Use of external antenna

[Theo]

Does anyone on this forum already has experience with the use of another external antenna on the wl-500g?
According to http://home.wanadoo.nl/erwin.gijzen/wifiomni/ (in dutch) a homebuilt antenna can double the range of your access point.
Another question: do the standard internal and external antennes of the wl-500g have the same function?

regards,
Theo.

[xopr]

The two antenna's are used in diversity mode, as described in the Internal Photo's (http://wl500g.info/showthread.php?t=8#post5093) topic. (Basically it's only one antenna at a time)

Furthermore, I don't have experience with custom antenna's on the wl500g,
but I do have some (negative) experience with the specific antenna you linked, on a pcmcia card.
Building it comes very accurate.
Also I had negative experiences with using a small (rusted) satellite dish,
but positive effect with a pringles can, and a helix antenna. (directional)

You might want to google for zx-yagi, a dutch online store, which had/has the same type of (wardrive) antenna's as delivered with the router (only bigger/higher gain)

I wasn't educated in antenna building, so I can't give you many details, but to give you an accuracy idea: if you're only 1mm off the original size of a 1/4 lambda, then you are totally off the wifi band, and therefore you will miss extra gain.

:edit:
typo :)

[int]

how much dBI we have the antenna of wl500g?

With this antenna

Antenna OmniDirectional 2.4Ghz Wireless com conector Reverse SMA with gain of 5.5dBI with 2 meters of cable.

who many meters or % have more range? :p

The Wl mabe not suport this antenna?

[int]

I bought this antenna:

Wireless LAN 2.4GHz antenna with 5.5dBi and magnetic base

http://www.primetec.pt/loja/catalogo/images/lan-an2020.jpg

Wireless LAN 2.4GHz antenna with 5.5dBi and magnetic base

Vertical Antenna for 2.4GHz with 5.5dBi of gain. Ideal for WIFI Networks and general ISM equipment.
This antenna has a cable 2.0m long with an RP-SMA female connector.
The magnetic support allows you to attach it to a metal surface.

Characteristics:



- Frequency: 2.4GHz
- Gain: 5.5dBi
- Type of antenna: omnidirectional
- Polarization: vertical
- Range: +/-20% increase on line of site devices


Physical specifications:



- Horizontal rotation: 180º
- Vertical rotation: 90º
- Connector: RPSMA Female
- Cable length: 2m


Contents:



- Antenna
- 2m coaxial cable
- round plate + screw for wall mounting



Friday I will do the tests
Wait..

[utratama]

:(
I have plugged an external 9 dbi antenna (US Robotics) to my 500dx.
What shall I say ?
The results I got from netstumbler were worse than before ! :mad:
I tried different positions with this antenna.
If you'd asked me: be happy with your original one and if you want to get more range - try to use a range expander. But only if the problem with WDS and WPA-PSK is solved some day !


Regards,
Matthias

[int]

:(
I have plugged an external 9 dbi antenna (US Robotics) to my 500dx.


Reverse SMA antenna?

US Robotics 9dBi Directional?

[utratama]

Which means: onmni-directional with reverse sma.
And I am not happy with that.


Wireless-LAN Richtantenne – 9 dBi Gewinn USR5482

Frequenz:2,4 GHz802.11b / 802.11g•

Impedanz:50 Ohm

•
Radiation:omni-directional

•
Reverse SMA Stecker •für PCI Adapter und Gaming Adapter

für Router, Access Point, PCI Adapter und Gaming Adapter

Richtantenne Reichweite ca. 600 meter (freie sicht)

[int]

http://www.usr.com/support/5482/5482.jpg
Specifications &
Standards
􀂃 Gain: 9dBi
􀂃 Nominal Impedance: 50 Ohms
􀂃 Frequency Range: 2.4-2.5 Ghz
􀂃 VSWR: <1.5:1
􀂃 Polarization
􀂃 Vertical (60o) or horizontal (60o),
linear
􀂃 Left hand circular
􀂃 Directional antenna
􀂃 Outdoor rated
􀂃 Wall or corner mountable
􀂃 Reverse polarity SMA (female)
connector
Package Contents
􀂃 9dBi Directional Antenna
􀂃 Mounting kit
􀂃 CD ROM
􀂃 Installation Sheet (English only)
􀂃 5 foot Cable

this antenna?

