Bigger wifi antennas = better?

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Crow550

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2005
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I have a Linksys 54G router with Tomato with transmit power set to 70, wifi channel 11. I went from the normal antennas to ones that are three times as big. I got them from a cheap Linksys B router for like $4 at a second hand store.

Originals:
DSCF1080.JPG


Newer ones:
DSCF1079.JPG


I figured the antennas were worth the price.

However....Is there any cons to using these compared to the old ones?

I plan to sell the B router with my old antennas.

Just wondering....



Thanks.
 
JackMDS

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
29,530
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"Big" is Not an Antenna Technology variable.

If the new Antennae are omni directional High Gain (more than 2dbi).

Then it is better and there is no cons.


:cool:
 
T

theevilsharpie

Platinum Member
Nov 2, 2009
2,322
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Antennas focus a wireless transmission, kind of like mirrors focus a light bulb in a flashlight.

The stock low-gain omnidirectional antennas that your Linksys comes with radiate a signal pattern from the antenna element that resembles a really thick donut. Your new high-gain omnidirectional antennas extend the "donut," but also flattens it. In other words, with the way your antennas are oriented in your picture, your signal will strengthen on the same floor, but you'll have a weaker signal than before on floors above or below the router. Whether that's good or bad is something only you can answer.
 
C

Crow550

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2005
2,381
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theevilsharpie said:
Antennas focus a wireless transmission, kind of like mirrors focus a light bulb in a flashlight.

The stock low-gain omnidirectional antennas that your Linksys comes with radiate a signal pattern from the antenna element that resembles a really thick donut. Your new high-gain omnidirectional antennas extend the "donut," but also flattens it. In other words, with the way your antennas are oriented in your picture, your signal will strengthen on the same floor, but you'll have a weaker signal than before on floors above or below the router. Whether that's good or bad is something only you can answer.
Click to expand...

I just have Wifi devices on the left (my room with the Wii) and right (living room with Roku box) of the router in the house. One floor too. I know it's best not to have the router on top of the computer case. However it's either beside the case or on top the way things are. Unless I put a shelf on the wall.

Some other Wifi settings I changed are using it in mixed mode for my PSP as it uses B. However since I barely go online with it. I could keep the router in G only.

Channel 11.

Afterburner auto, default disable

Frame Burst enable, default disable

Transmit Power 70w, default 42w
 
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Modelworks

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
Going larger with an antenna can actually degrade performance if done wrong. There are a couple terms you need to familiarize yourself with, impedance and wavelength .

Impedance is a tough one to describe but think of it as how fast the antenna is getting rid of the signal it is being sent. If the impedance is wrong then when you send your signal the antenna will actually reflect back the signal you want to send along the cable to it, degrading performance. You need the antenna to match the transmitter so they work in unison and nothing is being reflected back. Adding more wire, changing antenna size , all effect impedance. The crazy thing about impedance is it doesn't mean that adding a bigger antenna is the problem, a smaller one can do it too. It is a balancing act.

Wavelength is the other term. Wavelength is basically how long the wave is for the frequency you are using. Ideally you want the length of the antenna to match the proportions of the wavelength . For 2.4ghz the length of a single wave is around 5 inches. When designing antennas you usually will divide that up into 3/4 or 1/2 wave sizes depending on the material and cable used for best reception but maintaining the proportions to the total wave size. That is why using a long piece of wire does not make a good antenna.

Here is a high gain antenna that is made from a single piece of copper wire:
http://martybugs.net/wireless/collinear.cgi
 
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C

Crow550

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2005
2,381
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Don't know if it's any better or the same outside either....

Also having the router set at 70mw & another bridged router in another room set to 70mw too. Won't cause any health issues will it?
 
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imagoon

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2003
5,199
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Lots of the routers actually get poorer performance at higher outputs. They tend to produce a lot of noise and distort the wave forms.
 
JackMDS

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
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Crow550 said:
I heard linksys routers work better at 70mw.
Click to expand...

I have few Linksys wrt54GL with DD-WRT.

Their Sweet Spot. I.e., boosting the RF amp. without severally increasing the Signal to Noise Ratio(SNR) is about 55mW.

The default with the original firmware is 33mW.

55 mW with 5dbi omni is a nice improvement over the original default.
 
C

Crow550

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2005
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spidey07 said:
That's pushing it for even mediocre radios. Let alone linksys.
Click to expand...

That's what DD-WRT defaults too. I've heard from various sources that 70mw was the sweet spot.

So I dunno. Just followed the Tomato guide on Lifehacker. LOL.
 
JackMDS

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
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Crow550 said:
How does one find out the dbi on a antenna?
Click to expand...

When you buy it is part of the data.

Otherwise it is rather complicated affair that needs standard tools in-order to find the dbi of an Antenna that you already have.


:cool:
 
S

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
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Crow550 said:
That's what DD-WRT defaults too. I've heard from various sources that 70mw was the sweet spot.

So I dunno. Just followed the Tomato guide on Lifehacker. LOL.
Click to expand...

Careful what you read on the intarweb. Most don't know what they are talking about.
 
C

Crow550

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2005
2,381
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81
Well I hope these new antennas provide more db than the older ones? I assumed bigger = more DB.

Or should I have keep the old ones and made two Windsurfers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUTT8wdN_VA Or add Windsurfers to these bigger ones lol.


My sister needs a wifi router. So I think i'll give her the B router & explain what B, G & N offers. Just need to decide if these bigger antennas are worth it that I traded?

I will also try bringing both routers in my house to 55mw instead of 70mw & see if Tomato says there's less noise.

Thanks everyone.
 
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K

killster1

Banned
Mar 15, 2007
6,205
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spidey07 said:
Careful what you read on the intarweb. Most don't know what they are talking about.
Click to expand...

Very very true i remember one occasion that spidey07 told guy that got fired to resume work like nothing happened (he told them to just march right in and start working like they didnt get fired) was very funny advice ill never forget, im sure the guy would not even get past front gate in the situation let alone work the rest of the day.


As far as antennas my little boy taught me about them, i was surprised to see dinky little wire in the antenna when he opened it up so they basically are the same thing. If you want your neighbors to get signal put the antenna outside =P if its for indoor use why worry about it unless you have 4 story house?
 
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C

Crow550

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2005
2,381
5
81
I don't want neighbors to get access. Plus I'm in da woods. In a single floor house. I have devices I wouldn't mind using outside.



Oh I tried 55w. No change is noise still about -94. -55 & -54 on devices. However speedtest.net on my Wii reports slower speeds.

Also before this I changed from ch.11 to ch.1 at 70w & went from 2-3megs on my Wii to a steady 4mb with both antennas. Which was fine.

So should I try ch.11 on 55w or leave it on ch.1 at 70w on both routers?


Also what about the DD-WRT router & setting it as a repeater or repeater bridge? I'd have to make it's own SSID right?
 
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