let you know how i get on.

[softwaresorcerer]

Take a look at this site:

www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/

...and try a couple of sieves or similar. Don't laugh, this is for real - it's how the sensor on satellite tv manages to resolve a tiny signal into a useful tv picture, although to be fair, the content is still usually rubbish

With a small amount of playing, using items I found in the kitchen at home, I was able to extend signal range dramatically. Of course, you look a complete fool walking around with a sieve strapped to an ipaq, but within the confines of my own gardens/woods, who cares?

For fixed line-of-sight, point to point, it sounds like you could easily install something and have decent connection speeds.

[vex]

Fantastic.

If you ever needed to define Geek, point them to that site.

From an engineering point it does work and is a great shrt term / domectic fix.

[FrenchTVR]

excellent site, just need to get my antenna to a position where i can use a dish. We have an old satellite dish on the wall right by my office so i may well utilise that and see how it works. Got to be better than just the 6inch prong i have at the moment.

[bogie]

ah - yes - if you have good LOS then an antenna will help more...didnt realise you were using a PCI card that has its antenna on the back of the PC

thought about changing the adaptor? Netgear WAG311 has an extension lead and external antenna with it already - so you could have PC on the floor and antenna on window sill etc .

Dont waste your dosh on a £100 antenna, cables etc - some good home made solutions out there - as per site mentioned above.

[andygo]

I have an issue with my dlink pcmcia wireless cards. Used to work fine in the modern house we lived in even worked in the gartden. Now we live in an 'old' house, the range between rooms is a bit naff, resulting in low/no connection speeds.

The main access is thru the dlink access point unit that sits on top of my main tower unit. How do I improve it's send/recieve strength?

[GreenV8S]

Have you considered using a USB WiFi adapter on the PC with a USB flying lead to position it in line of sight?

[FrenchTVR]

Ironically I was just about to ask if anyone had any recomendations for the very same item. My router and the pcmcia card in the laptop are both Netgear, so I was considering the WG111 usb adaptor.
Does anyone have experience of this adaptor or can recomend a better one. I would like to keep at least 54Mbps, unfortunately the Netgear WG111t 108Mbps doesn't come out until December.

Cheers,

Mick

[GreenV8S]

Working on the theory that its sensible to stick to the same brand adapter and access point if possible, I bought a 3Com access point, USB adapter ad PCMCIA adapter. The adapters worked fine, however the access point was rubbish so I eventually replaced it with a cheaper Belkin one which seems fine.

[bogie]

WG111 is great, and also comes with a fly lead.

I tend not to recommend the PCI cards much at all now that USB has caught up on speed