Do the 2 antennas on Linksys routers both Send/Receive?

[SuperFreaky]

I have 2 rooms about 60 ft apart that I need to bridge wirelessly.

My plan is to put a Linksys wireless G router in the middle and then buy 2 extension cords and 2 antennas to run to the 2 rooms.

Will this work?
Are the 2 antennas on Linksys routers Send/Receive, or does one send and the other receive?

 

[SuperFreaky]

 

[RebateMonger]

UseNet discussion of this exact question.

The answer given is "No, it won't work, because the Linksys only uses one antenna at a time and an extension will degrade the antenna signal anyway."

60 feet isn't normally a problem for a WiFi router. If you can put it in the center, that's only 30 feet range in each direction.

If there IS a problem with WiFi range, consider putting the router on one end and making a reflector to improve the antenna gain. Or buy a second WiFi router (they are dirt cheap), turn it into an access point by turning off DHCP, and connecting the two routers with a CAT5 cable. If you are able to connect the rooms with an antenna extension cable, you can obviously run a Cat5 instead.

 

[JackMDS]

Even if the Router can be made to work this way.

Extending 2.4GHz with Antenna?s coax for more the few feet attenuate dramatically the Signal.

When Antennae are put outside on a Tower, the AP is usually install on the tower as well in special weather proof enclosure, and a CAT5e is used for getting in the signal in.

The cost of the Coax Pigtails and Antenna would probably be more than buying inexpensive WDS capable Wireless Router.

The best Method to Extend Wireless Coverage depends heavily on the Specific Environment.

Look at these pages they describe most of the options that are within the means of Entry Level users, and choose the one that fits you environment best.

Link to: Extending the Distance of Entry Level Wireless Network.

Link to: Wirelessly Bridging Home / Network.

Link to: Hi Gain Antenna for Entry Level Wireless.

In general, the best Method involves using multiple units connect with wire to the source.

Or WDS ( Wireless Network - Configuration Modes. ) system using Hardware of one Brand across the board.

:sun:

 

[SuperFreaky]

"A fifty foot long cable used on the ISM band will completely KILL your
signals, unless you're using *VERY EXPENSIVE* rigid Heliax type cable, or
even more expensive rigid waveguide."

So if I get a *VERY EXPENSIVE* rigid Heliax cable it sounds like it should work.

 

[SuperFreaky]

I don't want to use a 2nd router and a cat5 run because of water damage issues

 

[RebateMonger]

Only you know why you can run "rigid Heliax" cable between the rooms, but not CAT5.

 

[Atheus]

Dude, are you seriously asking if you can run 60ft of co-ax to carry an 802.11g signal? Don't you think this completely defeats the point of wireless?

1 - What makes you think it won't work wirelessly without any mods at all? 60ft is like 20 meters... that's nothing.

2 - If it doesn't work, just boost the transmit power a bit and get some better antennas - tin cans work well.

3 - If you want to run cable, run cat5. What makes you think it is damaged by water?

4 - There is no point 4.

5 - The Linksys only uses one antenna at a time. You can select which antenna it uses with Openwrt and possibly other firmwares too. Therefore I can see no reason a _single_ computer could not be connected to the antenna port with a cable BUT the math is not in favour of this. The signal starts degrading fast, and increases in rate of degradation as it goes. 60ft is way too long, think more like 6ft max.

 

[SuperFreaky]

1. I know it won't work because I have tried it. There are a number of walls involved some insulated with tin. (yes, tin)
2. I have tried this, but the tin walls seem to stop any amount of boosting.
3. The room where I need wireless gets hosed down often and anything in there needs to waterproof.
5. Damn! I hope you are mistaken, I'll report back tomorrow.

I bought 40Ft of "LMR-400 WiFi Cable" from here
http://www.radiolabs.com/products/cables/cable.php

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Atheus
4 - There is no point 4.

LOL.

 

[RebateMonger]

Of course, it always helps mentioning that the rooms have tin walls and are hosed down regularly.

If I really wanted to protect CAT5 cable from rain and sun, I'd just put it inside dirt-cheap 3/4-inch PVC pipe. But I've had 100 feet of bare CAT5 running outside across my 140F roof in sunny (and occasionally rainy) Arizona for eight years without incident. Most of the computers in my home, including my office PCs, get their Internet access via this exposed CAT5 cable.

 

[NewBlackDak]

Why go wireless to make 2 long cable runs. Put the AP where more machines are going to be, and run cat5 to the other end. Put a cheap AP there, or just use the wired network.
Even cheap wireless devices work for those distances though. I can't see it not working unless you have radiation shielding, and if that is the case I'm guessing there shouldn't be wireless there.
Why would there be water damage to cat5, and not an antennae cable?

 

[SuperFreaky]

All good questions

1. I can't use cat5 or put the router at the end with the shielded room. The only available plugs are in an area that will get wet (the plugs are covered).
2. I think it's radiation shieling in the walls, but the room isn't being used for its original purpose.
3. I would be worried to have someone plug a wet cat5 cable into 6 of my rigs once a day. Putting a water proof cover over the router or any ports isn't an option. I can mount a dome antennae with the waterproof side in the room.

 

[JackMDS]

You go to a nice store and you buy an inexpensive Wireless Cable/DSL Router (or an Access Point).

You install the Router (AP) in the room (just like you would install the Dome Antenna).

You lay a CAT5e cable to the room and connect it to the Router (AP) and you would have a first class Wireless service in the room (much better and considerably cheaper than an expensive wave-guide that stretched for 60?).

Given the imagination, which you show in the previous posts, I am sure that you can find a Box that can shield the Wireless Router from the pouring water. If you use a plastic, the Antenna can be dry as well. Do not forget to drill few holes for ventilation. The entries to the box can be corked with Bathroom corking material.

:sun:

P.S. If you buy a Wireless cable/DSL Router, you have to connect it this way (unless you would like a segregated Network). Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point

 

[Atheus]

Your walls have fricking _radiation shielding_? No wireless for you buddy!

Have you heard of ethernet over power lines? Apparently you can piggyback a signal on regular old AC. I've never used it (and so I hesitate to recommend it) but it looks like would solve all your problems... The power lines are in the wall, protected from eveything.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Atheus
Your walls have fricking _radiation shielding_? No wireless for you buddy!.

No In or Out through the walls, but if the Antenna is in it would work within the Room.

:sun:

 

[NewBlackDak]

I say rig something up with a clear plastic bin, and an access point inside it.

 

[SuperFreaky]

I tested today with one of the two antennas connected to 40ft of extension cable with a dome antenna at the end and it worked pretty well. I can connect wirelessly from computers at both ends. I successfully transferred about 2GB of data and left a remote desktop session open for an hour without any hiccups.

Then it crapped out and I had to reset the router...

If what people said about the antennas only working 1 at a time was true, could I have had as much success as I did?

 

[JackMDS]

OK. I am happy for you.:thumbsup:

They rate the Car's Donut spare tires for 50 miles. You can be sure that you can drive it for more than 50 miles.

How much more? I do not know and I am not going to test it on my car.

Just to be on safe side keep the link handy, http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=36&threadid=1787107&enterthread=y

:sun:

P.S. Did you buy the extention coax and the Antennae before you posted here?