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Anyone have some direct experience with this?

My needs: A buddy with a standard WAP is about 1/4 to 1/3 mile from me and can use no external antenna of any kind, WAP is near window, first floor. I am on 2nd floor with windows facing his direction. Not clear line of site but not a lot of objects in the way, either. Using a Linksys WUSB11 v2.5 with no external antenna, I get a very weak signal from him. At most, 1 bar on XP's Wireless meter, and I can barely surf it with lots of packet loss as you can imagine.
So, I am going to try an external antenna setup on my end, using either the WUSB11 and or more likely a Cisco PCI-340 PCI card with a RPTNC connector.

One person has told me that a Panel antenna would work best
here. Put in in Window sill and aim it's side towards his place and I should be good to go.

Another person says that a Yagi type would be better, as it would concentrate it's direction and gain tighter.

Both antennas claim an approximate 19dbi gain.

So, what would you go with?

Anyone try either or both of these? Or another type, perhaps a grid antenna?

Thanks

Sheldon
sheldonc@dslextreme.com

A yagi, a panel and a grid are actually all highly directional antennae. They just differ in the manner in which they focus the RF energy. Any and all should work for this application.

Mainly it is a matter of aesthetics, and what will fit your area. A 19dB panel I have out in my parts area is 15" square, and is less then an inch thick. - A fairly typical size. A 19dB yagi would be about 22" long, but only about about 6"x6" at the base. A grid/design (usually 24dB) is around 24"Wx40"Hx16"D.

A 14dB panel is usually about 10" square, and might be easier to use mounted inside a window.

If you can actually get a poor signal with the little antenna on a WUSB11, then 19dB may even be overkill. You might want to consider something smaller and cheaper. Have you done the math for this?

Thanks for the info.

Overkill is ok...difference in prices is not all that great, and I really want this to work.

You're welcome.

I hear you, I just hate to see excess RF floating about. It can cause signal problems for other people who may be in line with your path.

Is the transmission as directional as the reception? Does that also apply for can and can and dish type? Wouldn't your buddy's reception play in that?

I have no idea. I guess I will be finding out, as I ordered the 19dbi panel and 10' cable.

Originally posted by rol1
Is the transmission as directional as the reception? Does that also apply for can and can and dish type?

Directionals, whether Yagi, panel, dish, or waveguides are directional for both transmit and receive. (Cans are a waveguide BTW.) Go to a antenna manufacturer's websites and look at various E and H patterns. They show the directionality of a given antenna. 3D patterns are nice too, if you can find them.

Originally posted by rol1
Wouldn't your buddy's reception play in that?

The buddy's WAP11 should see an increased signal from smcinsjc1's WUSB11 once it fitted with an external antenna.