Netgear DG834G; extending range with ANT2405

16 Mar 2005 2:13 PM

Gary

Hi all,

I've looked around and can't seem to find a clear answer for this one.
I have no problems with my wireless router (Netgear DG834G), but I'd
just like to increase the range a bit and improve the signal strength
(and hopefully bandwidth) for the applications I currently use it for.

I figured the best and simplest way to do this was to get a better
antenna. I've looked around, and found that for a reasonable cost, the
Netgear ANT2405 looks like a decent omnidirectional antenna, giving a
5 dBi gain. To get any higher, I'm then looking at spending upwards of
£100 (~$160) - which is more expensive than the router and is likely
overkill for my uses.

So, my question is simple; will the ANT2405 give an increase in
range/signal strength that'll actually be noticable or significant? If
anyone has any direct experience of this, that'd be cool. As would any
alternative solutions/products anyone has any experience with - as
long as they'll work with a DG834G router.

Much obliged all!

G

16 Mar 2005 3:50 PM

1313

I had a range problem once, and I managed to cure this with a Pringles tube.
Placing the Pringles tube (silver lined) over the aerial I then pointed it
towards my other aerial this then gave me a sort of directional beam. Really
low tech but worked.
Show quoteHide quote

"Gary" <cool_and_fu***@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:b5023d22.0503160613.6ec207c4@posting.google.com...
> Hi all,
>
> I've looked around and can't seem to find a clear answer for this one.
> I have no problems with my wireless router (Netgear DG834G), but I'd
> just like to increase the range a bit and improve the signal strength
> (and hopefully bandwidth) for the applications I currently use it for.
>
> I figured the best and simplest way to do this was to get a better
> antenna. I've looked around, and found that for a reasonable cost, the
> Netgear ANT2405 looks like a decent omnidirectional antenna, giving a
> 5 dBi gain. To get any higher, I'm then looking at spending upwards of
> £100 (~$160) - which is more expensive than the router and is likely
> overkill for my uses.
>
> So, my question is simple; will the ANT2405 give an increase in
> range/signal strength that'll actually be noticable or significant? If
> anyone has any direct experience of this, that'd be cool. As would any
> alternative solutions/products anyone has any experience with - as
> long as they'll work with a DG834G router.
>
> Much obliged all!
>
> G

16 Mar 2005 6:03 PM

dold

Gary <cool_and_fu***@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I've looked around and can't seem to find a clear answer for this one.
> I have no problems with my wireless router (Netgear DG834G), but I'd
> just like to increase the range a bit and improve the signal strength
> (and hopefully bandwidth) for the applications I currently use it for.

If you need the gain in one direction, there are lots of free reflectors
and antennas that you can build.
The EZ-10 is so simple, you should do it first, and then proceed with other
designs.

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/Ez-10/
http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template/default.htm

http://www.nodomainname.co.uk/cantenna/cantenna.htm
Another poster suggests sticking the existing antenna into a pringles can.
That is along the lines of some of the links you'll find on David's page,
but using a can that's a little larger diameter. The can really needs to
be between 65 and 120 mm, and I think the Pringles can is on the slender
side, which should make it hard to point, with a narrow beam.

---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

16 Mar 2005 10:13 PM

Gary

Cheers for the replies chaps, I'll 'em out. Any idea as to how
effective the commercial antennas (like the ANT2405) are though?

16 Mar 2005 11:58 PM

dold

Gary <cool_and_fu***@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Cheers for the replies chaps, I'll 'em out. Any idea as to how
> effective the commercial antennas (like the ANT2405) are though?

I think the concensus is that you don't want to buy an antenna from the WAP
vendor, there are other cheaper sources, and most of the conversation in
this group seems to prefer patch antennas for moderate gain, and parabolics
for large gains. http://www.pacwireless.com/ is a popular place to go.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

17 Mar 2005 8:42 AM

mk38

<d***@XReXXNetge.usenet.us.com> wrote in message
Show quoteHide quote

news:d1ah6n$llq$1@blue.rahul.net...
> Gary <cool_and_fu***@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Cheers for the replies chaps, I'll 'em out. Any idea as to how
>> effective the commercial antennas (like the ANT2405) are though?
>
> I think the concensus is that you don't want to buy an antenna from the
> WAP
> vendor, there are other cheaper sources, and most of the conversation in
> this group seems to prefer patch antennas for moderate gain, and
> parabolics
> for large gains. http://www.pacwireless.com/ is a popular place to go.
>
> --
> ---
> Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5
>

Good site for information. Use this for price comparison..

http://www.solwise.co.uk

mk38