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Miscellaneous => Miscellaneous Projects => Topic started by: Magnum on December 20, 2013, 09:24:26 AM

Title: Extend wifi card range
Post by: Magnum on December 20, 2013, 09:24:26 AM
Could I extend the range of this wifi antenna by extending the wire lengths ?

Not sure why there is 8 wires for an antenna.

Dave probably knows.

Andy
Title: Re: Extend wifi card range
Post by: Siekmanski on December 20, 2013, 09:55:46 AM
speed of light ( 299,792,458 metres per second ) divided by wavelength ( 2400,000,000 Hz )

simplified: 300/2400 ==  12.5 cm ( full wave length )
Title: Re: Extend wifi card range
Post by: dedndave on December 20, 2013, 10:14:18 AM
i can't really tell what antenna "topology" is used, there
i can't see what's going on under the skin

you can generally make small improvements in "antenna gain" by increasing the length
however, the best improvements are made by improving the directionality of the antenna
that's not really desirable in most wi-fi installations

what you might try - take a long piece of insulated wire, say 10 feet or something (small solid copper hook-up wire)
loop one end around the antenna 5 or 6 times, near the end (no connection necessary)
then string the antenna up to the wall or ceiling
you're not actually improving "antenna gain" much - you are improving the line-of-sight visibility
Title: Re: Extend wifi card range
Post by: Magnum on December 20, 2013, 11:57:07 AM
Unfortunately, so far there has been no improvement.

Andy
Title: Re: Extend wifi card range
Post by: FORTRANS on December 21, 2013, 01:43:40 AM
Hi,

   You might place a reflector behind the antenna, pointed at the
transmitter.  Or behind the transmitter pointed at the receiver.
Shouldn't hurt if you have a nice piece of metal lying around.

Cheers,

Steve
Title: Re: Extend wifi card range
Post by: K_F on April 03, 2014, 04:27:46 AM
That antenna length is probably a few 'harmonics' shorter than the full wavelength.

If you know the fundamental transmission/reception frequency, as Siekmanski says.. you can calculate the correct length.
This will improve your transmission/reception, thus your range.

Here's the next catch.. your transmitter (and receiver) chips must also be tuned to the aerial length, otherwise there will be a miss- match and you could blow the transmitter and/or receive even less.
So the final answer is No... and you'll probably lessen your range even more.

But all is not lost... As Dave and FORTRANS says ...
If you make it 'directional' (IOW receiving from one direction only - like a satellite dish),  place a metal reflector behind the aerial, moving it back and forth around Siekmanski's wavelength distance calculations

That should work
:t
Title: Re: Extend wifi card range
Post by: Magnum on April 03, 2014, 08:10:36 AM
I ended up getting a new internet provider with a wifi router that connects to my phone line and broadcasts to my 2 systems.

Andy
Title: Re: Extend wifi card range
Post by: Gunther on April 03, 2014, 07:56:55 PM
Andy,

Quote from: Magnum on April 03, 2014, 08:10:36 AM
I ended up getting a new internet provider with a wifi router that connects to my phone line and broadcasts to my 2 systems.

that's good news. So you're online again.  :t

Gunther