I'm trying to inprove my laptops wifi range. I have an Intel Pro internal wifi but wanting more, I have just bought a Buffalo High Power PCMCIA card (with built in amplifier) attatched to a +7db omnidirectional external antenna.
Perhaps I was just expecting miracles, but I really dont get much difference using the additional kit than I was getting using the internal Intel wifi.
Using netstumbler, the wifi box right next to me gets a SNR of 92 with the high power kit where the internal wifi gets 70. Great. However a wifi box a bit further afield I get a SNR of 25 internally and only 24 from the external antenna. Plus the internal wifi can see a 3rd wifi signal from a box downstairs, however the 'high power' card and external antenna can't even see that.
Also, it doesn't make a great deal of different whether the external antenna is plugged into the high power buffalo card or not. Could it just be a crap antenna? The only benefit I can see it that I can dangle the aerial in places I wouldn't want to dangle my laptop.
Certainly isn't the result I was hoping for.
What am I doing wrong?
Perhaps I was just expecting miracles, but I really dont get much difference using the additional kit than I was getting using the internal Intel wifi.
Using netstumbler, the wifi box right next to me gets a SNR of 92 with the high power kit where the internal wifi gets 70. Great. However a wifi box a bit further afield I get a SNR of 25 internally and only 24 from the external antenna. Plus the internal wifi can see a 3rd wifi signal from a box downstairs, however the 'high power' card and external antenna can't even see that.
Also, it doesn't make a great deal of different whether the external antenna is plugged into the high power buffalo card or not. Could it just be a crap antenna? The only benefit I can see it that I can dangle the aerial in places I wouldn't want to dangle my laptop.
Certainly isn't the result I was hoping for. What am I doing wrong?
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