Router Antennas

robson689 · 23-11-2012, 22:17

Does anyone know what advantage I would get from using large antennas on my router? I have ordered 2x 16dBi antennas and was wondering what difference it will make in terms of wireless range. They're 38cm in length and omni-directional.

Thanks!

thenry · 23-11-2012, 22:29

you should notice better coverage.

which product have you brought? and which router are you fitting them to? whats the struture in which its going to be used like? what are you trying to achieve?

robson689 · 23-11-2012, 22:35

I've bought 2 of these: http://bit.ly/UPIng9

I will be fitting them to a DLINK DIR-615 and want to eliminate the dead / weak spots in my house. Currently when you go to a corner of the house the signal drops quite bad and becomes slow.

thenry · 23-11-2012, 22:48

have you checked whether the 615 you have or rev. has the ability for the owner to simply unscrew the antennas off? don't pull or the hard wire will come out with it.

robson689 · 23-11-2012, 22:53

I will have to check on Monday, but if not will it be as simple as to de-solder the old antennas or a little more complicated?

thenry · 23-11-2012, 23:04

more complex and also could prove a problem for the router itself (over heating)

qasdfdsaq · 23-11-2012, 23:06

Revision D2 as U.FL connectors for replacement antennas/pigtails, revision D4 has the antenna cable soldered directly to the mainboard.

Large antennas focus the signal in one direction. Indoors, it's pretty pointless as most of the signal is reflected, and even if it weren't it'd only work well if you had a wide, flat residence.

You'd also be breaking ETSI regulations, but who cares about those, right?

robson689 · 23-11-2012, 23:07

Is it the antennas that could cause overheating or using the soldering iron on it?

qasdfdsaq · 23-11-2012, 23:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenry

more complex and also could prove a problem for the router itself (over heating)

Bollocks.

thenry · 23-11-2012, 23:13

wont it overheat when setting are tweaked to max out the antennas?

---------- Post added at 23:13 ---------- Previous post was at 23:11 ----------

anyway never fear qas is here. ask him, he knows everything there is to know about the 615.

robson689 · 23-11-2012, 23:25

Ok qas, if the antennas are maxed out will the router overheat and will my health be at risk from such large antennas?

qasdfdsaq · 24-11-2012, 02:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenry

wont it overheat when setting are tweaked to max out the antennas?

Max out antennas? What are you on about?

Router outputs fixed power. Antenna points it in a certain direction. Different antenna points it more precisely in a certain direction.

Nothing to overheat.

Though if you short the antenna connectors it probably won't like that, but all you'll get then is crappy performance until you connect them properly.

Quote:

anyway never fear qas is here. ask him, he knows everything there is to know about the 615.

Only revisions D2 and D4 (the Virgin Media ones)

That said I still haven't managed to get the ethernet, wireless, hardware NAT and mesh networking to work on it at the same time. I kinda gave up and I moved onto more expensive kit.

robson689 · 24-11-2012, 02:24

The antennas I got say they're omni-directional and I have the D2 version.

qasdfdsaq · 24-11-2012, 04:22

Omnidirectional in the horizontal plane. Probably as omnidirectional as a pancake in the vertical plane...

Kymmy · 24-11-2012, 08:47

Moved to Networking forum as nothing to do with VM internet