[int]

9dBi with a WL500g need a Amplifiers to amplifiers because the WL dont five that power(mW) that this antenna needs..

[xopr]

wifi amplifiers are way too expensive to use.

Also I don't think you need to use one
To quote something out of an interesting wifi page from i-hacked.com (http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/133/44/) :

When using a high-gain omni antenna (8–12 dBi), the propagation angle is very flat and narrow. Placing the antenna too high will cause the main lobe to pass over the intended target antenna. The irony here is that height is required to clear obstructions, a.k.a. Line-of-Sight, from the Wireless Point of Presence (WiPoP) path to the receivers. Higher gain omni antennas have a flatter, “pancake” shape, while lower gain omni antennas tend to have a wider “donut” shaped pattern.

It may be necessary to use a unidirectional antenna and “down tilt” that concentrates the energy (signal) in a more focused area. Unidirectional antennas direct energy in one direction by radiating the entire signal in a concentrated area instead of 360 degrees like an omni. Table 10.2 lists antenna types and associated values in dBi (gain). Figures 10.2 through 10.6 are images of these antenna types.

[gwl]

9dBi with a WL500g need a Amplifiers to amplifiers because the WL dont five that power(mW) that this antenna needs..

Hey guys....
If you aren't sure about something, then don't say it!...
I sugest you read this page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antenna_(electronics)

now to get some things clear:
The antenna gain is a measurement of the GAIN the antenna is able to deliver. It "sort of" acts like a magnifying glass... also, the higher the gain, then the narrower the beam. Think of it like spraying water with a hose...

just for reference:
for each +3dB you double the power
for each +6dB you double your range (distance).

for example, in an open field, if you receive a radio signal at 150m, but not at 300m, then if you change the antenna to another with an extra 6dB of gain, you will be able to get the same signal at 300m as you did at 150. (And at 150m you will get 4x as much power as before...)

[int]

Wireless LAN 2.4GHz antenna with 5.5dBi and magnetic base

he gave some increase to me, not very, but I will make the tests when to be able...

[rexster]

i use dlink's 8db omni antena on my wl500g with great result.

i'd tried few directional/panel antenna with larger db but seem not have good result.

imho, when used indoor (with lots of obstruction) it's better using omni.

[laurosoto]

hi, i am using +8DBI directional antenna from AIRLINK101 with good coverage, from fry's store o outpost.com greetings lauro soto

[int]

With the Wireless LAN 2.4GHz antenna with 5.5dBi and magnetic base i can comunicate at 200meters in open field in the city. with a laptop with a pcmcia smc 2835w

[Tomkin]

Hi there,

its a howto in German, but the pictures show how to build a Antenna for a few Bucks. :)

I made a BI-.Quad Antenna a few Weeks ago and it works great. The Parts i had to buy wer for € 5,50. It took only 30 Minutes worktime!

I had a Notebook in the Bedroom which told me always a very poor or a poor connection with a bad Bandwith. With the homemade Bi-Quad its always a good connection and the Bandwith is great !

http://www.vallstedt-networks.de/?Fotogalerien/Quad

http://www.vallstedt-networks.de/?Fotogalerien/quad2

Found a howto in english language:

http://www.saunalahti.fi/elepal/antenna4.html

Hope its Useful !

Tomkin

[mvs0066]

Hi,

I tested both D-LINK DWL-R60AT and DWL-M60AT 6dBi interior direccional antennas along with WL-500g.

I finally choose DWL-M60AT because the antenna connecting cable allows me to move the WL-500g without screwing the antenna orientation (DWL-R60AT doesn't have a cable).

My wireless (D-LINK DWL-G520+) PC is 12m and 3 brick walls away from the router.

Wireless was dropping out and preformance was poor. Now Signal Strength is Excellent and I transfer a 791.323Kb file in 7m:54s between the wireless and a wired PC. Wireless connection has been rock solid for several days now...

Best regards,
_________________________________
Vieira da Silva
[WL-500g fw: 1.8.1.9]

[Tomkin]

Hi there,

i havent got any measurements about the Homemade antenna im using but i see what i see. From a poor connection to a good connection with the homemade thing. Who cares about gain and db counters if it works.

Just try it and have fun!