Antenna info 5ghz vs. 5.1 to 5.8ghz

smitbret

Diamond Member
Jul 27, 2006
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I'm looking to clean up the signal strength on my router's 5GHz band so I've been looking at dual-band paddle antennas that are 5-7 dbi to replace the 2dbi omnis that it came with. I'm confused about some of the nomenclature. Like this antenna in particular:

http://www.amazon.com/AIR802-ANRD245...491613&sr=8-47

I know I need an antenna that is 2.4GHz/5GHz but what does it mean when the description says it is usable from 5.1 to 5.8 GHz? I'm assuming that it's not the same as standard 5GHz???? Or is it?

Can anyone clear it up for me?
 
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Emulex

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2001
9,759
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2.4ghz is a longer antenna (coil wise) than 5ghz (5-6ghz) - my wrt600n has 6 antenna's. two 5ghz , and 4 2.4ghz - so if you plan to go that route remember they are different antenna's and you may wish to aim them separately.

if you are serious about gain - go find the china YAGI antennas. they are 18-25dbi and super directional. you can get hella range with a 2.4ghz channel6 (wzr buffalo) stock firmware is 830mw (+20dbi = wow) and you can bump that up to 1 watt if you want. you have to drop down a little for 40-wide channels.

alot of people diss 2.4ghz - i have 20 neighbors and with the 2dbi stock directionals - i sustain 16.5MB/s using smb copy (explorer).

My E4200 linksys on 5ghz gets about 11-12MB/s using its fancy 5ghz 40hz wide. I haven't tried the 60hz channel(450mbit) but i suspect it may not be magical but more in line with the buffalo 15-17MB/s.

Trendnet has a new 60-wide 2.4 and 60-wide 5ghz (dual simultaneous) thats 450 2.4 and 450 5ghz (if you use two usb trendnet sticks) you'll have two ip's one on 2.4 and one on 5ghz and you can pull some mad bandwidth (not bonded) but 15-20MB/s on each so maybe 35-40'ish MB/s total copying two files over SMB.

People if you are getting 10-11MB/s - that is WAY slow for a typical same floor setup. junk slow.