linksys wusb11 antenna improving?

Aladdin_Sane · 08-28-2002

I've got the linksys wusb11 v2.5 which works fine with the latest net stumbler. Unfortunately, it's range is about 150' and it picks up weak signals when wardriving.

If your familiar with this device, it comes on a typical 3' cable with a 2x4" plastic box, with a small plastic antenna which folds out vertically to 4".

Anyone have any ideas on how to modify this device, externally, to improve the range of the antenna.

Unlike the orinoco, there is not plug for an external antenna. Ideas?

Thorn · 08-28-2002

If you open it up there's a small connector on the RF final, similar, but not quite the same as the ORiNOCO connector. I haven't figured out what it is yet (but I haven't been trying too hard...) If you remove the external antenna, and run the pigtail out the hole left by the antenna, it should work.

Aladdin_Sane · 08-29-2002

...interesting comment from linksys tech support when I posed question to them...I wonder if I should bear the wrath of the linksys police and break the "warning warranty void seal if broken"...

Thank you for contacting Linksys Customer Support.

No that is not possible and modifying the antenna will void the waranty of
your WUSB11. Keep it away from large metal objects like filing cabinets and
away from operating microwave ovens or 2.4GHz cordless phones. There are
interferences to observe in wireless networking. Leaded glass, metal,
reinforced concrete floors and walls may inhibit the signal and reduce
range. Start with your wireless access point and your wireless PC or Laptop
in the same room and move away in small increments to determine the maximum
range in your environment.
Once the units are further than 10 feet apart, the antenna signals will
reflect off of walls, tables, and people, thus changing signal polarization.
Outdoor polarization has an even greater effect. If there aren't any objects
in the path of the two radio cards, or there are not any nearby trees or
structures, the two radios should be on different planes to achieve the best
range and to minimize packet error rate.
Placement of the card is important. If one computer is buried under a desk,
loss will occur. If inside of a car, glass and metal will cause degradation.
Some examples below offer some effective losses (consider as relative
percentages) ... even moisture hurts.

If you have further questions, please contact us at (800) 326-7114 or send
us an email at support@linksys.com so that we may further assist you.
Please use this phone number given as reference for future support calls.

Novilio · 09-30-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by Thorn
If you open it up there's a small connector on the RF final, similar, but not quite the same as the ORiNOCO connector. I haven't figured out what it is yet (but I haven't been trying too hard...) If you remove the external antenna, and run the pigtail out the hole left by the antenna, it should work.

I read on the Web that the connector on v2.5 is an MMCX, like the dual connectors used by the Aironet 350 PCMCIA card:

http://lists.bawug.org/pipermail/wir...il/006275.html

One interesting thing is that the version 2.6 unit I just got bears no resemblance to pictures of the WUSB11 I had previously seen on the Web:

http://www.kcip.com/wireless/wusb11.html

It comes with what sure looks like a USB crossover cable, which is something I've never seen before.

Finally, it appears that the latest units (v2.6) no longer have the mmcx connector.:

http://www.seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/RoofTopAdHoc

That, of course, is the one I have, so I guess you have to be careful what model you buy.

--73--

--Novilio

08-28-2002	#1 (permalink)
Aladdin_Sane Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 9	linksys wusb11 antenna improving? I've got the linksys wusb11 v2.5 which works fine with the latest net stumbler. Unfortunately, it's range is about 150' and it picks up weak signals when wardriving. If your familiar with this device, it comes on a typical 3' cable with a 2x4" plastic box, with a small plastic antenna which folds out vertically to 4". Anyone have any ideas on how to modify this device, externally, to improve the range of the antenna. Unlike the orinoco, there is not plug for an external antenna. Ideas?

08-28-2002	#2 (permalink)
Thorn Did you do the math? Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Villa Straylight Posts: 10,096	If you open it up there's a small connector on the RF final, similar, but not quite the same as the ORiNOCO connector. I haven't figured out what it is yet (but I haven't been trying too hard...) If you remove the external antenna, and run the pigtail out the hole left by the antenna, it should work. __________________ Thorn "I'm The Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I am from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old and I am the man who is going to save your lives and all 6 billion people on the planet below... You got a problem with that?"

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08-29-2002	#3 (permalink)
Aladdin_Sane Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 9	...interesting comment from linksys tech support when I posed question to them...I wonder if I should bear the wrath of the linksys police and break the "warning warranty void seal if broken"... Thank you for contacting Linksys Customer Support. No that is not possible and modifying the antenna will void the waranty of your WUSB11. Keep it away from large metal objects like filing cabinets and away from operating microwave ovens or 2.4GHz cordless phones. There are interferences to observe in wireless networking. Leaded glass, metal, reinforced concrete floors and walls may inhibit the signal and reduce range. Start with your wireless access point and your wireless PC or Laptop in the same room and move away in small increments to determine the maximum range in your environment. Once the units are further than 10 feet apart, the antenna signals will reflect off of walls, tables, and people, thus changing signal polarization. Outdoor polarization has an even greater effect. If there aren't any objects in the path of the two radio cards, or there are not any nearby trees or structures, the two radios should be on different planes to achieve the best range and to minimize packet error rate. Placement of the card is important. If one computer is buried under a desk, loss will occur. If inside of a car, glass and metal will cause degradation. Some examples below offer some effective losses (consider as relative percentages) ... even moisture hurts. If you have further questions, please contact us at (800) 326-7114 or send us an email at support@linksys.com so that we may further assist you. Please use this phone number given as reference for future support calls.