Coax cable for Wi-Fi PCI Adapter

Is there a source of pre-cut and terminated coax cable from whom
I can buy a short piece of coax to let me move the antenna on my
wife's computer out of the shadows?

Her computer is located in a cubby hole in the hallway, and the
CPU has to be oriented such that the Linksys WIreless-G WMP54G
PCI Adapter is in the shadow of the CPU box, relative to the
WI-FI Access Point.

I want to buy a short piece of coax cable with terminals that
will fit this Wi-Fi adapter and let me place the antenna above
the CPU box. I could locate it in the shelves above her computer,
and hopefully get a much stronger signal level to/from the Access
Point.

Do I need a coax cable with RP-TNC terminals or is this not
compatible with the Linksys adapter?

> Is there a source of pre-cut and terminated coax cable from whom
> I can buy a short piece of coax

> Do I need a coax cable with RP-TNC terminals or is this not
> compatible with the Linksys adapter?

There is a thread titled "Cheap wifi antennas" on 6/19/06 that you should go
back to read, that card has a RP-SMA connector.
http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/cab...pgType=rp-smaI like panel antannas because they are directional.http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/antennas_2400_in.php

Gordon <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Is there a source of pre-cut and terminated coax cable from whom
> I can buy a short piece of coax to let me move the antenna on my
> wife's computer out of the shadows?

A few. I find http://www.hyperlinktech.com has nice listings, but a
minimum $100 order. Look under Cables & Pigtails.

http://www.fab-corp.com/ sells at retail, and might be able to help you
identify the antenna that you need.

> Her computer is located in a cubby hole in the hallway, and the
> CPU has to be oriented such that the Linksys WIreless-G WMP54G
> PCI Adapter is in the shadow of the CPU box, relative to the
> WI-FI Access Point.

An astute observation for a common situation. I would say that's RP-SMA, a
very common connector.

A few people have done that with some success. Someone added a reflector
to the stock antenna at the same time:
http://homepages.picknowl.com.au/glo...gnet/info.html
Jeff Liebermann suggests that there is something not quite right with this
photo, but the concept is good. The antenna here is an EZ-10 from
http://www.freeantennas.com. (I would have used the EZ-12, myself)
http://www.rahul.net/dold/clarence/EZ12-windsurfer.jpg

But, oddly enough, for the price of the chunk of cable, you might be able
to buy a directional antenna. I have used the "Hawking HAI6SDA Directional
6dBi 2.4GHz Antenna" with good success on a Netgear WG311 PCI card.
$20-30.
<http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/productlist.php?CatID=32&FamID=58&ProdID=122>
The one I bought fit the Netgear, and had an adapter that fit RP-TNC.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5

"Curly Bill" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:V0fng.104375$TK1.100880@fed1read06...
>
>
>> Is there a source of pre-cut and terminated coax cable from whom
>> I can buy a short piece of coax
>
>> Do I need a coax cable with RP-TNC terminals or is this not
>> compatible with the Linksys adapter?
>
> There is a thread titled "Cheap wifi antennas" on 6/19/06 that you should
> go back to read, that card has a RP-SMA connector.
> http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/cab...pgType=rp-smaI
> like panel antannas because they are
> directional.http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/antennas_2400_in.php
>

Sorry, the spacing in the above links made the links unuseable. I will
repost

There is a thread titled "Cheap wifi antennas" on 6/19/06 that you should go
back to read, that card has a RP-SMA connector.
http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/cab...&pgType=rp-sma

I like panel antannas because they are directional.
http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/antennas_2400_in.php

Gordon <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>Is there a source of pre-cut and terminated coax cable from whom
>I can buy a short piece of coax to let me move the antenna on my
>wife's computer out of the shadows?

Sure. It's called a coax "jumper".

See:
http://www.fab-corp.com/home.php?cat=249
http://www.wlanparts.com/c=7LAEdsyLb...tegory/cables/
Oops. No RP-TNC to RP-TNC jumper.
http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/cable_feed.php

You'll need to decide what length cable you need, and what diameter
coax is appropriate. A good rule of thumb is that 6dB coax loss is
good for cutting your range in half. Roughly, the losses for common
small diameter coax cables are:
Coax loss/ft
RG-174 .75
RG-316 .38
LMR-100 .23
LMR-240 .13
I would keep the total attenuation down below 3dB if possible.

