[cwalk]

I just thought I would write a quick report on my experience with modding my Buffalo WHR-G300N to accommodate two external antennas.

Background:

Wireless signal is almost non-existent in basement. Router is located on second floor.

Planning:

First, after reading FCC test documentation and gathering various images of dissembled WHR-G300Ns, I figured out that I needed two antennas with a 'u.fl' connector.

Second, I went to eBay and purchased:

2 x 2.4 GHz 5 dBi IPX u.fl omni directional wifi antennas (Diameter: 10.47mm, Length: 180mm). Total cost $12.99 USD.

Modding:

Below are some pictures I took while I was modding.


I needed to drill two holes at the top of the router to support the new antennas.


I used a hot glue gun to secure the antennas in place (crazy glue probably would have worked, but I had none around the house).




Main board with new antennas connected (connecting them was very simple).


Finished modded router next to the original two (stock) antennas.


Done!

I will add to this thread once I have adequately tested my new antennas.

Update: Results below.

[DerUltrazauberer]

Very nice! Did this mod help you? It would be fine if you can tell now something about the signal strength.

[DoesItMatter]

Could you post a link on where you ordered those antennas from?

Mod looks sweet!

I will have to try that on mine!

[Sash]

a few tips on this:

since its a MIMO router (wikipedia: mimo) you should move the antennas to have the bigest distance between them (even on the mounted side of the enclosure)
i would have uses rp-sma bulkhead plugs so that the antennas could be changed

[cwalk]

Ok, well my signal has definitely improved in my basement. Here are the results (used Vistumbler). The graphs indicate percentages (100% - being strongest signal). I estimate my mod added somewhere in the area of 20-40% signal improvement.

Before


After

[genetix]

Nice thread, that's very interesting! Good job

[Anonymouz]

Does it work if the 2 cables are connected to a single high gain antenna?

[Sash]

[Anonymouz]

[DarkScorpion]

Simply put, no.

[slaveunit]

With these u.fl connections, did you just pull them off? I dont believe the unscrew correct?

[cwalk]

[slaveunit]

Ok so I did an antenna mod of my own. The u.fl to sma 4 inch wires were $1 each. The antennas I already had from some sale or another. But I think they are around $17 each after rebate from newegg currently. They are +7dbi Dlink ones. I took some readings from an Asus netbook before and after the "mod". They are are from various places out side of my house. Here are the results:



Place of measurement/internal/external

front door/43-47dbi/48-51dbi
end walkway/30-34dbi/37-40dbi
end driveway/17-24dbi/33-36dbi
across street at mailbox/19-21dbi/27-31dbi
across street at 9944 and boat house/10-14dbi/18-25dbi
across street at palm/6-11dbi/15-17dbi
9934 numbers/2-5dbi/9-12dbi

Of course you have no idea where these places are but you can at least get a feel for the dbi increase from different distances.

Here are some of the pics I took during and after the "mod".

[cwalk]

[DoesItMatter]

OK.

I also did the mods to my 2 - WHR-G300N's

I have the same type of UFL -> RPSMA's that slaveunit has, except mine were a little longer.

4 - 12dbi 2.4ghz antennas - 13" each, were $18 shipped from Australia

4 - 10" UFL -> RPSMA's were $8 shipped from China

$26 for all parts, or $13 per router, to add 2 - 12dbi 2.4ghz Antennas per router.

Below are some measurements for before and after.
I modified 1 WHR-G300N originally, but only put 2 - 2dbi external antennas on, because I still hadn't received the 12dbi antennas in the mail yet.

---------------------

5 feet away computers & monitor in between.

Router 1 - original antennas

Router 2 - 2 - 2dbi external antennas

----------------

Average Signal Quality 50%

Signal = -50
Noise = -95
SNR = 45

TX Power = 101mw

Channel 8 - Mixed - Rate = 300Mb/s

----------------

After both antenna mods

Router's 1 and 2 - each have 2 - 12dbi external antennas

Average Signal Quality 65%

Signal = -40
Noise = -95
SNR = 55

TX Power = 101mw

Channel 8 - Mixed - Rate = 300Mb/s

-----------------

Attached is a pic of the 2 routers attached in a Access Point and Repeater Bridge configuration

This was about 5 feet away, computer and monitor in-between.