Re: DIY WiFi antenna (to increase reception)

From: James Knott (james.knott_at_rogers.com)
Date: 06/10/05 

Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 21:43:57 -0400

gaikokujinkyofusho@gmail.com wrote:

>
>
> Hi, I kinda new to wireless networking but wanted to find out if it was
> possible to make an antenna that increases the range of signals my
> notebook can receive. I have looked around and most antennas that I
> have seen are for increasing the range of a network (the sending of the
> signals?) not necessarily for reception... or if it works for
> transmission would it also work for reception? Is it possible to build
> (or buy on the cheap) some sort of omni-directional antenna that will
> allow me to receive signals that are far away? Any help would be
> greatly appreciated!

With very few exceptions, antennas work equally well for transmission and
reception. Now what you're looking for is gain, which involves tradeoffs.
You get more signal in one direction, only by reducing it in others. With
a standard vertical antenna, you'll have a donut shaped pattern. With an
omnidirectional gain antenna, you'll have a squashed donut, where range is
extended at the expense of signal at higher angles. You can also get
directional antennas, with more gain. However, the more gain, the more
complex (read expensive) the antenna becomes. There are commercial antenna
available and you can roll your own as well. But no matter how you obtain
an external antenna, you'll need some method to connect it. Does your wifi
adapter have a connector, that can be used for an external antenna?

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