Belkin F5D7000 Extending Antenna

I have an AP installed upstairs in my network (Belkin 54g one) and I
have another PC downstairs in the conservatory with the Belkin F5D7000
PCI card.

However, in the conservatory I get a very poor signal (even though it's
almost directly below the AP!) I have a feeling it's something to do
with the wall cavity or something, as internally downstairs it works
fine.

The singal is so poor that on most occasions it just doesn't connect. I
was wondering however if it's possible to extend the antenna of the PCI
card? I can't find any 'offical Belkin' antenna extender, so is there a
thrid party one that will work?

I can't extend the AP one as they're 'hard wired' into it. Although I
did read somewhere that someone managed to do it (but voided any
warranty by doing so!).

Any help / advice on this would be most appreciated!

Thanks.

Regards,
Taz.

--
------------------------------------------------------------------
Tarique Naseem Please remove NORUBBISH
Bradford, UK before replying
icq: 1436493
------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Taz

If the AP is close to the brick wall and you're sat almost underneath it in
the conservatory, could it be that there is more brick for the signal to
pass through because of the angle? Hope that makes sense :-) Also, if
you're almost directly below the AP and the AP's antenna is vertical (making
an assumption here) then you might not be getting the best possible signal?
Have you tried angling the antenna more horizontal?

Don't know if that will be any use to you, but I know antenna alignment has
caused me trouble in the past.

Tim.

--
My real e-mail address is tim218 before the at followed by supermail.org.uk.


"Tarique Naseem" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ...
>
> I have an AP installed upstairs in my network (Belkin 54g one) and I
> have another PC downstairs in the conservatory with the Belkin F5D7000
> PCI card.
>
> However, in the conservatory I get a very poor signal (even though it's
> almost directly below the AP!) I have a feeling it's something to do
> with the wall cavity or something, as internally downstairs it works
> fine.
>
> The singal is so poor that on most occasions it just doesn't connect. I
> was wondering however if it's possible to extend the antenna of the PCI
> card? I can't find any 'offical Belkin' antenna extender, so is there a
> thrid party one that will work?
>
> I can't extend the AP one as they're 'hard wired' into it. Although I
> did read somewhere that someone managed to do it (but voided any
> warranty by doing so!).
>
> Any help / advice on this would be most appreciated!
>
> Thanks.
>
> Regards,
> Taz.
>
> --
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> Tarique Naseem Please remove NORUBBISH
> Bradford, UK before replying
> icq: 1436493
> ------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes it makes sense. And you're right on on all accounts. You're not
spying on me are you?

The PC downstairs is right up against the wall, so the signal will be
going through more of the brick wall.

I'll try playing with the antenna and see how that helps. Never thought
of that actually. I was always under the impression (from the Belkin
manuals mainly) that the antenna had to point upwards!

Will post back how I get on, not that anyone's interested really...

Cheers,
Taz

In article <3fb93169$0$110$(E-Mail Removed)>,
(E-Mail Removed)lid says...
> Hi Taz
>
> If the AP is close to the brick wall and you're sat almost underneath it in
> the conservatory, could it be that there is more brick for the signal to
> pass through because of the angle? Hope that makes sense :-) Also, if
> you're almost directly below the AP and the AP's antenna is vertical (making
> an assumption here) then you might not be getting the best possible signal?
> Have you tried angling the antenna more horizontal?
>
> Don't know if that will be any use to you, but I know antenna alignment has
> caused me trouble in the past.
>
> Tim.

Well, bugger my shoes. It worked.

I set the antenna on the PCI card to horizontal and also the ones on the
AP. Now, although my signal strength is still not brilliant, I'm now
getting a steady connection (around 18Mb). No disconnects.

Also your theory about the wall seems to be correct. If I move the PC
away from the wall (ie. it's actually further away from the AP) the
signal strength goes up!

So, many thanks for that! You learn something new every day.

Cheers,
Taz.

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
(E-Mail Removed) says...
>
> Yes it makes sense. And you're right on on all accounts. You're not
> spying on me are you?
>
> The PC downstairs is right up against the wall, so the signal will be
> going through more of the brick wall.
>
> I'll try playing with the antenna and see how that helps. Never thought
> of that actually. I was always under the impression (from the Belkin
> manuals mainly) that the antenna had to point upwards!
>
> Will post back how I get on, not that anyone's interested really...
>
> Cheers,
> Taz
>
> In article <3fb93169$0$110$(E-Mail Removed)>,
> (E-Mail Removed)lid says...
> > Hi Taz
> >
> > If the AP is close to the brick wall and you're sat almost underneath it in
> > the conservatory, could it be that there is more brick for the signal to
> > pass through because of the angle? Hope that makes sense :-) Also, if
> > you're almost directly below the AP and the AP's antenna is vertical (making
> > an assumption here) then you might not be getting the best possible signal?
> > Have you tried angling the antenna more horizontal?
> >
> > Don't know if that will be any use to you, but I know antenna alignment has
> > caused me trouble in the past.
> >
> > Tim.
>

Hi Taz

Glad to help you. In the short time I've been working with wireless LANs
it's become very obvious very quickly just how frustrating they can be.

I can pack up my surveillance van and head home now :-)

All the best

Tim.

--
My real e-mail address is tim218 before the at followed by supermail.org.uk.

"Tarique Naseem" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ...
>
> Well, bugger my shoes. It worked.
>
> I set the antenna on the PCI card to horizontal and also the ones on the
> AP. Now, although my signal strength is still not brilliant, I'm now
> getting a steady connection (around 18Mb). No disconnects.
>
> Also your theory about the wall seems to be correct. If I move the PC
> away from the wall (ie. it's actually further away from the AP) the
> signal strength goes up!
>
> So, many thanks for that! You learn something new every day.
>
> Cheers,
> Taz.
>
> In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
> (E-Mail Removed) says...
> >
> > Yes it makes sense. And you're right on on all accounts. You're not
> > spying on me are you?
> >
> > The PC downstairs is right up against the wall, so the signal will be
> > going through more of the brick wall.
> >
> > I'll try playing with the antenna and see how that helps. Never thought
> > of that actually. I was always under the impression (from the Belkin
> > manuals mainly) that the antenna had to point upwards!
> >
> > Will post back how I get on, not that anyone's interested really...
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Taz
> >
> > In article <3fb93169$0$110$(E-Mail Removed)>,
> > (E-Mail Removed)lid says...
> > > Hi Taz
> > >
> > > If the AP is close to the brick wall and you're sat almost underneath
it in
> > > the conservatory, could it be that there is more brick for the signal
to
> > > pass through because of the angle? Hope that makes sense :-) Also,
if
> > > you're almost directly below the AP and the AP's antenna is vertical
(making
> > > an assumption here) then you might not be getting the best possible
signal?
> > > Have you tried angling the antenna more horizontal?
> > >
> > > Don't know if that will be any use to you, but I know antenna
alignment has
> > > caused me trouble in the past.
> > >
> > > Tim.
> >