Better Antenna where?

I have a linksys 54g wireless modem router and 4 PC's wirelessly netoworked
and 2 which are wired, via it.

Currently the router sits in the kitchen next to the master phone socket,
and looks lovely on the worktop (not)!

I am in the process of converting a small area of my understairs coat room
to house a small data /telecoms rackmount cabinet with the intention of
moving the router to this location and all of its associated wiring.

I have road tested the router in this position for wireless signal, and the
signal reported by the PC's drops to 'low, patchy and poor' at the best of
times.

The higher gain antenna's that are sold most people apparently strap to
their PCI cards to effect a better signal.

Does it work the other way around? Can I use (say) a 6-8db antenna strapped
to the Router to improve the signal to all the wireless PC's?

TIA

Tim..

"Tim.." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a linksys 54g wireless modem router and 4 PC's wirelessly netoworked
> and 2 which are wired, via it.
>
> Currently the router sits in the kitchen next to the master phone socket,
> and looks lovely on the worktop (not)!
>
> I am in the process of converting a small area of my understairs coat room
> to house a small data /telecoms rackmount cabinet with the intention of
> moving the router to this location and all of its associated wiring.
>
> I have road tested the router in this position for wireless signal, and
> the
> signal reported by the PC's drops to 'low, patchy and poor' at the best of
> times.
>
> The higher gain antenna's that are sold most people apparently strap to
> their PCI cards to effect a better signal.
>
> Does it work the other way around? Can I use (say) a 6-8db antenna
> strapped
> to the Router to improve the signal to all the wireless PC's?
>
> TIA
>
> Tim..
>
>
I take it you're new to the group! Have a search through previous posts and
you will see you can boost the signal with nothing more than some wire mesh
or card and tinfoil. Mount it 1.25inces from the aerial and bend it around
to form a curve so it acts as a reflector.
Try google.

"Mal" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:grIdg.832$_(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Tim.." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I have a linksys 54g wireless modem router and 4 PC's wirelessly
netoworked
> > and 2 which are wired, via it.
> >
> > Currently the router sits in the kitchen next to the master phone
socket,
> > and looks lovely on the worktop (not)!
> >
> > I am in the process of converting a small area of my understairs coat
room
> > to house a small data /telecoms rackmount cabinet with the intention of
> > moving the router to this location and all of its associated wiring.
> >
> > I have road tested the router in this position for wireless signal, and
> > the
> > signal reported by the PC's drops to 'low, patchy and poor' at the best
of
> > times.
> >
> > The higher gain antenna's that are sold most people apparently strap to
> > their PCI cards to effect a better signal.
> >
> > Does it work the other way around? Can I use (say) a 6-8db antenna
> > strapped
> > to the Router to improve the signal to all the wireless PC's?
> >
> > TIA
> >
> > Tim..
> >
> >
> I take it you're new to the group! Have a search through previous posts
and
> you will see you can boost the signal with nothing more than some wire
mesh
> or card and tinfoil. Mount it 1.25inces from the aerial and bend it
around
> to form a curve so it acts as a reflector.
> Try google.

Am not new to the group at all, and have read the wire-mesh DIY type antenna
improvement methods.

I am after a more professional solution, and as the Router will be inside a
steel data cab, I need to have a fly lead so I can mount the aerial
externally ontop of the cab...(similar to a CB aerial ontop of a car roof,
but smaller scale)

Tim..

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, Tim.. says...
>
> "Mal" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:grIdg.832$_(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> > "Tim.." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > >I have a linksys 54g wireless modem router and 4 PC's wirelessly
> netoworked
> > > and 2 which are wired, via it.
> > >
> > > Currently the router sits in the kitchen next to the master phone
> socket,
> > > and looks lovely on the worktop (not)!
> > >
> > > I am in the process of converting a small area of my understairs coat
> room
> > > to house a small data /telecoms rackmount cabinet with the intention of
> > > moving the router to this location and all of its associated wiring.
> > >
> > > I have road tested the router in this position for wireless signal, and
> > > the
> > > signal reported by the PC's drops to 'low, patchy and poor' at the best
> of
> > > times.
> > >
> > > The higher gain antenna's that are sold most people apparently strap to
> > > their PCI cards to effect a better signal.
> > >
> > > Does it work the other way around? Can I use (say) a 6-8db antenna
> > > strapped
> > > to the Router to improve the signal to all the wireless PC's?
> > >
> > > TIA
> > >
> > > Tim..
> > >
> > >
> > I take it you're new to the group! Have a search through previous posts
> and
> > you will see you can boost the signal with nothing more than some wire
> mesh
> > or card and tinfoil. Mount it 1.25inces from the aerial and bend it
> around
> > to form a curve so it acts as a reflector.
> > Try google.
>
> Am not new to the group at all, and have read the wire-mesh DIY type antenna
> improvement methods.
>
> I am after a more professional solution, and as the Router will be inside a
> steel data cab, I need to have a fly lead so I can mount the aerial
> externally ontop of the cab...(similar to a CB aerial ontop of a car roof,
> but smaller scale)
>
So let me get this right....

