USB Adapter With External Antenna

I'm thinking this might be a good versatile buy for a USB adapter:

http://www.air802.com/product.php?pr...cat=411&page=1

With a USB extension and a reflector, this seems like it could give
some good leverage on the client end.

Any comments?

Steve



seaweedsteve

On Jan 23, 10:12 pm, "seaweedsteve" <seaweedst...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm thinking this might be a good versatile buy for a USB adapter:
>
> http://www.air802.com/product.php?pr...cat=411&page=1
>
> With a USB extension and a reflector, this seems like it could give
> some good leverage on the client end.
>
> Any comments?
>
> Steve

You probably wouldn't extend the coax as indicated on the website, but
rather extend the USB, as you pointed out. However, these dongles are
hard to deal with once they are hanging on a cable. [I've seen them
tapes to windows or walls.] If you want to add an antenna with a base
or some sort of mounting structure, this would do the job.

The more I fiddle with wifi, the less I like omnidirectional antennas.
I am surrounded by channels 1, 6, and 11. Two or three users on each
channel.

Hi. Thanks for the quick reply.

> > SteveYou probably wouldn't extend the coax as indicated on the website, but
> rather extend the USB, as you pointed out. However, these dongles are
> hard to deal with once they are hanging on a cable. [I've seen them
> tapes to windows or walls.] If you want to add an antenna with a base
> or some sort of mounting structure, this would do the job.

I like that the device already has a "high" gain antenna. With the
zero cable loss of the USB approach, this will probably produce the
desired gain if the radio is decent. However, if I do need to go to a
better antenna, I have that option.

It would be on a short or no pigtail, if stronger antenna is ever used.
Mounting and all that are inconsequential. This device will be
tucked away with just a usb cable end showing to the user.

Still, my basic two questions are not about the approach, but about
this specific device.
1) Radio guys: How do the specs look?
2) Anybody: Any experience with this product or company?

On Jan 24, 3:27 am, m...@sushi.com wrote:>
> > SteveYou probably wouldn't extend the coax as indicated on the website, but
> rather extend the USB, as you pointed out. However, these dongles are
> hard to deal with once they are hanging on a cable. [I've seen them
> tapes to windows or walls.] If you want to add an antenna with a base
> or some sort of mounting structure, this would do the job.


I like that the device already has a improved gain antenna. With the
zero cable loss of the USB approach, this will probably produce the
desired gain if the radio is decent.

However, if I do ever need to go to a better antenna, it's nice to have
that option. Better yet, the external antenna allows using a simple
"rubber-ducky" antenna reflector, as I mentioned. I have not had as
much success so far with the "USB cookware" approach as with the
"EZ-10" style. If you know what I mean.

I am now more seriously considering this for a specific client as a
sheltered, but outdoor device in a marginal reception area. Mounting
and all that are inconsequential. This device will be tucked away in
the roof structure with just a usb cable end showing to the user.



I have two questions about this specific device:

1) Radio guys: How do the specs look?

2) Anybody: Any experience with this product or company?

In article <(E-Mail Removed). com>,
seaweedsteve <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>
>On Jan 24, 3:27 am, m...@sushi.com wrote:>
>> > SteveYou probably wouldn't extend the coax as indicated on the website, but
>> rather extend the USB, as you pointed out. However, these dongles are
>> hard to deal with once they are hanging on a cable. [I've seen them
>> tapes to windows or walls.] If you want to add an antenna with a base
>> or some sort of mounting structure, this would do the job.
>
>
>I like that the device already has a improved gain antenna. With the
>zero cable loss of the USB approach, this will probably produce the
>desired gain if the radio is decent.

Hawking makes a USB AP that seems to be integrated with an interesting
antenna. I've never played with it.

http://www.hawkingtech.com/



I just set up a thinb-sized D-Link USB AP. It comes with a small base
and the AP stands straight up. I put it on the end of a 20 ft USB
cable and was able to put it on a high shelf and it that works fine.


--
a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m
Harrison for Congress in NY 13CD www.harrison06.com
Don't blame me. I voted for Gore. A Proud signature since 2001

On 23 Jan 2007 22:12:46 -0800, "seaweedsteve" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote in <(E-Mail Removed) .com>:

>I'm thinking this might be a good versatile buy for a USB adapter:
>
>http://www.air802.com/product.php?pr...cat=411&page=1
>
>With a USB extension and a reflector, this seems like it could give
>some good leverage on the client end.
>
>Any comments?

