dummy antenna load??

My system consists of 2 desktops (hard-wired to a D-Link 514 router) and a
wireless equipped laptop. In the interests of more security, why can't I
temporarily replace my router's antenna with a dummy load when I'm using my
hard-wired desktops? - which is most of the time. My only problem: what do I
use for a dummy load? I assume just a resistor, but what value and wattage?

"j carter" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:I7ednQsvaqFOhp3dRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
> My system consists of 2 desktops (hard-wired to a D-Link 514 router) and a
> wireless equipped laptop. In the interests of more security, why can't I
> temporarily replace my router's antenna with a dummy load when I'm using
my
> hard-wired desktops? - which is most of the time. My only problem: what do
I
> use for a dummy load? I assume just a resistor, but what value and
wattage?
>
>

If you really wany a dummy, load that will work satisfactoraly enough at
2.4GHz. try a 50R 1/2W Metal film 1% tolerance. About 2p from Maplin.

THANX for the reply. Does that 50R mean 50 ohms? And why does it have to be
metal film and such close tolerance?


"Paul Landregan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:btp84n$9pbb9$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "j carter" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:I7ednQsvaqFOhp3dRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > My system consists of 2 desktops (hard-wired to a D-Link 514 router) and
a
> > wireless equipped laptop. In the interests of more security, why can't I
> > temporarily replace my router's antenna with a dummy load when I'm using
> my
> > hard-wired desktops? - which is most of the time. My only problem: what
do
> I
> > use for a dummy load? I assume just a resistor, but what value and
> wattage?
> >
> >
>
> If you really wany a dummy, load that will work satisfactoraly enough at
> 2.4GHz. try a 50R 1/2W Metal film 1% tolerance. About 2p from Maplin.
>
>

"j carter" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:yf2dnexqNOI8s53dRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> THANX for the reply. Does that 50R mean 50 ohms? And why does it have to
be
> metal film and such close tolerance?
>
>
> "Paul Landregan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:btp84n$9pbb9$(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> > "j carter" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:I7ednQsvaqFOhp3dRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > My system consists of 2 desktops (hard-wired to a D-Link 514 router)
and
> a
> > > wireless equipped laptop. In the interests of more security, why can't
I
> > > temporarily replace my router's antenna with a dummy load when I'm
using
> > my
> > > hard-wired desktops? - which is most of the time. My only problem:
what
> do
> > I
> > > use for a dummy load? I assume just a resistor, but what value and
> > wattage?
> > >
> > >
> >
> > If you really wany a dummy, load that will work satisfactoraly enough at
> > 2.4GHz. try a 50R 1/2W Metal film 1% tolerance. About 2p from Maplin.
> >


50R means 50 ohms. same as 5k6 means 5.6k ohms. Metal film has a better
characteristic at high frequencies. Still not perfect at microwave but
better than carbon. close tolerance is personal preference. I never use
worse that 1%. The cost of 1% is practically the same as 5% so why bother
with the lower tolerance.

j carter wrote:

> My system consists of 2 desktops (hard-wired to a D-Link 514 router) and a
> wireless equipped laptop. In the interests of more security, why can't I
> temporarily replace my router's antenna with a dummy load when I'm using
> my hard-wired desktops? - which is most of the time. My only problem: what
> do I use for a dummy load? I assume just a resistor, but what value and
> wattage?

You'd need a 51 ohm (the closest standard value) resistor 1/2 watt or more.
However, the biggest problem will be making a low inductance connection.
At 2.4 GHz, a short piece of wire is very inductive. A common method would
be to build a dummy load with a connector. You'd then need to create a
small disk, that will be used to connect the "ground" end of the resistor
to the shell. The idea is to minimize the wire length. On trick to
minimized impedance matching problems, is to place the dummy load at the
end of a long piece of coax. In this application, you want lots of loss in
the cable, to mask any impedance discontinuities in the dummy load.

--

Fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong.

