Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:49 Post subject: WRT54GL Signal Amplifier/Booster
Simple straight forward question... If any of you have any experience with signal amplifiers/boosters, which should I buy and which is the better performer for improving signal quality at longer distance?
Joined: 13 Nov 2008 Posts: 5266 Location: CENTRAL Midnowhere
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 16:04 Post subject:
Antennas are a far more effective means of boosting signals than amps are.
(I realize that doesn't answer your question about which of the two specific amps you were asking about, is better.) _________________ Warning: I'm "out of my element!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjYJ7zZ9BRw&NR=1
2) I did business with one of these sellers. Once. maggot breathed fecal brained simple minded arrogant morons.
2) more power with a jive junk joke of an antenna is a puny plan. like running a 454 Chevy through a 3/4" exhaust pipe. That antenna is ridiculous
3) Conventional wisdom for electronic techs: $10 spent on an antenna is worth $100 spent on an amplifier. Solve RF problems with antennas, then use amplifiers as a last resort.
4: 2.4 gHz is the frequency used by most WiFi gear. 2.4 gHz is the resonant frequency of water. The vitreous humor - the liquid in your eyeball - is 85% water. The manufacturers use low power in equipment that is mounted at eye level for a good reason.
Twice the power, half the price, mounts to an outdoor antenna, and if you get two they auto negotiate the optimum settings for the length of the link:
Thank you for all your replies. I've tried a couple of antennas with not so great results. Could be the antennas i'm trying. I've tried a linksys 7dBi omni and a super cantenna (sent back for a refund). I've heard good things about the yagi style antennas. Should I give one of these a go before I try an amplifier? I may not be comparing apples to apples here, but my point of reference would be my Alfa USB 500mW wifi adapter. It's by far the best long range wifi adapter i've seen. Would it be a far stretch to think I can achieve the same results as the alfa wifi adapter? Should I give the yagi a chance first? Thank you!
Short version; my neighbor and I are sharing a network connection from house to house (approx. 100-150 yards) with a wrt54gl(dd-wrt v24 sp1) and are just wanting to improve signal strength. Our goal is to improve the receive sensitivity on the wrt54gl. thank you!
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 13049 Location: Behind The Reset Button
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 20:35 Post subject:
I have a neighbor 4 door down... Approx 450+ feet away.
I have a linksys WSB signal booster (these devices also have a receive amp in them) and +7dbi linksys antennas.
For fun... I disconnected the WSB and the difference was about 2db.
The neighbor has no issues what so ever. dd-wrt reports his signal strength @ 32% and he is using a usb wireless adapter.
So... as everyone has said, the secret (oops... let everyone know), is the antennas. You have to receive as well as transmit. _________________ [Moderator Deleted]
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 13049 Location: Behind The Reset Button
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 20:52 Post subject:
I own +7dbi Linksys omni directional antennas and they do have an impact.
See... Here is the thing... Everyone thinks that better antenna's will make a difference & they do in regards to long distance. They make absolutely no difference from across the room.
I'm not going to recommend my antenna's as there are better to be had. At one time, these were available at best buy for 50 bucks for a pair + another 30 bucks for a stand with cables that connected to the router so you could move them.
I got the whole shebang from e-bay for 10 buck for the antennas & stands.
I believe there is a "catfish", "swordfish", maybe even "carp" thread that discusses antennas.. Search for the thread. (actually, it is catfish). _________________ [Moderator Deleted]
After some researching of the yagi's i'm still not sure if this is the right choice for me. Let me explain a little more in depth. This is not a direct line of sight setup. The WRT54GL is the only router with the dd-wrt firmware and the only router capable of upgrading antenna's. So I want to try and improve receive gain on the WRT54GL from another router that has stock firmware and stock internal antennas. Any suggestions or should the yagi's still be my best option?
