Antenna for PCIe Wireless Card

philjohn · 22 Apr 2011 at 18:20

Due to an impending baby, I've had to move my computer from the spare room to under the stairs (sounds worse than it is, quite cosy back here!). The one downside to this is that I've had to switch from wired to wireless.

I got a TP-Link PCIe wifi card (atheros chipset) and am getting "ok-ish" signal (2-3 bars out of 5), but am wondering if I can improve it at all with a desktop antenna - the one on the card itself is pretty puny.

I was looking at the two offered by TP-Link, one is 5dbi, the other 8dbi - would the 8dbi be the better choice, or would it not be much better due to the power output being roughly the same?

5dbi: http://www.tp-link.com/uk/products/productDetails.asp?class=wlan&content=spe&pmodel=TL-ANT2405C

8dbi: http://www.tp-link.com/uk/products/productDetails.asp?class=wlan&content=spe&pmodel=TL-ANT2408C

Tealc · 22 Apr 2011 at 18:26

It's always a good idea to get a wifi Antenna away from the metal of a computer chassis.

Both those Antenna you linked to are omni-directional and may boost the reception of the signal over the 2 or 3 dbi stock antennas.

You might get even better results if you stick a signal focusser, like the one here http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/index.html onto the external antenna to turn it into a more directional gain antenna. This is what I do to improve signal between my router and my wireless extender that serves the top floors of the house.

philjohn · 22 Apr 2011 at 20:13

Thanks for that, I've ordered the 5dbi one and will see how it goes. Failing that I'll look at some of the directional options.

bitslice · 24 Apr 2011 at 15:23

Your first step should have been,

TP-Link Antenna extension cable - RP-SMA - M - RP-SMA - F - 3 metres

£5.00

Gets your antenna away from your PC and into a better position.

You really don't need a directional antenna setup for an average house.

MasterPlan1 · 4 May 2011 at 08:15

philjohn said:
Due to an impending baby, I've had to move my computer from the spare room to under the stairs (sounds worse than it is, quite cosy back here!). The one downside to this is that I've had to switch from wired to wireless.

I got a TP-Link PCIe wifi card (atheros chipset) and am getting "ok-ish" signal (2-3 bars out of 5), but am wondering if I can improve it at all with a desktop antenna - the one on the card itself is pretty puny.

I was looking at the two offered by TP-Link, one is 5dbi, the other 8dbi - would the 8dbi be the better choice, or would it not be much better due to the power output being roughly the same?

5dbi: http://www.tp-link.com/uk/products/productDetails.asp?class=wlan&content=spe&pmodel=TL-ANT2405C

8dbi: http://www.tp-link.com/uk/products/productDetails.asp?class=wlan&content=spe&pmodel=TL-ANT2408C

Slight necro, but the network card you have, is it the one from OCUK? Just I need a PCIe wireless card with a arth chipset for a Linux WAP.

Thanks