Linksys WPC54G Version 5 Antenna Mod (In Progress)

Harpoon · 02-01-2007

Having spent the last hour looking for tutorials on how to add an external antenna to the Linksys WPC54G v5, I concluded that no-one has written one yet. So, I've come up with my own procedure, based on what people have done with the previous WPC54G versions.

Step 1: Using the instructions from this thread, I took the card apart.
Wiggling the plastic cover off was a major struggle.

Step 2: From what I can see, the WPC54G v5 has a UF/L jack, onto which I can permanently attach a pigtail.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...sion5Small.jpg

Larger image here.

I shouldn't need to desolder or cut anything as the jack should route the signal when I connect an antenna to the pigtail (or so I hope).

By the way, are UF/L, Hirose and IPAX jacks all the same thing, or are they slightly different?

Step 3: The pigtail will be secured within the card, with the jack for the external antenna neatly attached to the card.

Hopefully this will look like the finished WPC54G v2 shown in this thread.

This mod is currently in progress, as I'm waiting for my pigtail and an aerial to arrive.

wrzwaldo · 02-01-2007

Did you happen to read this thread?

Did you happen to catch the name of this forum?

Quote:

Newbie Lounge
The place to come to ask your basic NetStumbler/WiFi questions before moving on to the rest of the forum.

I applaud your enthusiasm, you may want to get a handle on how things flow around here before you become a target.

Scruge · 02-01-2007

I don't think that connector is an UFL.
Looks like it has a female center contact.

itsnotme · 02-01-2007

Wrzwaldo is right, you should have your post moved to the Hardware section. UFL, Hirose, and IPAX jacks are all different. They have different genders and different sizes.

beakmyn · 02-01-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scruge

I don't think that connector is an UFL.
Looks like it has a female center contact.

Where do you see UFL? I only see CON 1.

Barry · 02-01-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by beakmyn

Where do you see UFL? I only see CON 1.

I think he was replying to the op who mentioned ufl. Take a nap dude.

Scruge · 02-01-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by beakmyn

Where do you see UFL? I only see CON 1.

We're domed!!!

Didn't anyone get the message to Gort?

Harpoon · 02-08-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scruge

I don't think that connector is an UFL.
Looks like it has a female center contact.

Unfortunately it does...

This means that I'll have to modify the U/FL pigtail I bought, or add a central pin to the connector on the PCMCIA card.

Until then, I've stuck the aerial on my La Fonera router...

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...outerSmall.jpg

Mark57 · 02-08-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scruge

We're domed!!!

Didn't anyone get the message to Gort?

Klaatu barata nikto

itsnotme · 02-08-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harpoon

Unfortunately it does...

This means that I'll have to modify the U/FL pigtail I bought, or add a central pin to the connector on the PCMCIA card.

Until then, I've stuck the aerial on my La Fonera router...

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...outerSmall.jpg

Or you can just buy the correct pigtail? That'd be cheaper in the long run than fixing whatever you screw up.

Harpoon · 02-08-2007

True, but initial studies have just shown that 15 amp fuse wire and some conductive epoxy may be suitable for modifying the pigtail I've bought

Plus, I 've not been able to identify the connector on the PCMCIA card.

The 15 amp fuse wire and conductive epoxy should nicely cancel out any gains due to the improved aerial

EDIT: I've just tried it out, but without the conductive epoxy. I found that signal strength and the number of wifi networks shown in the wireless zero utility increased with the new aerial. I'll wait until I get some conductive epoxy and finish the card's casing before trying it again, as I don't want to damage the miniature connector on the card.

Still at least it's ended in a partial success, as opposed to a junked wifi card (which I was actually expecting to get).

Time to stick it all back together...

itsnotme · 02-08-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harpoon

True, but initial studies have just shown that 15 amp fuse wire and some conductive epoxy may be suitable for modifying the pigtail I've bought

Plus, I 've not been able to identify the connector on the PCMCIA card.

