What Wifi Antenna?

Nightglow · 17 Apr 2011 at 19:52

I have a DG834GT which lives in the loft with a Linksy SR216 Switch which supplies network outlets for the whole house.

Problem is I have just broke the antenna, need a replacement, extreme range isn't nesscessary, just very good reception within all of the house, which is brick & block construction.

Don't mind a flat Panel Antenna, which support 802.11n, as could mount it on the wall or ceiling in top landing, would painting it to match exsisting colur scheme affect performance.

Finally, I'm looking to replace DG834GT in a few months, what's the best router ideally with broadcom chipset to use on Be isp.

ANDARIAL · 17 Apr 2011 at 21:17

Don't mind a flat Panel Antenna, which support 802.11n

Maybe I am reading this wrong but this implies to me that you think the antenna would give a `N` class connection to your existing router?It won`t
If the antenna you broke was the default one it was only 2dbi,there are many higher gain 9dbi and higher relatively cheaply available on-line

Nightglow · 18 Apr 2011 at 08:05

Sorry, I wasn't very clear, I know that my DG834GT dosen't support N, but I want a antenna which supports N to give me a bit of future proofing.

I also want a 802.11n router to replace my aging DG834GT.

Duke · 18 Apr 2011 at 08:30

AFAIK to support 'n' you need 3 antennas? I think that's how it works.

RubinRemus · 19 Apr 2011 at 12:10

If it's in the loft, I wouldn't go too high Dbi or your signal below and around will drop.
Passing aircraft will get a better signal though

Seriously though, if you raise the Dbi, the signal will be narrower, but taller.
Imagine a doughnut - that's the usual analogy used.
Low Dbi = short but fat/wide doughnut.
High Dbi = high/tall but narrow doughnut.

The signal, with an omni-directional antenna, isn't truly isotropic. It's not a big bubble, spreading out equally above, around, below, etc. Not much is "behind" the antenna, which in the case of most routers, is below the router.
For a loft mounted antenna, you might want to go with a directional, or semi-directional, antenna and face it to the rest of the house?
But anyway, a higher Dbi won't help much more below it. It'll just reach higher, mostly.
Manufacturers use around 2Dbi for a reason.

Actually, given that you want to upgrade to a shiny new "n" capable router, I'd just go for that right away.
Forget the Netgear one with its antenna problem.