You want to put a RF transmitter in or near a steel cage which is going
to be great at blocking the signal if it's inside, or reflecting it
anywhere except where you want if it's outside in a location that
itself is actually quite good at blocking signals and you expect it'll
work?

<walks off shaking head>


--
Conor,
Grumpy Old Man.
Same shit, different day.

"Conor" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) t...
> In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, Tim.. says...
> >
> > "Mal" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:grIdg.832$_(E-Mail Removed)...
> > >
> > > "Tim.." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > >I have a linksys 54g wireless modem router and 4 PC's wirelessly
> > netoworked
> > > > and 2 which are wired, via it.
> > > >
> > > > Currently the router sits in the kitchen next to the master phone
> > socket,
> > > > and looks lovely on the worktop (not)!
> > > >
> > > > I am in the process of converting a small area of my understairs
coat
> > room
> > > > to house a small data /telecoms rackmount cabinet with the intention
of
> > > > moving the router to this location and all of its associated wiring.
> > > >
> > > > I have road tested the router in this position for wireless signal,
and
> > > > the
> > > > signal reported by the PC's drops to 'low, patchy and poor' at the
best
> > of
> > > > times.
> > > >
> > > > The higher gain antenna's that are sold most people apparently strap
to
> > > > their PCI cards to effect a better signal.
> > > >
> > > > Does it work the other way around? Can I use (say) a 6-8db antenna
> > > > strapped
> > > > to the Router to improve the signal to all the wireless PC's?
> > > >
> > > > TIA
> > > >
> > > > Tim..
> > > >
> > > >
> > > I take it you're new to the group! Have a search through previous
posts
> > and
> > > you will see you can boost the signal with nothing more than some wire
> > mesh
> > > or card and tinfoil. Mount it 1.25inces from the aerial and bend it
> > around
> > > to form a curve so it acts as a reflector.
> > > Try google.
> >
> > Am not new to the group at all, and have read the wire-mesh DIY type
antenna
> > improvement methods.
> >
> > I am after a more professional solution, and as the Router will be
inside a
> > steel data cab, I need to have a fly lead so I can mount the aerial
> > externally ontop of the cab...(similar to a CB aerial ontop of a car
roof,
> > but smaller scale)
> >
> So let me get this right....
>
> You want to put a RF transmitter in or near a steel cage which is going
> to be great at blocking the signal if it's inside, or reflecting it
> anywhere except where you want if it's outside in a location that
> itself is actually quite good at blocking signals and you expect it'll
> work?
>
> <walks off shaking head>

Ok, so suggest a better solution...

Tim..

"Tim.." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
[snip]
> The higher gain antenna's that are sold most people apparently strap to
> their PCI cards to effect a better signal.
>
> Does it work the other way around? Can I use (say) a 6-8db antenna
> strapped
> to the Router to improve the signal to all the wireless PC's?

Higher gain antennas concentrate the transmitted power more in some
directions at the expense of others; similarly, they are more sensitive to
signals from some directions and less from others. Have a look at the
antenna power patterns and you will see what I mean.