The 15 amp fuse wire and conductive epoxy should nicely cancel out any gains due to the improved aerial

EDIT: I've just tried it out, but without the conductive epoxy. I found that signal strength and the number of wifi networks shown in the wireless zero utility increased with the new aerial. I'll wait until I get some conductive epoxy and finish the card's casing before trying it again, as I don't want to damage the miniature connector on the card.

Still at least it's ended in a partial success, as opposed to a junked wifi card (which I was actually expecting to get).

Time to stick it all back together...

Do you have any idea how easy pigtails break? I'd just identify what connector it needs to be (hint, try looking up the FCC number) and just buying one.

Harpoon · 02-08-2007

Thanks, I'll take your advice. After a quick search I found that the Q87-WPC54GV5 has an M-156NB connector. Unfortunately, ready made pigtails for this type of connector seem to be scarce. I'll have to buy a M-156NB to SMA connector than get a SMA pigtail to "buffer" the force for when I screw on the external antenna.

02-01-2007	#1 (permalink)
Harpoon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4	Linksys WPC54G Version 5 Antenna Mod (In Progress) Having spent the last hour looking for tutorials on how to add an external antenna to the Linksys WPC54G v5, I concluded that no-one has written one yet. So, I've come up with my own procedure, based on what people have done with the previous WPC54G versions. Step 1: Using the instructions from this thread, I took the card apart. Wiggling the plastic cover off was a major struggle. Step 2: From what I can see, the WPC54G v5 has a UF/L jack, onto which I can permanently attach a pigtail. http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...sion5Small.jpg Larger image here. I shouldn't need to desolder or cut anything as the jack should route the signal when I connect an antenna to the pigtail (or so I hope). By the way, are UF/L, Hirose and IPAX jacks all the same thing, or are they slightly different? Step 3: The pigtail will be secured within the card, with the jack for the external antenna neatly attached to the card. Hopefully this will look like the finished WPC54G v2 shown in this thread. This mod is currently in progress, as I'm waiting for my pigtail and an aerial to arrive. Last edited by Harpoon : 02-01-2007 at 02:22 PM.

02-01-2007	#3 (permalink)
Scruge Nyuk nyuk! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: TX Posts: 1,444	I don't think that connector is an UFL. Looks like it has a female center contact. __________________ KNSGEM A wifi boundary plotter for Google Earth Click Me

02-08-2007	#11 (permalink)
Harpoon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4	True, but initial studies have just shown that 15 amp fuse wire and some conductive epoxy may be suitable for modifying the pigtail I've bought Plus, I 've not been able to identify the connector on the PCMCIA card. The 15 amp fuse wire and conductive epoxy should nicely cancel out any gains due to the improved aerial EDIT: I've just tried it out, but without the conductive epoxy. I found that signal strength and the number of wifi networks shown in the wireless zero utility increased with the new aerial. I'll wait until I get some conductive epoxy and finish the card's casing before trying it again, as I don't want to damage the miniature connector on the card. Still at least it's ended in a partial success, as opposed to a junked wifi card (which I was actually expecting to get). Time to stick it all back together... Last edited by Harpoon : 02-08-2007 at 05:36 PM.

02-08-2007	#13 (permalink)
Harpoon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4	Thanks, I'll take your advice. After a quick search I found that the Q87-WPC54GV5 has an M-156NB connector. Unfortunately, ready made pigtails for this type of connector seem to be scarce. I'll have to buy a M-156NB to SMA connector than get a SMA pigtail to "buffer" the force for when I screw on the external antenna. Last edited by Harpoon : 02-08-2007 at 09:07 PM.

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02-01-2007	#4 (permalink)
itsnotme Dumbass checker Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Somewhere below Lake Ontario Posts: 1,076	Wrzwaldo is right, you should have your post moved to the Hardware section. UFL, Hirose, and IPAX jacks are all different. They have different genders and different sizes.