Antenna for Dlink 614+

[BG4533]

My wireless network setup consists of a Dlink 614+ wireless router and a Dell Truemobile 1150 flashed to Orinoco gold firmware. I just purchased this card expecting better range than my Dlink 650+. The range is slightly better, but not much. I am looking at purchasing a cheap antenna for my router. I have a few questions before I do. First, I am in a dorm room with cinder block walls. I would like to be able to get to a friends room only 2 rooms away. It is only about 40 feet from my router, but there are 3 cinder block walls and 2 regular walls in the way. Currently, I can pick up my router and connect to it in my friends room, but the connection drops constantly. I am guessing I don't need a great antenna to pick up the signal just a bit. I was looking at this antenna. Do you think it would fit my needs? Can I purchase only one or do I need to replace both antennas on my router? Would I need any other adaptors to make this fit my router? Is there a better antenna for not a whole lot more? Maybe $40 max.

I was also looking at an antenna for my laptop for occasional use when I want to go just a bit further. Woud this this work?

Sorry for all the questions. I am new to the wifi and antenna stuff.

Thanks for the help,
Brian

 

[chanachana]

Well, I have had mixed experiences using range extending antennas. Best thing you cuold do is just to try it out, though if your signal is very bad, I wouldn't be too hopeful of getting a dramatic increase.

 

[BG4533]

I went ahead and ordered the antenna for my router. A few people over at the AMDMB forums said it worked well. For only $20 I dont expect a ton anyway. Also, by playing with some router settings and moving it a bit I was able to get a more stable connection, but not quite good enough.

Brian

 

[Glendor]

Hello Brian,
I know this may be dated information, but maybe it will still be useful info. You may not have needed a new antenna. What kind of computer does your friend have? More to the point, which way is the antenna on his NIC aligned; horizontal or vertical? Due to the polarity of RF signals, it is good to set your antenna(s) on your router to match your receiving NICs. I.E.: If you have mostly (or All) laptop users who have PCMCIA wireless NICs (almost always horizontal antennas) you should turn the antennas on your wireless router to be horizontal to the Earth's surface. If you have PCI NICs with articulated antennas, you should make sure that both the router and NIC antennas are the same, either all horizontal or all vertical.

Another thing to take into consideration is the equipment you are buying. Is it the new antenna have the same Impedance as your Router? I see from the link that the antenna is 50 Ohm, and that is pretty standard for SOHO wireless equipment, but it wouldn't hurt to check with the router manufacturer.

You can probably get by with changing only one antenna. The reason for having two is so the router can compensate for multipath (I won't go into that). Let's just say that the router will use the better of the two signals it receives from both antennas.

I hope I've been helpful, but if you have any questions about what I've written, just PM me.

I have to ask this though: If you are only 40' apart, why not string a CAT5 cable between the two rooms, maybe out one window, and in the other? You would have a better signal, and could get as high as 100mbps connection speed.

 

[RedFox1]

Nice writeup Glendor -- on your advice I've adjusted my antenna (horizontal for my PCMCIA card) and I did seem to pick up a little range.

First, I am in a dorm room with cinder block walls. I would like to be able to get to a friends room only 2 rooms away.

I'm guessing that's why it has to be wireless for him. Sounds like the CAT5 might not work too hot...he'd have to drill through cinder-block walls or run cable down the dormatory hallway. (Dormatory hallways being an environment as hostile as they come )

-Russ