Outside Antenna for Navini Ripwave

I'm using a Navini Ripwave broadband wireless modem through the Ntelos
network. I'm just on the edge of coverage from the tower and do not get good
reception all the time. The modem operates on 2.4 Ghz band. Does anyone know
where I can get an out side antenna or make suggestions. Thanks.
William

"William" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

> I'm using a Navini Ripwave broadband wireless modem through the Ntelos
>network. I'm just on the edge of coverage from the tower and do not get good
>reception all the time. The modem operates on 2.4 Ghz band. Does anyone know
>where I can get an out side antenna or make suggestions. Thanks.
>William

This one?
| http://www.navini.com/Website/assets..._Datasheet.pdf
If so, it uses an *OPTIONAL* MCX connector on the wireless modem.
Purchase a matching MCX to N pigtail, and then attach whatever
external antenna is handy. I can't recommend a specific antenna
because I don't know anything about your requirements.

http://www.fab-corp.com
http://www.moonblink.com/cat_24_ghz_antennas.cfm

If your modem doesn't have the optional connector, then make a big
parabolic or corner reflector and put the radio at the focus.
http://www.freeantennas.com

Incidentally, your "poor" reception may be due to reflections. Move
the modem and see if it improves.

It may also be due to interference from other 2.4GHz systems.
http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi#Interference
--
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

"Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
> "William" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:
>
>> I'm using a Navini Ripwave broadband wireless modem through the Ntelos
>>network. I'm just on the edge of coverage from the tower and do not get
>>good
>>reception all the time. The modem operates on 2.4 Ghz band. Does anyone
>>know
>>where I can get an out side antenna or make suggestions. Thanks.
>>William
>
> This one?
> |
> http://www.navini.com/Website/assets..._Datasheet.pdf
> If so, it uses an *OPTIONAL* MCX connector on the wireless modem.
> Purchase a matching MCX to N pigtail, and then attach whatever
> external antenna is handy. I can't recommend a specific antenna
> because I don't know anything about your requirements.
>
> http://www.fab-corp.com
> http://www.moonblink.com/cat_24_ghz_antennas.cfm
>
> If your modem doesn't have the optional connector, then make a big
> parabolic or corner reflector and put the radio at the focus.
> http://www.freeantennas.com
>
> Incidentally, your "poor" reception may be due to reflections. Move
> the modem and see if it improves.
>
> It may also be due to interference from other 2.4GHz systems.
> http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi#Interference
> --
> 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

Thanks Jeff
That's the one. Where would I get a MCX to N pigtail? Would a parabolic
or corner reflector do just as well? I think it's my location as to the
tower because when I first called NTELOS they said it might not work. It did
fine until the leaves came on the trees. I still get a signal most of the
time. I have installed CB antennas and know the lead in wire has to be
electrically correct. Don't know much at the 2.4 Ghz frequency. As to my
requirments, what do you need to know?
William

"William" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>> http://www.navini.com/Website/assets..._Datasheet.pdf
> That's the one.

Are you sure it has an antenna connector? Some models do not.

>Where would I get a MCX to N pigtail?

http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/cab...lug&pgType=mcx
http://www.altelicon.com/mcx_radio_pigtails.php
http://www.moonblink.com/pigtail_selection_chart.cfm
Lots more found with Google and on eBay.
Make sure it's a male MCX connector.

>Would a parabolic
>or corner reflector do just as well?

What you're looking for is strictly gain. The more gain the better.
It doesn't really matter what type of antenna, as long as it has gain.
However, the higher that gain, the narrower the beamwidth. That means
that mounting stability is critical. A 24dBi dish antenna has about a
7 degree beamwidth, which means it must be aimed to within about +/- 2
degrees. Such dishes are also huge.

>I think it's my location as to the
>tower because when I first called NTELOS they said it might not work. It did
>fine until the leaves came on the trees. I still get a signal most of the
>time.

If it sorta works, you have a chance. It's very difficult to
determine how much additional gain is necessary due to folliage
attenuation. My guess(tm) is that it's not going to require much
gain. Better too much than not enough. I would recommend a panel
antenna with about 12-15dBi gain.

http://www.wlanparts.com/category/antennas/
http://www.fab-corp.com/home.php?cat=255
Lots of other 2.4GHz antennas available via Google and eBay.

>I have installed CB antennas and know the lead in wire has to be
>electrically correct. Don't know much at the 2.4 Ghz frequency.

