WAP Home Antenna ?

03-26-2002

Hi, I just stumbled accross this site (no pun intended) and thought maybe someone could answer a related question!

I'm looking to improve the transmit range of my Linksys BEFW11S4. Can anyone offer any advice or sites to get some ideas?

By the way after reading a bit I think I'm going to have to try a little stumbling in the Buffalo, NY area!

03-26-2002

I have a BEFW11S4 and only 1 antenna is really pushing power. The connector is a RP-TNC (Reverse Polarity-TNC). Any antenna will do as long as your cable has the right plugs and gender.

Tron Of Borg

03-27-2002

Borg-Dude:

how were you able to test the power on those antennas?

03-27-2002

messuring gain is relative to something. usually a 1/2wave
dipole(DBd) or isotropic radiator(DBi).

to accuratly messure gain, get 3 antennas of known gain,
and compair against them. you could also make a 1/2wave
dipole and messure against that. 0 DBd = 2.15 DBi .

03-27-2002

Actually 0dbd = -2.15dbi if memory serves me correct [GRIN] I was just wondering how THE BORG got his measurements.

kd4moj

03-27-2002

Thanks for the responses. So if I understand correctly I can just use any old antenna that provides more gain than the one that came with it as long as the polarity and connectors are the same?

Any specific recomendations would be welcomed as I no nothing about this subject

I just know I need a more range!

Thanks,

Pat

03-27-2002

You can use any 50 ohm 2.4ghz antenna. You must decide on the radiation pattern you need. High gain omni's will give you a 360 degree horizontal pattern but only a few degrees in the vertical plane. (very flat doughnut shape) Directional antennas will give you anywhere from 120 degrees horiz and vert, to a very thin beam of 15 degrees horiz and vertical. (think of a directional antenna as a flashlight with a focusable beam) Keep in mind you need to increase your gain by 6db to double your range. This could be a 3db gain at both ends or 6db at one end. Every 3db more gain doubles your signal strength, but signal strength decreases by the inverse square of the distance. (twice as far away, 1/4 as much signal strength). 0dbd does equal 2.15 dbi. Same as saying a 12dbd antenna is equal to a 14.15 dbi antenna. Think about it.

03-27-2002

It is rather simple.

1. I went outside and turned my rig on. Got a base line signal strength.

2. Unscrewed 1 antenna from my WAP and screwed another antenna in that I was testing.

3. Went to van to look at the increase the new antenna gave me. It stayed the same. So, ANTENNA 1 change means NO CHANGE in SIGNAL.

4. Went to WAP, unscrewed antenna 2 and put new antenna on that port. Put old antenna 1 back on.

5. Went to van to look at the increase. Signal went DOWN. The $10 antenna sucked!

6. Put rubber-ducky antenna back on antenna 2 port and signal went back to normal.

Lessons learned: 1. Antenna port 2 is the main driving antenna. 2. $10 antenna's suck!

Tron Of Borg, dude.

03-28-2002

Your are correct outcast_one. I was sniffin' too much airwick and poppin' nodoze........ had a bad day. Spending too much time on here!

with the exception of decibel, most manufactures are using dbi in their specs 'cuz it looks more impressive than a lower dbd rating.... a shame.

kd4moj

03-28-2002

RMS and Peak-to-Peak is for (speaker) power.

dBd and RMS is what counts!

Tron Of Borg

03-29-2002

But Tron - those PMPO numbers look sooo much better

03-29-2002

LOL! For those who don't know what PMPO is it is the Peak Music Power rating of speakers. Or, the amount of power a speaker can handle at a cetain frequency at any distortion level.

Tron Of Borg

03-26-2002	#1 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	WAP Home Antenna ? Hi, I just stumbled accross this site (no pun intended) and thought maybe someone could answer a related question! I'm looking to improve the transmit range of my Linksys BEFW11S4. Can anyone offer any advice or sites to get some ideas? By the way after reading a bit I think I'm going to have to try a little stumbling in the Buffalo, NY area!

03-26-2002	#2 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	BEFW11S4 = RP-TNC I have a BEFW11S4 and only 1 antenna is really pushing power. The connector is a RP-TNC (Reverse Polarity-TNC). Any antenna will do as long as your cable has the right plugs and gender. Tron Of Borg

03-27-2002	#3 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	testing power on antenna... Borg-Dude: how were you able to test the power on those antennas?

03-27-2002	#5 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	dbi Actually 0dbd = -2.15dbi if memory serves me correct [GRIN] I was just wondering how THE BORG got his measurements. kd4moj

03-27-2002	#7 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	more gain You can use any 50 ohm 2.4ghz antenna. You must decide on the radiation pattern you need. High gain omni's will give you a 360 degree horizontal pattern but only a few degrees in the vertical plane. (very flat doughnut shape) Directional antennas will give you anywhere from 120 degrees horiz and vert, to a very thin beam of 15 degrees horiz and vertical. (think of a directional antenna as a flashlight with a focusable beam) Keep in mind you need to increase your gain by 6db to double your range. This could be a 3db gain at both ends or 6db at one end. Every 3db more gain doubles your signal strength, but signal strength decreases by the inverse square of the distance. (twice as far away, 1/4 as much signal strength). 0dbd does equal 2.15 dbi. Same as saying a 12dbd antenna is equal to a 14.15 dbi antenna. Think about it.

03-27-2002	#4 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	messuring gain is relative to something. usually a 1/2wave dipole(DBd) or isotropic radiator(DBi). to accuratly messure gain, get 3 antennas of known gain, and compair against them. you could also make a 1/2wave dipole and messure against that. 0 DBd = 2.15 DBi .

03-27-2002	#6 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	Thanks for the responses. So if I understand correctly I can just use any old antenna that provides more gain than the one that came with it as long as the polarity and connectors are the same? Any specific recomendations would be welcomed as I no nothing about this subject I just know I need a more range! Thanks, Pat

03-27-2002	#8 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	I'm guessing that I'm the BORG DUDE mentioned above. It is rather simple. 1. I went outside and turned my rig on. Got a base line signal strength. 2. Unscrewed 1 antenna from my WAP and screwed another antenna in that I was testing. 3. Went to van to look at the increase the new antenna gave me. It stayed the same. So, ANTENNA 1 change means NO CHANGE in SIGNAL. 4. Went to WAP, unscrewed antenna 2 and put new antenna on that port. Put old antenna 1 back on. 5. Went to van to look at the increase. Signal went DOWN. The $10 antenna sucked! 6. Put rubber-ducky antenna back on antenna 2 port and signal went back to normal. Lessons learned: 1. Antenna port 2 is the main driving antenna. 2. $10 antenna's suck! Tron Of Borg, dude.

03-28-2002	#9 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	dbd vs dbi Your are correct outcast_one. I was sniffin' too much airwick and poppin' nodoze........ had a bad day. Spending too much time on here! with the exception of decibel, most manufactures are using dbi in their specs 'cuz it looks more impressive than a lower dbd rating.... a shame. kd4moj

03-28-2002	#10 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	dbd and dbi is like... RMS and Peak-to-Peak is for (speaker) power. dBd and RMS is what counts! Tron Of Borg

03-29-2002	#11 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	sorry - but I couldn't resist... But Tron - those PMPO numbers look sooo much better

03-29-2002	#12 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	Couldn't Resist. LOL! For those who don't know what PMPO is it is the Peak Music Power rating of speakers. Or, the amount of power a speaker can handle at a cetain frequency at any distortion level. Tron Of Borg

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