>I want to buy a short piece of coax cable with terminals that
>will fit this Wi-Fi adapter and let me place the antenna above
>the CPU box.

As Clarence Dold suggested, you can get a better directional antenna
with coax cable extension, for about the price of just the extension.
The stock rubber ducky antenna is NOT a very wonderful antenna (2dBi
gain at best). For a fixed location pointing at one access point,
directional antennas are always a better idea.

>Do I need a coax cable with RP-TNC terminals or is this not
>compatible with the Linksys adapter?

Linksys uses RP-TNC for their access points. However, the WMP54G PCI
card uses RP-SMA to conserve space. Therefore, you need need either
an RP-SMA extension cable, or a replacement antenna plus cable.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:e7jv5p$ukc$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Gordon <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> Is there a source of pre-cut and terminated coax cable from whom
>> I can buy a short piece of coax to let me move the antenna on my
>> wife's computer out of the shadows?
>
> A few. I find http://www.hyperlinktech.com has nice listings, but a
> minimum $100 order. Look under Cables & Pigtails.
>
> http://www.fab-corp.com/ sells at retail, and might be able to help you
> identify the antenna that you need.
>
>> Her computer is located in a cubby hole in the hallway, and the
>> CPU has to be oriented such that the Linksys WIreless-G WMP54G
>> PCI Adapter is in the shadow of the CPU box, relative to the
>> WI-FI Access Point.
>
> An astute observation for a common situation. I would say that's RP-SMA,
> a
> very common connector.
>
> A few people have done that with some success. Someone added a reflector
> to the stock antenna at the same time:
> http://homepages.picknowl.com.au/glo...gnet/info.html
> Jeff Liebermann suggests that there is something not quite right with this
> photo, but the concept is good. The antenna here is an EZ-10 from
> http://www.freeantennas.com. (I would have used the EZ-12, myself)
> http://www.rahul.net/dold/clarence/EZ12-windsurfer.jpg
>
> But, oddly enough, for the price of the chunk of cable, you might be able
> to buy a directional antenna. I have used the "Hawking HAI6SDA
> Directional
> 6dBi 2.4GHz Antenna" with good success on a Netgear WG311 PCI card.
> $20-30.
> <http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/productlist.php?CatID=32&FamID=58&ProdID=122>
> The one I bought fit the Netgear, and had an adapter that fit RP-TNC.
>
> --
> ---
> Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5

I bought one a hawking antenna this weekend on sale for 10 bucks at Fry's
(normally 20) . It raised the signal strength from 2 bars to 5. I was
amazed. Of course ymmv.

Dennis

Gordon wrote:
> Is there a source of pre-cut and terminated coax cable from whom
> I can buy a short piece of coax to let me move the antenna on my
> wife's computer out of the shadows?
>
> Her computer is located in a cubby hole in the hallway, and the
> CPU has to be oriented such that the Linksys WIreless-G WMP54G
> PCI Adapter is in the shadow of the CPU box, relative to the
> WI-FI Access Point.
>
> I want to buy a short piece of coax cable with terminals that
> will fit this Wi-Fi adapter and let me place the antenna above
> the CPU box. I could locate it in the shelves above her computer,
> and hopefully get a much stronger signal level to/from the Access
> Point.
>
> Do I need a coax cable with RP-TNC terminals or is this not
> compatible with the Linksys adapter?

Linksys have an SMA RP connector on the PCI card, I have a linksys
WMP54GS myself. Try the antenna base from here:
http://www.wifi-antenna.co.uk/

If you can mount the router away from walls (inc stud) you should be OK.

My PC is tucked into a little cubby and I had a signal strenth of
between 38% and 54%. I bought one myself and the signal improved by
over 1/3 and I typically got 68% - 78%. Cable is 1m long but they dose
cable by the meter as well.

Service is excellent BTW and he sells antenna as well if you want to
upgrade.

I have a WRT54GS router and upgrading the firmware made a lot of
difference. I use channel 13 (prev had 11 channels) and get mid 90s
reception. I don't use the linksys software, XP manages the connection
and I find I have almost no breaks in the connestion. With he linksys
drivers I would have short breaks in the connestion which were annoying.
It seemed to be renewing the association with the router when the
connection was idle.