No, this is not a CB co-phase harness. The coax cable can be any
length and is not tuned. However, be advised that at 2.4GHz coax
cable is very lossy. Long coax cable runs are not recommended. The
tiny coax used in the pigtail is fine for short runs, but anything
longer than about 3 meters will need heavier (larger diamter) coax,
such as LMR-240 or LMR-400.

>As to my
>requirments, what do you need to know?

Do everything you can to get the best line of sight with the tower.
That might include doing some tree trimming. If that's not possible,
try to raise your antenna as high as possible in order to get the best
clearance. Sometimes, you can go *UNDER* the trees between the
trunks. Difficult to tell from here.

There's not much that can be calculated. You already have proven that
you have good connectivity without the leaves on the trees. Therefore,
you need only as much gain as necessary to "burn" your way through the
trees. I would need to know the nature of the trees to calculate the
effects. If you're going through a thick forest, you wouldn't have
any signal to work with, so I assume that the trees are not
particularly thick. Almost any amount of antenna gain should be
enough to compensate for the folliage losses.

Good luck.

--
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

"Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "William" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:
>
>>> http://www.navini.com/Website/assets..._Datasheet.pdf
>> That's the one.
>
> Are you sure it has an antenna connector? Some models do not.
>
>>Where would I get a MCX to N pigtail?
>
> http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/cab...lug&pgType=mcx
> http://www.altelicon.com/mcx_radio_pigtails.php
> http://www.moonblink.com/pigtail_selection_chart.cfm
> Lots more found with Google and on eBay.
> Make sure it's a male MCX connector.
>
>>Would a parabolic
>>or corner reflector do just as well?
>
> What you're looking for is strictly gain. The more gain the better.
> It doesn't really matter what type of antenna, as long as it has gain.
> However, the higher that gain, the narrower the beamwidth. That means
> that mounting stability is critical. A 24dBi dish antenna has about a
> 7 degree beamwidth, which means it must be aimed to within about +/- 2
> degrees. Such dishes are also huge.
>
>>I think it's my location as to the
>>tower because when I first called NTELOS they said it might not work. It
>>did
>>fine until the leaves came on the trees. I still get a signal most of the
>>time.
>
> If it sorta works, you have a chance. It's very difficult to
> determine how much additional gain is necessary due to folliage
> attenuation. My guess(tm) is that it's not going to require much
> gain. Better too much than not enough. I would recommend a panel
> antenna with about 12-15dBi gain.
>
> http://www.wlanparts.com/category/antennas/
> http://www.fab-corp.com/home.php?cat=255
> Lots of other 2.4GHz antennas available via Google and eBay.
>
>>I have installed CB antennas and know the lead in wire has to be
>>electrically correct. Don't know much at the 2.4 Ghz frequency.
>
> No, this is not a CB co-phase harness. The coax cable can be any
> length and is not tuned. However, be advised that at 2.4GHz coax
> cable is very lossy. Long coax cable runs are not recommended. The
> tiny coax used in the pigtail is fine for short runs, but anything
> longer than about 3 meters will need heavier (larger diamter) coax,
> such as LMR-240 or LMR-400.
>
>>As to my
>>requirments, what do you need to know?
>
> Do everything you can to get the best line of sight with the tower.
> That might include doing some tree trimming. If that's not possible,
> try to raise your antenna as high as possible in order to get the best
> clearance. Sometimes, you can go *UNDER* the trees between the
> trunks. Difficult to tell from here.
>
> There's not much that can be calculated. You already have proven that
> you have good connectivity without the leaves on the trees. Therefore,
> you need only as much gain as necessary to "burn" your way through the
> trees. I would need to know the nature of the trees to calculate the
> effects. If you're going through a thick forest, you wouldn't have
> any signal to work with, so I assume that the trees are not
> particularly thick. Almost any amount of antenna gain should be
> enough to compensate for the folliage losses.
>
> Good luck.
>
> --
> 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

Thanks Jeff
You certainly are knowledgeable. You have given me some good information.
The modem antenna is detachable. I'm only familer with BNC and other
coaxale connectors. I thought since the modem connector was neither of these
it was MCX. Maybe I can check localy because I cannot tell by looking at the
pictures on the sites you suggested. I did notice even when I detached the
modem antenna there was little change in signal strength. I can't see the
tower from my house and there are quit a few trees as well as a river
between me and the tower. Thanks for all your help. I might have some more
questions.
William