AmateurDIYAntenna
Junior Member level 2
Why does my homemade Yagi wifi antenna perform so poorly?
Hello everybody,
Can somebody tell me why my home made 20 element Yagi directional antenna does not seem to have much “gain?” It does not seem to increase the range of the wifi extender (Amped Wireless High Power Wireless-N 600mW Smart Repeater and Range Extender (SR10000), see this Amazon link ) that I want to attach the home made antenna to. In fact I think it picks up fewer wifi networks, with less strength, than a simple (detachable) 5dBi omni-directional antenna(s) that came with the extender.
I made the home made antenna in accordance with the instructions at this link,
https://www.ab9il.net/wlan-projects/wifi6.html ; the driven element is a folded dipole antenna.
I have attached a screenshot from that website showing the antenna element lengths and spacing and also pictures of the actual antenna I constructed. These pictures show the antenna (elements made of 14 AWG copper wire with green insulation) attached with scotch tape to a plastic white “foam board” I bought at the dollar store. (The glass has water in it). Other pictures show the cable I am using to connect the folded dipole element to the extender and the soldering of the cable to the folded dipole element. But as I said, when I connected completed antenna to the wifi extender described above it did not perform well.
I have two possible explanations for the poor performance, the first, that it needs a balun is the explanation I am most inclined to think is the correct one. The second, less likely (I think), explanation is that I should have stripped the insulation off the 14 AWG copper wire that I used to make the elements of the antenna.
The wireless extender has a female RP- SMA input (wikipedia link) for each detachable antenna, and I am using a coaxial cable that has a compatible RJ-SMA connector. The coaxial cable is about 0.109 inches in outside diameter. It might be RG-174/U. I scavanged the cable from an Intel device (G577005-002) that looks like one at this Amazon link for an Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 plus Bluetooth Adapter . I am unsure the exact type of coaxial cable. It is probably 50 ohms impedance, but I do not know for sure.
If it needs a balun, I’d be willing to make one if it’s not too difficult or buy a balun if its not too expensive.
QUESTION(S): Does anybody have any suggestions? Should I make (or buy) a balun? Should I take the insulation off of the elements that are made with wire?
Thank you,
Amateur
Hello everybody,
Can somebody tell me why my home made 20 element Yagi directional antenna does not seem to have much “gain?” It does not seem to increase the range of the wifi extender (Amped Wireless High Power Wireless-N 600mW Smart Repeater and Range Extender (SR10000), see this Amazon link ) that I want to attach the home made antenna to. In fact I think it picks up fewer wifi networks, with less strength, than a simple (detachable) 5dBi omni-directional antenna(s) that came with the extender.
I made the home made antenna in accordance with the instructions at this link,
https://www.ab9il.net/wlan-projects/wifi6.html ; the driven element is a folded dipole antenna.
I have attached a screenshot from that website showing the antenna element lengths and spacing and also pictures of the actual antenna I constructed. These pictures show the antenna (elements made of 14 AWG copper wire with green insulation) attached with scotch tape to a plastic white “foam board” I bought at the dollar store. (The glass has water in it). Other pictures show the cable I am using to connect the folded dipole element to the extender and the soldering of the cable to the folded dipole element. But as I said, when I connected completed antenna to the wifi extender described above it did not perform well.
I have two possible explanations for the poor performance, the first, that it needs a balun is the explanation I am most inclined to think is the correct one. The second, less likely (I think), explanation is that I should have stripped the insulation off the 14 AWG copper wire that I used to make the elements of the antenna.
The wireless extender has a female RP- SMA input (wikipedia link) for each detachable antenna, and I am using a coaxial cable that has a compatible RJ-SMA connector. The coaxial cable is about 0.109 inches in outside diameter. It might be RG-174/U. I scavanged the cable from an Intel device (G577005-002) that looks like one at this Amazon link for an Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 plus Bluetooth Adapter . I am unsure the exact type of coaxial cable. It is probably 50 ohms impedance, but I do not know for sure.
If it needs a balun, I’d be willing to make one if it’s not too difficult or buy a balun if its not too expensive.
QUESTION(S): Does anybody have any suggestions? Should I make (or buy) a balun? Should I take the insulation off of the elements that are made with wire?
Thank you,
Amateur