Wireless Booster

BaltoMD · December 23rd, 2002, 01:17 PM

Has anyone had any luck with building or buying a generic wireless network booster antenna? I have a SpeedStream 2623 wireless router, and was excited to see CompUSA have a sale on a booster antenna for SpeedStream. Unfortunately, when I brought the box home, I finally noticed that it was only compatible with the 2624 model. (the ad and salesman were pretty misleading, since both only talked about connecting to "your SpeedStream wireless router")

I asked the salesman at the store (when I returned the antenna) if he was aware of any generic antennae that could help boost the signal for ANY model wireless router (SpeedStream, D-Link, Linksys, etc.), but he was not aware of any.

So....do any of you know of a generic one I could use with my SpeedStream, or even details of building something that could help boost the signal I have already? Thanks!

Xeroid · December 23rd, 2002, 01:24 PM

I'm not familiar with a booster antenna but I found a good article at practicallynetworked.com. Have you seen it?

Solving Wireless Range Problems HERE

Detritus · December 23rd, 2002, 02:03 PM

Excellent article Xeroid, thanks even though this isn't my thread

BaltoMD · December 23rd, 2002, 02:05 PM

Thanks for the reference, Xeroid...btw, yes, I had checked out that article, too.

kwebb · December 23rd, 2002, 07:52 PM

Any 2.4 omni directional antenna will increase your range given it has more gain than the dipole that comes stock on most AP's. Usually stock AP antennas will be 2.2 dBi, where as an omni you might buy would be 5-9 dBi. Can be more, can even be less. There is no specific antenna for a specific AP. What you run into when you talking about compatiblity is connectors. With the assumption that the AP has detachable antennas in the first place they will be either Reverse Polarity TNC (RP-TNC), RP SMA normally. You might find an AP with an oddball connector but in general terms they will be TNC or SMA and either Female or Male. You would just need to look for an antenna with the same connector as your AP or buy one with a pigtail for your posts connector. Does your speedstream dipole detach at all? If not then the only thing you can do is take your rig apart and get comfortable with soldering.