is this antenna good?

gabe · 02-06-2004

hey, i'm pretty new to all this, finally got my dell truemobile 1150 the other day, and i made a few runs and ive decided i need an antenna. ive been looking at fab-corp.com and found this:

5.5 dBi Magnetic Mount Antenna with MC for ORiNOCO

This is a perfect answer for getting signal outside of your vehicle!

The 5.5dB model is black in color with an integral Magnetic Base. It is compact and lightweight. It comes with 5 feet of RG174 cable with MC connector.

* Gain 5.5 dB before cable loss.
* 6 Inches Tall

its only $15, and it seems like a really good deal. can anyone vouch for this antenna? i dont want to buy a piece of shit. also, will i have to buy a pigtail seperately to hook up to my card? any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks

Eyecannon · 02-06-2004

I believe that that particular antenna blows, and I also believe you didn't

because there's 23048972304 threads on the fab-corp antennas.

Madhadder · 02-06-2004

If memory serves me right, these Antt. have some probs.
A Fab-Corp, have stated that they only carry them cause people
ask them to. Last I heard they failed Fab-corps QC.

Most people get this Antt. and say it really kicks ass. Granted it's
a bit more $$$ (You get what you pay for)

King_Ice_Flash · 02-06-2004

Gabe, the antenna you are looking at uses very high loss pigtail cable for the entire antenna cable. You want to get the antenna that Madhadder posted and a pigtail adaptor to your card. Note the difference in the cable between the two. It will cost you about 60 bucks more, but you get what you pay for.

gabe · 02-06-2004

yeah, i was thinking about getting that atenna and then i saw the cheap one.. but thank you for answering my question, ill buy the other one when i have the money.. or gps... *sigh* decisions decisions

ThreePts · 02-06-2004

To counter what others are saying, I have had great performance with this antenna. I have extended and boosted my signal signficantly with my own tests. Now maybe its just because the enterasys antenna is cruddy but ive got my $23 worth out of it and possibly more.

cst · 02-06-2004

The good 5.5 dB gain Fab-Corp magnetic antenna uses LMR-240, which has a loss of 0.14 dB per foot. Since its cable is 9 feet long, cable losses will be about 1.3 DB.

The cheap antenna has 5 feet of RG-174, which if good quality cable will have a loss of 0.4 dB per foot for a total cable loss of 2 dB

Maybe the RG-174 on the cheap antenna is really low grade stuff and has higher losses than the Belden RG-174, I don't know. But a difference of less than 1 dB in cable losses is not a really big deal.

There are no doubt differences in the more expensive antenna that make it worth the extra dough in the long run, but if someone just wants to hack about a bit that cheap antenna might be fine for a while.

ve2vfd · 02-14-2004

I use that cheapie antenna and will admit I am happy with it. I leave it on my work vehicle anyways.

No it's not great, but for what I do (and the budget I am willing to lay on wardriving, some of us have kids to feed!) it's adequate.

Besides all my other antennas are homebrewed... made a few nice ones, I'll post pics of them one of these days...

Pat

WhiteFish · 02-14-2004

I've used the cheapy 5.5 dbi that you are using and found it to be of little value over the NIC itself. The problem is the crappy RG174 cable, the loss is so great that the antenna becomes useless. I am currently using the Fab-Corp Mobile Mark 5.5 dbi omni and it rocks.

My .02 worth.

eldarstorm · 02-15-2004

Is it possible to change out the cableing then if that is what is causing the signal degridation?

Madhadder · 02-15-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by eldarstorm
Is it possible to change out the cableing then if that is what is causing the signal degridation?

It might be possible, but it also might totally F-up your Antt. (signal wise)

wrzwaldo · 02-15-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by eldarstorm
Is it possible to change out the cableing then if that is what is causing the signal degridation?

Well, we have put people on the moon so I guess your cable/ant solution is possible. Are you any good at RF cable assembly?

ve2vfd · 02-15-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by eldarstorm
Is it possible to change out the cableing then if that is what is causing the signal degridation?

It would be a lot easier to homebrew a new antenna from scratch by reproducing the one you got at hand than changing the cable in an anready so-so antenna.

I already made a reproduction of the fabcorp omni and it does work quite well... i just have to get a magnet for it but I am too lazy to bother

Pat

WhiteFish · 02-15-2004

Spend the money on the Fab-Corp, don't be a partial <grin> dumbass like I was and try and cheap it up.