To reply to this message, replace everything to the left of "@" with
james.knott.

j carter wrote:
> My system consists of 2 desktops (hard-wired to a D-Link 514 router) and a
> wireless equipped laptop. In the interests of more security, why can't I
> temporarily replace my router's antenna with a dummy load when I'm using my
> hard-wired desktops? - which is most of the time. My only problem: what do I
> use for a dummy load? I assume just a resistor, but what value and wattage?
>
>

My router has a webpage-style interface that lets me turn off the
wireless port. I just leave it off 'till I need it.
Check your manual.

A couple of things about dummy loads.
At these frequencies, it will be hard to kill the output with the dummy.
It's likely that significant signal will leak out the case.
The tiny plugs often used for antennas are designed to be plugged in
and left alone. They may not stand up under repeated insertion.
It's probably not an issue in this case, but every time you mess with
the hardware,
you risk static zapping something.
mike

--
Return address is VALID.
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
Toshiba & Compaq LiIon Batteries, Test Equipment
Honda CB-125S $800 in PDX
TEK Sampling Sweep Plugin and RM564
Tek 2465 $800, ham radio, 30pS pulser
Tektronix Concept Books, spot welding head...
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/

"mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> j carter wrote:
> > My system consists of 2 desktops (hard-wired to a D-Link 514 router) and
a
> > wireless equipped laptop. In the interests of more security, why can't I
> > temporarily replace my router's antenna with a dummy load when I'm using
my
> > hard-wired desktops? - which is most of the time. My only problem: what
do I
> > use for a dummy load? I assume just a resistor, but what value and
wattage?
> >
> >
>
> My router has a webpage-style interface that lets me turn off the
> wireless port. I just leave it off 'till I need it.
> Check your manual.
>
> A couple of things about dummy loads.
> At these frequencies, it will be hard to kill the output with the dummy.
> It's likely that significant signal will leak out the case.
> The tiny plugs often used for antennas are designed to be plugged in
> and left alone. They may not stand up under repeated insertion.
> It's probably not an issue in this case, but every time you mess with
> the hardware,
> you risk static zapping something.
> mike
>
> --
> Return address is VALID.
> Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
> Toshiba & Compaq LiIon Batteries, Test Equipment
> Honda CB-125S $800 in PDX
> TEK Sampling Sweep Plugin and RM564
> Tek 2465 $800, ham radio, 30pS pulser
> Tektronix Concept Books, spot welding head...
> http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/


Good advice. My D-Link 614+ has an option to enable/disable the wireless
broadcast.

THANX to everyone for all the advice. I didn't see anything in my owner's
manual about disabling the wireless transmit but I'll double-check.


"F1" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:TqOdnbN_LNyfMJzdRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > j carter wrote:
> > > My system consists of 2 desktops (hard-wired to a D-Link 514 router)
and
> a
> > > wireless equipped laptop. In the interests of more security, why can't
I
> > > temporarily replace my router's antenna with a dummy load when I'm
using
> my
> > > hard-wired desktops? - which is most of the time. My only problem:
what
> do I
> > > use for a dummy load? I assume just a resistor, but what value and
> wattage?
> > >
> > >
> >
> > My router has a webpage-style interface that lets me turn off the
> > wireless port. I just leave it off 'till I need it.
> > Check your manual.
> >
> > A couple of things about dummy loads.
> > At these frequencies, it will be hard to kill the output with the dummy.
> > It's likely that significant signal will leak out the case.
> > The tiny plugs often used for antennas are designed to be plugged in
> > and left alone. They may not stand up under repeated insertion.
> > It's probably not an issue in this case, but every time you mess with
> > the hardware,
> > you risk static zapping something.
> > mike
> >
> > --
> > Return address is VALID.
> > Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
> > Toshiba & Compaq LiIon Batteries, Test Equipment
> > Honda CB-125S $800 in PDX
> > TEK Sampling Sweep Plugin and RM564
> > Tek 2465 $800, ham radio, 30pS pulser
> > Tektronix Concept Books, spot welding head...
> > http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/
>
>
> Good advice. My D-Link 614+ has an option to enable/disable the wireless
> broadcast.
>
>