Alex

Could you not just add a WAP into the equation????
"Tim (remove obvious)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Conor" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) t...
>> In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, Tim.. says...
>> >
>> > "Mal" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> > news:grIdg.832$_(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > >
>> > > "Tim.." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> > > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > > >I have a linksys 54g wireless modem router and 4 PC's wirelessly
>> > netoworked
>> > > > and 2 which are wired, via it.
>> > > >
>> > > > Currently the router sits in the kitchen next to the master phone
>> > socket,
>> > > > and looks lovely on the worktop (not)!
>> > > >
>> > > > I am in the process of converting a small area of my understairs
> coat
>> > room
>> > > > to house a small data /telecoms rackmount cabinet with the
>> > > > intention
> of
>> > > > moving the router to this location and all of its associated
>> > > > wiring.
>> > > >
>> > > > I have road tested the router in this position for wireless signal,
> and
>> > > > the
>> > > > signal reported by the PC's drops to 'low, patchy and poor' at the
> best
>> > of
>> > > > times.
>> > > >
>> > > > The higher gain antenna's that are sold most people apparently
>> > > > strap
> to
>> > > > their PCI cards to effect a better signal.
>> > > >
>> > > > Does it work the other way around? Can I use (say) a 6-8db antenna
>> > > > strapped
>> > > > to the Router to improve the signal to all the wireless PC's?
>> > > >
>> > > > TIA
>> > > >
>> > > > Tim..
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > I take it you're new to the group! Have a search through previous
> posts
>> > and
>> > > you will see you can boost the signal with nothing more than some
>> > > wire
>> > mesh
>> > > or card and tinfoil. Mount it 1.25inces from the aerial and bend it
>> > around
>> > > to form a curve so it acts as a reflector.
>> > > Try google.
>> >
>> > Am not new to the group at all, and have read the wire-mesh DIY type
> antenna
>> > improvement methods.
>> >
>> > I am after a more professional solution, and as the Router will be
> inside a
>> > steel data cab, I need to have a fly lead so I can mount the aerial
>> > externally ontop of the cab...(similar to a CB aerial ontop of a car
> roof,
>> > but smaller scale)
>> >
>> So let me get this right....
>>
>> You want to put a RF transmitter in or near a steel cage which is going
>> to be great at blocking the signal if it's inside, or reflecting it
>> anywhere except where you want if it's outside in a location that
>> itself is actually quite good at blocking signals and you expect it'll
>> work?
>>
>> <walks off shaking head>
>
> Ok, so suggest a better solution...
>
> Tim..
>
>

I was just thinking how wonderful life was, when "Tim \(remove
obvious\)" <(E-Mail Removed)> opened his gob and
said:

>Ok, so suggest a better solution...

You will probably get away with an antenna outside the cabinet, but
you should also use a high gain antenna on the receiver too. May work,
may not...there's only one way to find out I'm afraid.

Thought of cable? Not being funny, but personally, for me, wireless
would have to be a very last resort.

--
Cheers,

Guy

** Stress - the condition brought about by having to
** resist the temptation to beat the living daylights
** out of someone who richly deserves it.

"Dr Teeth" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I was just thinking how wonderful life was, when "Tim \(remove
> obvious\)" <(E-Mail Removed)> opened his gob and
> said:
>
>>Ok, so suggest a better solution...
>
> You will probably get away with an antenna outside the cabinet,

From what you go on to say, I take it you mean a high gain antenna. As in my
earlier post, this is not an option if you need all-round coverage.

> but you should also use a high gain antenna on the receiver too.

Assuming you mean "wireless client" rather than "receiver", this is not
practical if the client moves (eg a laptop). However, it is ideal if the
client is fixed.

I am not sure if you think otherwise, but considering a single pair of
transceivers, it makes no difference where you add aerial gain (at least in
theory).

> Thought of cable? Not being funny, but personally, for me, wireless
> would have to be a very last resort.

It is nice for anything portable, but otherwise I totally agree. The way the
OP described things, I got the impression he had a mixed network already.

Alex

I was just thinking how wonderful life was, when "Alex Fraser"
<(E-Mail Removed)> opened his gob and said:

>I am not sure if you think otherwise, but considering a single pair of
>transceivers, it makes no difference where you add aerial gain (at least in
>theory).

It maybe easier to add half the total gain to each point rather than
have it all on one; depending on the frequency being used (speaking
generally).

Gain on the RX has the additional advantage of reduced susceptibility
to interference away from the main lobe.

I would go for the maximum possible gain on both antennas, especially
considering the OP's situation.


--
Cheers,

Guy

** Stress - the condition brought about by having to
** resist the temptation to beat the living daylights
** out of someone who richly deserves it.