Other options:

* Hawking HWU54DM Hi-Gain Mini Wireless-G USB Adapter
<http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/productlist.php?CatID=32&FamID=60&ProdID=275>

* Hawking Hi-Gain HWU8DD USB Wireless-G Dish Adapter
<http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/productlist.php?CatID=32&FamID=60&ProdID=280>

* Hawking HWU54D Hi-Gain USB Wireless-G Adapter
<http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/productlist.php?CatID=32&FamID=60&ProdID=226>

--
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_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

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

http://www.air802.com/product.php?pr...cat=411&page=1

>Still, my basic two questions are not about the approach, but about
>this specific device.
>1) Radio guys: How do the specs look?

What specs? The only numbers on the page are tx power, which is
fairly typical, and antenna gain +5dBi. The antenna is better than
the typical USB "chip" antenna that runs -2dBi (yes, it's negative).
Any manner of external antenna is an improvement over the typical PIFA
antenna used in USB radios. For example, DWL-122:
<http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/pics/wireless/DWL-122/index.html>
With antennas, size matters.

No clue at what speed the receiver sensitivity was measured, so that's
useless. If it's at the lowest speed (highest sensitivity), then the
sensitivity is in the ballpark. Most access points do better but
unless you're going for the DX record, it's well within measurement
accuracy. My guess is that Air802LLC just used the numbers from the
Atheros data sheet and didn't test it.

>2) Anybody: Any experience with this product or company?

Not really. I have some older ZyDas/Atheros based USB dongles
floating around in use by various customers. Nothing special. They
work and are quite well supported.

Looks like it supports anything from Windoze 98SE and up including
OS/X and Linux. I like the idea of an external antenna on the USB
dongle because I can mount it directly to the antenna and use USB
extension cables to attach to the laptop or desktop.


--
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

seaweedsteve <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> I'm thinking this might be a good versatile buy for a USB adapter:

> http://www.air802.com/product.php?pr...cat=411&page=1

> With a USB extension and a reflector, this seems like it could give
> some good leverage on the client end.

The price is good, compared to a unit like the Hawking HWU8DD, which has a
better, but fixed, large, and ugly, antenna.

I wonder if you can use the air802 with the external antenna disconnected?
That would make it handy for travel, and you could attach the antenna as
needed. You could add a reflector for the antenna. You could glue a
1/4-20 nut to the case for a tripod mount.

I went with a cheap USB dongle and a coffee can.
http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/
http://www.rahul.net/dold/clarence/u...42-800x600.jpg
http://members.cox.net/tulsaalstons/images/IMG_1571.JPG

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

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>
>
> I wonder if you can use the air802 with the external antenna disconnected?
> That would make it handy for travel, and you could attach the antenna as
> needed. You could add a reflector for the antenna. You could glue a
> 1/4-20 nut to the case for a tripod mount.

Seems to be identical to:-
http://www.jefatech.com/product/WL-USB-RSMAP
so has an internal antenna

Zydas were bought out by Atheros

(E-Mail Removed) hath wroth:

>seaweedsteve <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> I'm thinking this might be a good versatile buy for a USB adapter:
>
>> http://www.air802.com/product.php?pr...cat=411&page=1
>
>> With a USB extension and a reflector, this seems like it could give
>> some good leverage on the client end.
>
>The price is good, compared to a unit like the Hawking HWU8DD, which has a
>better, but fixed, large, and ugly, antenna.

Ugly? In the antenna business, the uglier the antenna, the better it
works. It's kinda like pills. If they don't taste bad, they don't
work.

>I wonder if you can use the air802 with the external antenna disconnected?

I don't think so. Unfortunately, you can't easily cram a 1/4 wave
(3.13cm) monopole antenna (piece of wire) into the RP-SMA connector.
However, a small 2dBi RP-SMA antenna can be easily borrowed from a
DLink access point or wireless router. You could possibly build your
own antenna, but at the price I've seen them on eBay (about $6 total),
it's not worth the effort:
<http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/antennas/coaxial/slides/coax-ant.html>
One possibility is to use a ceramic patch antenna, which can be very
small.
<http://jeffl.ihwy.com/linksys/wusb11/wusb11-1.jpg>
It's the round white thing in the lower right of the circuit board. I
have several with connectors attached. Unfortunately, the measured
gain is about -4dBi, so I don't consider this to be a performance
improvement. Bigger really is better.



--
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