Positioning of Wireless antenna

In general, if a wireless-equipped laptop is going to be used upstairs &
downstairs, which floor would it be best to place the antenna on ?? Do
radio waves move up, sideways, down or everywhere ?? If the antenna is
above the receiver is that better than vice-versa ??!

Anthony <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> In general, if a wireless-equipped laptop is going to be used upstairs &
> downstairs, which floor would it be best to place the antenna on ?? Do
> radio waves move up, sideways, down or everywhere ?? If the antenna is
> above the receiver is that better than vice-versa ??!

Think of antennas like light sources.
You can make them in any radiation pattern, from spotlight (parabolic
dish like is used on satellite dishes) to a floodlight that illuminates
every direction evenly (omnidirectional).
With most ombidirectional antennas the radiation is mainly in a band
around the side, not emitting much to either top or bottom.
And it works just the same for recpetion as transmission.

The narrower the beam, the further it will reach.
You will probbaly find that it's best to have the accesspoint on the upper
floor, in a corner, with the antenna tilted a bit.

However, there is little substitute for a few minutes of trying a few
positions for the accesspoint and seeing whihc works best.

On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 23:52:28 +0000 (UTC), "Anthony" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>In general, if a wireless-equipped laptop is going to be used upstairs &
>downstairs, which floor would it be best to place the antenna on ?? Do
>radio waves move up, sideways, down or everywhere ?? If the antenna is
>above the receiver is that better than vice-versa ??!

I'm new to WiFi and have quickly found that the range advertised as
possible on the box is seldom obtainable.

I have found that there are auxillary antenna available, some project
in all directions and others in a particular direction.

Geoff Lane