How far does 15db signal is? Mega Antenna for Mega Wi-Fi network.

Mari0Br0s

Member
Feb 22, 2005
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Hi guys, I and a bunch of friend would like to start a mega wi-fi network. We just looked for wireless antenna, and the best we've found is 15db. How far does 15db is? I mean, what distance people would be able to get the signal?

The antenna is the D-Link ANT24-1500

I intent to use a D-Link DI-624 router, and we all intent to use D-Link DWL-G520 Wi-Fi cards.
 

foxkm

Senior member
Dec 11, 2002
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Well, This question all depends on howmany mW your transmitter can give off. The problem with Wifi is that the mW is VERY low on all the tranmitters as regulated by the FCC. Even with a 15 db antenna, without line of sight, you will not cover much more area than the regular whip antennas that come with the device. If you have line of sight, with a 15 db antenna and say a 100mW transmitter, you could potentially go a couple of miles with a low signal.

Don't expect miracles to happen with current WiFi. If you really are looking to have a decent coverage area (non line of sight) then look into the Belkin Pre-N Technology.
This might give you 2x the standard coverage area than b/g currently can give you, high DB antenna or not.
KMF
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
29,516
407
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Assuming that you are talking about Entry Level Wireless Hardware.

Antennae propagate the signal through the Air and thus there is No way to accurately quantify gains in distance it depends on too many uncontrolled environmental variables (even humidity is a variable).

Indoor a better Omni Antenna might result in insignificant improvement of few feet.

Out door with a line of sight it might stretch the distance for few hundred feet.

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

Link to: Wirelessly Bridging Home / SOHO Network.

:sun:
 

Slug

Senior member
Oct 12, 1999
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Hawking makes a cheap signal booster that plugs into the antenna port of your router. It is NOT a ranger extender, so no bandwidth loss. Goes up to 500Mw. You could probably attach the high gain antenna to it.
 

ktwebb

Platinum Member
Nov 20, 1999
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"If you have line of sight, with a 15 db antenna and say a 100mW transmitter, you could potentially go a couple of miles with a low signal."

Assuming no loss from cable and line of sight, you could go many miles with a GREAT signal with a 100 mW radio and a 15 dB yagi with a relatively narrow beamwidth.

To the OP, as has been inferred, your question has no accurate answer. Much too general a question. Even a detailed specific question could not be answered accurately. Site surveys. That's how you find out what your coverage will be in a scenario like your talking about.
 

ktwebb

Platinum Member
Nov 20, 1999
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Originally posted by: Slug
Hawking makes a cheap signal booster that plugs into the antenna port of your router. It is NOT a ranger extender, so no bandwidth loss. Goes up to 500Mw. You could probably attach the high gain antenna to it.

If it's a bi-directional amp you'd be well advised to not put that on a consumer grade AP. AP go poof.

 

Slug

Senior member
Oct 12, 1999
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Hawking HSB1. Made specifically for consumer grade routers. They even sell the small adapters to hook to the TNC connecters on the Linksys products. I've been using mine without problems for months with my WRT54G.

Link
 

ktwebb

Platinum Member
Nov 20, 1999
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Yep, bi-directional amp. Bad, bad idea. OP, do not buy a bi directional 500 mW amp for your AP. Many reasons. Security, harmonics, etc.. it will foul the radio. You can do anything you need with radiators, antennas.