I have the crappy little unit in my garage, looks cool sitting on a shelf. Great little discussion piece when friends come over...

02-06-2004	#1 (permalink)
gabe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 15	is this antenna good? hey, i'm pretty new to all this, finally got my dell truemobile 1150 the other day, and i made a few runs and ive decided i need an antenna. ive been looking at fab-corp.com and found this: 5.5 dBi Magnetic Mount Antenna with MC for ORiNOCO This is a perfect answer for getting signal outside of your vehicle! The 5.5dB model is black in color with an integral Magnetic Base. It is compact and lightweight. It comes with 5 feet of RG174 cable with MC connector. * Gain 5.5 dB before cable loss. * 6 Inches Tall its only $15, and it seems like a really good deal. can anyone vouch for this antenna? i dont want to buy a piece of shit. also, will i have to buy a pigtail seperately to hook up to my card? any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks __________________ -Gabe

02-06-2004	#2 (permalink)
Eyecannon Ward River Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Santa Monix Posts: 679	I believe that that particular antenna blows, and I also believe you didn't because there's 23048972304 threads on the fab-corp antennas. __________________ No, officer, YOU are under arrest! http://eyecannon.com/wardrive.html

02-06-2004	#4 (permalink)
King_Ice_Flash Alien Paranoid Stumbler Join Date: May 2003 Location: WI Posts: 2,688	Gabe, the antenna you are looking at uses very high loss pigtail cable for the entire antenna cable. You want to get the antenna that Madhadder posted and a pigtail adaptor to your card. Note the difference in the cable between the two. It will cost you about 60 bucks more, but you get what you pay for. __________________ "Yeah," said a voice from under the table, "you go to pieces so fast people get hit by the shrapnel."

02-06-2004	#5 (permalink)
gabe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 15	yeah, i was thinking about getting that atenna and then i saw the cheap one.. but thank you for answering my question, ill buy the other one when i have the money.. or gps... sigh decisions decisions __________________ -Gabe

02-14-2004	#9 (permalink)
WhiteFish Stumblin Bumblin Rumblin Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 49	I've used the cheapy 5.5 dbi that you are using and found it to be of little value over the NIC itself. The problem is the crappy RG174 cable, the loss is so great that the antenna becomes useless. I am currently using the Fab-Corp Mobile Mark 5.5 dbi omni and it rocks. My .02 worth. __________________ All those who believe in psychokinesis raise my hand.

02-06-2004	#6 (permalink)
ThreePts Desert Stumbler Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 136	To counter what others are saying, I have had great performance with this antenna. I have extended and boosted my signal signficantly with my own tests. Now maybe its just because the enterasys antenna is cruddy but ive got my $23 worth out of it and possibly more.

02-06-2004	#7 (permalink)
cst Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 28	The good 5.5 dB gain Fab-Corp magnetic antenna uses LMR-240, which has a loss of 0.14 dB per foot. Since its cable is 9 feet long, cable losses will be about 1.3 DB. The cheap antenna has 5 feet of RG-174, which if good quality cable will have a loss of 0.4 dB per foot for a total cable loss of 2 dB Maybe the RG-174 on the cheap antenna is really low grade stuff and has higher losses than the Belden RG-174, I don't know. But a difference of less than 1 dB in cable losses is not a really big deal. There are no doubt differences in the more expensive antenna that make it worth the extra dough in the long run, but if someone just wants to hack about a bit that cheap antenna might be fine for a while.

02-14-2004	#8 (permalink)
ve2vfd Silly Stumbler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 23	I use that cheapie antenna and will admit I am happy with it. I leave it on my work vehicle anyways. No it's not great, but for what I do (and the budget I am willing to lay on wardriving, some of us have kids to feed!) it's adequate. Besides all my other antennas are homebrewed... made a few nice ones, I'll post pics of them one of these days... Pat

02-15-2004	#10 (permalink)
eldarstorm Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 9	Is it possible to change out the cableing then if that is what is causing the signal degridation?

02-15-2004	#14 (permalink)
WhiteFish Stumblin Bumblin Rumblin Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 49	Spend the money on the Fab-Corp, don't be a partial <grin> dumbass like I was and try and cheap it up. I have the crappy little unit in my garage, looks cool sitting on a shelf. Great little discussion piece when friends come over... __________________ All those who believe in psychokinesis raise my hand.

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