Linksys High-Gain Networking Antenna Kit $9.99

[Delbert]

Picked these up at my local RadioShack. I havent hooked them up to my router yet, and it may be pure snake oil, but I figured for 10 bucks it may be worth a shot at extending the range.
I thought Linksys made something that looked exactly like this (including the bracket) and I remember them getting good reviews, but I couldnt find anything.
7dBi Networking Antenna (2-Pack) for Linksys Routers

edit:2 Back in stock but price at $19.99

 

[JWade]

i got the linksys branded one of this awhile ago. never tested the range on them, but i do know that the wireless signal is stronger with them. My computer in one room of the house (opposite end of the house to where my router is) went from having 3 bars of signal with the original antennaes to having a full 5 bars with these antennaes. So i assume the range is farther since signal strength is better at the same distance, i paid more than $10 for my linksys branded ones, so i would say $10 is definately worth it.

only difference is the bracket to hold the antennaes is slightly different.

 

[JWade]

ack, double post

 

[thelamer]

This in combination with signal boost with open-wrt can have some serious potential.

Anyone have any results they can post??

 

[gsaldivar]

oos

 

[maxxas]

I picked this up last week. Get's me about a 25% boost in signal two rooms over. Good deal.

 

[Slick5150]

I picked these up last time Radioshack had them on sale. They definitely do improve your signal strength.

 

[cyberia]

These will not work on D-Link or Netgear routers because of a different connector. For those routers I think you need this:

5dBi Omni-Directional Wi-Fi Indoor Antenna @ Geeks

They had it on sale last weekend for $4.99. I have one on the way, so I have not tested it myself yet.

 

[rochlin]

The thing is, you can get about 5dB of signal loss just at the antenna connector, so don't expect a whole lot from a 7dB boost...

 

[RaGe420]

I will have to go look tonight for some

 

[middlehead]

I don't need one of these right now, but this thread did remind to go look for a decent-yet-cheap cell booster.

 

[T2urtle]

can i put this end in my wireless PCI card that is a linksys?

 

[cyberia]

Originally posted by: T2urtle
can i put this end in my wireless PCI card that is a linksys?

I don't see why not if the connectors match. Can someone confirm?

 

[middlehead]

Originally posted by: T2urtle
can i put this end in my wireless PCI card that is a linksys?

We'd need to know the exact model of your card to confirm.

 

[harrkev]

Originally posted by: rochlin
The thing is, you can get about 5dB of signal loss just at the antenna connector, so don't expect a whole lot from a 7dB boost...

If so, that is a very poor antenna. You would be loosing 70% of your signal strength. If this were actually happening, whoever was making the connectors would go out of business real fast.

0.5 dB is a more realistic insertion loss. That cooresponds to loosing 10% of the energy.

 

[AMDMaddness]

here is a coupon you might be able to get another 30% off Text

 

[T2urtle]

now u post it. when i saw it i just left and got it at the store. $10.68 isn't bad.

well it does not work on my PCI card which is linksys and our linksys/vonage router. It does indeed work on the normal linksys router. the WRT54g or w/e number it is.

it seems the my pci card antenna and the linksys/vonage one antenna are the same.


=--------------------------



WMP54g and WRTP54G DOES NOT WORK

they are made of completely 2 diffrent style heads.

 

[cyberia]

Originally posted by: T2urtle
now u post it. when i saw it i just left and got it at the store. $10.68 isn't bad.

well it does not work on my PCI card which is linksys and our linksys/vonage router. It does indeed work on the normal linksys router. the WRT54g or w/e number it is.

it seems the my pci card antenna and the linksys/vonage one antenna are the same.

they are made of completely 2 diffrent style heads.




mines is WMP54g and the WRTP54G is the router DOES NOT WORK

Edit for clarity?

 

[SoulAssassin]

Does Radio Shack still sell the Realistic brand? I always thought that was the stupidest name.....like it's not a real product it's "realistic".

/sorry...started reminiscing for a second there...

 

[T2urtle]

the brand for this is "GIGAWARE"

 

[Delbert]

Per RadioShack Wiki

RadioShack's current proprietary brands include Presidian (audio and video equipment), Accurian (audio equipment and video equipment), Optimus (digital imaging products), Gigaware (personal computer accessories), Voicestar (Hands-free headsets), MyMusix (MP3 players), Kronus (Tools) and Enercell (batteries and power accessories). Discontinued brands include Realistic (sound equipment), and Archer (wiring and antennas).

 

[Netopia]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
Does Radio Shack still sell the Realistic brand? I always thought that was the stupidest name.....like it's not a real product it's "realistic".

/sorry...started reminiscing for a second there...

Realistic was the brand name for their audio equipment... realistic.... get it?... didn't sound canned or recorded, but realistic (like live music).

It wasn't top of the line stuff, but the name made sense for the product line.

Joe

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Cool, will swing by tomorrow.

 

[MIDealGuy]

quote:
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The thing is, you can get about 5dB of signal loss just at the antenna connector, so don't expect a whole lot from a 7dB boost...
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actually, the loss comes in from the coax used for some remote antennas. that thin, rg178 (i believe) is not really designed to carry 2.4 ghz signals. the only "lossless" way to send microwave signals is either by what's called a waveguide, or by the use of nitrogen-filled hardline (similar to what you see carrying RF up the towers in commercial broadcasting).

even a 3' piece of the rg-178 is going to show 3-5 db of loss. that's why if you want to mount a a/b/g/n router up high, you don't use coax to put the antenna up. you put the router as high as you can, with the shortest run of coax possible, preferrably a direct connection to the antenna (as these antennas have).

as a note, i had a 7 dbi antenna in my linksys wrt54g, connected with a 2' piece of rg178. i saw no performance increase in the house. i took the antenna off the mount, put it right into the back of the router, and saw a 20-30% increase in signal strength in the corner farthest from the house.

 

[MIDealGuy]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by: T2urtle
can i put this end in my wireless PCI card that is a linksys?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



I don't see why not if the connectors match. Can someone confirm?
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if the connectors match, you can. these antennas have a tnc connector. the 3 most common used on removable-antenna wifi devices are tnc, mini-tnc, and reverse-tnc.