Need help finding a bigger antenna for my card.

Hey there. im totally new here, just joined 30 secs ago, but i need
help. :mellow: i want to buy an antenna for my Linksys WMP54G wirless
internet card. a big antena... like up to 80$ worth big. but i dont know
ne thing about em. im not sure what to look for or where, and the thing
i really dont know about is the connector size, if i would need some
adapter for this anntenna or if they even make em =\ so b4 i buy
something off the interweb without knowing 100% of what im doing, i
figure i ask here. thx to ne one who can help. ill be on for a while.
probly all day, im sick


------------------------------------------------------------------------
View this thread: http://www.wirelessforums.org/showthread.php?t=38918
http://www.wirelessforums.org

Scorpion SGT <(E-Mail Removed)> hath
wroth:

>i want to buy an antenna for my Linksys WMP54G wirless
>internet card. a big antena... like up to 80$ worth big. but i dont know
>ne thing about em.

The WMP54G is a PCI card with a reverse SMA connector (RP-SMA). You'll
need:
1. A 1 or 2 ft pigtail with a mateing RP-SMA connector on one end,
and probably an "N" connector on the other.
2. An antenna.
3. Some thick heavy coax cable (LMR-400) if the antenna will be more
than about 10ft away from the the computah.

>im not sure what to look for or where, and the thing
>i really dont know about is the connector size, if i would need some
>adapter for this anntenna or if they even make em =\ so b4 i buy
>something off the interweb without knowing 100% of what im doing, i
>figure i ask here. thx to ne one who can help. ill be on for a while.
>probly all day, im sick

Work on the punctuation and grammar. Most people only exert as much
effort in answering your question, as you put into asking.

See:
Panel Antennas:
<http://www.fab-corp.com/home.php?cat=255>

Dish Antennas:
<http://www.fab-corp.com/home.php?cat=251>

Pigtails and coax cables:
<http://www.fab-corp.com/home.php?cat=248>
<http://www.fab-corp.com/home.php?cat=249>

I have no idea which antenna is appropriate. You haven't bothered to
specify what you're planning to do with the antenna, where you plan to
mount it, or how far you expect to make a connection. I'll be happy
to offer advice on antenna selection and installation, but not a
lecture on how antennas work, what the numbers mean, and how they are
used. There's plenty of that on the web:
<http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/1144391>

Assorted Tutorials:
<http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/blogcategory/77/99/>
<http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/> (See archives on lower right)

Wi-Fi FAQ:
<http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>

Also, it might be helpful to know that 6dB of antenna gain equates to
doubling your range. (12dB is 4 times, 18dB is 8 times, 24dB is 16
times, etc).

Oh yeah, get well.

--
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

Scorpion SGT wrote:
> Hey there. im totally new here, just joined 30 secs ago, but i need
> help. :mellow: i want to buy an antenna for my Linksys WMP54G wirless
> internet card. a big antena... like up to 80$ worth big.

Big? As in more gain? Do you want omni directional or directional?

In other words, do you want to have a signal from one fixed point to
another or from a fixed point (the Linksys) to anywhere you will sit
your other computer?

You didn't specify much. But since it's a PCI card, it's probably
being used as a fixed client. And you say "big antenna" so I
translate that to longer range, higher gain.

If that's true, then you want a directional antenna. Panels are
common and effective, and also the "backfire" style is said to work
well. It's small but may be just the ticket. Big dish and grid
antennas would be for serious distance. I would be doing link
calculations before ever choosing a dish, that's for sure. A 14 dbi
panel or backfire will go quite far with clear line of sight.

Will it be indoors or out? Take a good look (better yet-test) where
you plan to put the antenna - it can really make a big difference.

Consumer antennas I've seen in stores mostly come with a cheap, lossy
3'-6' cable direct to RP-SMA or RP-TNC. Don't buy those. Not worth
it. Get one that has an N-female mounted right on it, or a short
pigtail.