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8dB omni antenna. Over the top?

  • 24-05-2005 4:41pm
    #1
    vibe666
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,016 ✭✭✭✭


    I've been looking to increase the wifi range on my desktop PC and was thinking of getting an external antenna.

    the thought crossed my mind to build myself a cantenna, but i'd be more inclined to go for an omni-directional antenna than the point and shoot type i'd end up with that way, and a decent self build omni is a bit harder to put together and i reckon would be out of my league skills wise.

    anyway, had a look around and the commercial products are out of my price range for what i want to do, so i had a look on ebay, and some guy in poland or somewhere similar is building them and selling them for £19 (stg) inc. shipping to Ireland for an 8dB omni antenna with pole mount bracket.

    here it is anyway: he's not got the best rating in the world, but for the price I might risk it.

    in it's favour it's cheaper than even the 4-5dB ones I've seen elsewhere, but is 8dB over the top? in real world terms what improvements can I expect in range above and beyond what my little 6" rubber duck antenna is getting at the moment?


Comments

  • #2
    bigpaddy2004
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,078 ✭✭✭bigpaddy2004


    an 8db omni is crap. i have one about 1/4 of a mile from a 15 db omni and it is unable to communicate with it. go for at least 12db, well worth the few extra quid


  • #3
    vibe666
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,016 ✭✭✭✭vibe666


    i've not seen a 12dB omni for anywhere near £19.

    I don't want to communicate with the world (not directly at least) just get better reception than I've got at the moment. how much stronger is an 8dB omni going to be than my current laptop's internal antenna?


  • #4
    bigpaddy2004
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,078 ✭✭✭bigpaddy2004


    Alot...but you are going to have to try and mount it somewhere. You should try the 5dbi magnetic omni's. They are very powerful.


  • #5
    pauln
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 366 ✭✭pauln


    The outputs only ever going to be a multiple of the input to the antenna so if your inputs weak even a 10dB is only going to get to far. I've a few wireless setups, one 10dB omni covering nearly 10Km+.


  • #6
    bigpaddy2004
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,078 ✭✭✭bigpaddy2004


    pauln wrote:
    The outputs only ever going to be a multiple of the input to the antenna so if your inputs weak even a 10dB is only going to get to far. I've a few wireless setups, one 10dB omni covering nearly 10Km+.

    i dont know how you are doing that, must be more that 100mw's going through it. I have a parabolic antenna, 20.5dbi looking at a 15dbi omni bout 3kms away, with 30% signal


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  • #7
    bigpaddy2004
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,078 ✭✭✭bigpaddy2004


    Correction.....I would like to know how you are doing that!! :)


  • #8
    Rew
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 8,679 Mod ✭✭✭✭Rew


    What hardware are you using? Anythign thats giving u a % signal strength dosn't sound good...

    Iv a little 5db mag mount, great little antenna.


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