High Gain Antenna - do they work?

I've got a Netgear DG834GT wireless router down stairs but PCs are upstairs
on other side of house. Connection between PC and router is not very good.
Thinking of fitting a 7dB high gain antenna (various ones on market, haven't
yet decided which one). Before I slip out my credit card, just want to know
if this is a worthwhile investment. Moving the router is not an option, nor
is moving the PCs - I need a wireless connection.

In alt.internet.wireless Tom Bradbury <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> I've got a Netgear DG834GT wireless router down stairs but PCs are
> upstairs

The signal coming from your stock antenna is shaped like a donut slipped
onto the antenna. You want it broadside to the target, not pointing
end-on, like might be typical if the downstairs antenna were pointing
straight up.

You could add a simple reflector. If you get some signal at the PCs now,
this could give you substantial boost.

http://www.freeantennas.com EZ-12, printed on photo paper for thick stock,
with aluminum foil glued to the sail, provides a substantial boost in
signal. http://www.rahul.net/dold/clarence/EZ12-windsurfer.jpg
http://www.rahul.net/dold/clarence/w...fer-dining.JPG The signal with
the reflector is not only 13dB stronger, it's more stable.

> on other side of house. Connection between PC and router is not very
> good. Thinking of fitting a 7dB high gain antenna (various ones on

You probably want 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.

You could use one or more of these on the router and PCs. The omni
antennas improve gain by squishing the donut. It gets flatter, and harder
to aim, until it looks like a frisbee instead of a donut (thickness and
diameter in ratio as gain goes up). But you are still wasting signal in
the other directions on the frisbee.

A corner reflector has more height, but less beamwidth, like a slice of
cake.


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

On Wed, 04 Apr 2007 21:05:09 GMT, "Tom Bradbury"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
<9qUQh.135$(E-Mail Removed)>:

>I've got a Netgear DG834GT wireless router down stairs but PCs are upstairs
>on other side of house. Connection between PC and router is not very good.
>Thinking of fitting a 7dB high gain antenna (various ones on market, haven't
>yet decided which one). Before I slip out my credit card, just want to know
>if this is a worthwhile investment. Moving the router is not an option, nor
>is moving the PCs - I need a wireless connection.

Another option is to add a remote wireless access point by means of
power line networking.

That said, yes, high-gain antennas really do work, albeit by reducing
gain in other directions. 7dB is good for about double the range over a
stock rubber duck antenna.

A reflector can be a low-cost alternative to a high-rain antenna.

See wikis below for lots more information.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_How_To>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

(E-Mail Removed) declared for all the world to hear...
> I've got a Netgear DG834GT wireless router down stairs but PCs are upstairs
> on other side of house. Connection between PC and router is not very good.
> Thinking of fitting a 7dB high gain antenna (various ones on market, haven't
> yet decided which one). Before I slip out my credit card, just want to know
> if this is a worthwhile investment. Moving the router is not an option, nor
> is moving the PCs - I need a wireless connection.

Solwise Homeplugs are your answer.
--
Regards
Jon

Simple and work great. 7db does wonders over the std antennas usualy a
little dipole. On AP and/or client side.

For houses/offices with manny rooms or a larger layout its all u need.

Joe.

"Tom Bradbury" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:9qUQh.135$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I've got a Netgear DG834GT wireless router down stairs but PCs are
> upstairs on other side of house. Connection between PC and router is not
> very good. Thinking of fitting a 7dB high gain antenna (various ones on
> market, haven't yet decided which one). Before I slip out my credit card,
> just want to know if this is a worthwhile investment. Moving the router
> is not an option, nor is moving the PCs - I need a wireless connection.
>