Mike

On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 15:30:06 GMT, Gordon
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Is there a source of pre-cut and terminated coax cable from whom
>I can buy a short piece of coax to let me move the antenna on my
>wife's computer out of the shadows?
>
>Her computer is located in a cubby hole in the hallway, and the
>CPU has to be oriented such that the Linksys WIreless-G WMP54G
>PCI Adapter is in the shadow of the CPU box, relative to the
>WI-FI Access Point.
>
>I want to buy a short piece of coax cable with terminals that
>will fit this Wi-Fi adapter and let me place the antenna above
>the CPU box. I could locate it in the shelves above her computer,
>and hopefully get a much stronger signal level to/from the Access
>Point.
>
>Do I need a coax cable with RP-TNC terminals or is this not
>compatible with the Linksys adapter?
>
Thanks to all who responded. I bought a 7 foot long Cantenna
Antenna Extension Cable at CompUSA and placed it between the
Wi-Fi card and its antenna. This lets me position the antenna in
a clear area. It works very well and I consider the problem
solved.

This cable has RPSMA male and female connectors that match my
LinkSys WMP54G PCI Adapter. This has boosted the signal to a very
usable level of around 54% and it seems very steady. I even
picked up another wireless network SSID that seems to be coming
from two houses down the street. I didn't try to log onto this
network, but I will talk with the owner and let them know that
they are open.

"Gordon" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 15:30:06 GMT, Gordon
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Is there a source of pre-cut and terminated coax cable from whom
>>I can buy a short piece of coax to let me move the antenna on my
>>wife's computer out of the shadows?
>>
>>Her computer is located in a cubby hole in the hallway, and the
>>CPU has to be oriented such that the Linksys WIreless-G WMP54G
>>PCI Adapter is in the shadow of the CPU box, relative to the
>>WI-FI Access Point.
>>
>>I want to buy a short piece of coax cable with terminals that
>>will fit this Wi-Fi adapter and let me place the antenna above
>>the CPU box. I could locate it in the shelves above her computer,
>>and hopefully get a much stronger signal level to/from the Access
>>Point.
>>
>>Do I need a coax cable with RP-TNC terminals or is this not
>>compatible with the Linksys adapter?
>>
> Thanks to all who responded. I bought a 7 foot long Cantenna
> Antenna Extension Cable at CompUSA and placed it between the
> Wi-Fi card and its antenna. This lets me position the antenna in
> a clear area. It works very well and I consider the problem
> solved.
>
> This cable has RPSMA male and female connectors that match my
> LinkSys WMP54G PCI Adapter. This has boosted the signal to a very
> usable level of around 54% and it seems very steady. I even
> picked up another wireless network SSID that seems to be coming
> from two houses down the street. I didn't try to log onto this
> network, but I will talk with the owner and let them know that
> they are open.




may i ask how you know it is two houses away ??

On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 20:07:05 GMT, "aussie bongo"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
>"Gordon" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>> On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 15:30:06 GMT, Gordon
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>>Is there a source of pre-cut and terminated coax cable from whom
>>>I can buy a short piece of coax to let me move the antenna on my
>>>wife's computer out of the shadows?
>>>
>>>Her computer is located in a cubby hole in the hallway, and the
>>>CPU has to be oriented such that the Linksys WIreless-G WMP54G
>>>PCI Adapter is in the shadow of the CPU box, relative to the
>>>WI-FI Access Point.
>>>
>>>I want to buy a short piece of coax cable with terminals that
>>>will fit this Wi-Fi adapter and let me place the antenna above
>>>the CPU box. I could locate it in the shelves above her computer,
>>>and hopefully get a much stronger signal level to/from the Access
>>>Point.
>>>
>>>Do I need a coax cable with RP-TNC terminals or is this not
>>>compatible with the Linksys adapter?
>>>
>> Thanks to all who responded. I bought a 7 foot long Cantenna
>> Antenna Extension Cable at CompUSA and placed it between the
>> Wi-Fi card and its antenna. This lets me position the antenna in
>> a clear area. It works very well and I consider the problem
>> solved.
>>
>> This cable has RPSMA male and female connectors that match my
>> LinkSys WMP54G PCI Adapter. This has boosted the signal to a very
>> usable level of around 54% and it seems very steady. I even
>> picked up another wireless network SSID that seems to be coming
>> from two houses down the street. I didn't try to log onto this
>> network, but I will talk with the owner and let them know that
>> they are open.
>
>
>
>
>may i ask how you know it is two houses away ??
>
I've gone through a process of elimination with all the closer
houses. Of course it might be from a greater distance...who
knows?