AmateurDIYAntenna
Junior Member level 2
I need some recommendations regarding the kind of performance I can expect from various gains of omnidirectional wifi antennas that could be attached to a wifi extender (the extender has detachable antennas). I want to use the extender to supply wifi to a building by picking up a 2.4 GHz wifi (incoming) signal from a neighboring building that is about 300 feet away. I want to have the antennas preferably be inside and be simple omnidirectional antennas. There is a some foliage between the buildings, but there is generally pretty good "line of sight" between the buildings.
I am presently already extending the 2.4 GHz signal to the distant building using a NETGEAR WiFi Range Extender EX3700 which has two single move-able rods on either side of the extender housing (in a kind of rabbit ear arrangement). These rods are not removable. I think these rods are two 3dBi omnidirectional monopole antennas. (I am assuming these two rods are not acting as a single dipole antenna.) This Netgear EX3700 extender is mounted in a window from which you can see the building that is the source for the 2.4 GHz signal. This Netgear EX3700 extender works pretty well most of the time, but it cannot pick up the incoming signal when it rains. In good (not raining) weather, the indicator lights sometimes indicate that the incoming signal is "good" (green light), sometimes fair (amber light), but often the incoming signal is "poor" (red light), but I still get use-able internet even when the signal is "poor". But, as I said, when it rains, and occasionally at other times, I get no incoming signal (light is not even red, it is "off") and there is no use-able internet.
I recently bought a new different extender that only extends the 2.4 GHz signal (an Ampedwireless SR10000) that has two removable omni-directional 5 dBi antennas, and I need antenna recommendations as to how best improve the connection between the buildings. It seems to me that a higher gain antenna would improve the signal transfer. I think the new extender has higher power (specifically multiple 600 mW transmitters) than the Netgear extender I am already using (I think 50 mW, but am not sure). But more power at the extender amplifier(s), it seems to me, would probably not improve the situation much, since the main problem is the poor/zero incoming signal, when it rains, etc. Increasing the strength of the wifi 2.4 GHz signal at the source (in the other building) that produces the 2.4 GHz incoming signal is not an option.
QUESTIONS:
Can anybody recommend how much gain I need for one or two indoor omni-directional antennas attached to the new SR10000 extender to achieve a reliable connection between the buildings even when it rains? (I think I can put the new extender in more or less the same position near the window as the Netgear EX3700 I am presently using.)
Do you think the 5dBi antennas that came with the new SR10000 extender will be sufficient to achieve that reliable connection between buildings that I am looking for?
Should I replace one or both of the antennas on the new SR 10000 extender?
If I replace one or both 5dBi antennas on the new SR10000 extender, what gain antenna(s) should I use as replacement(s)?
Any other comments would be welcomed.
Thank you,
A.
I am presently already extending the 2.4 GHz signal to the distant building using a NETGEAR WiFi Range Extender EX3700 which has two single move-able rods on either side of the extender housing (in a kind of rabbit ear arrangement). These rods are not removable. I think these rods are two 3dBi omnidirectional monopole antennas. (I am assuming these two rods are not acting as a single dipole antenna.) This Netgear EX3700 extender is mounted in a window from which you can see the building that is the source for the 2.4 GHz signal. This Netgear EX3700 extender works pretty well most of the time, but it cannot pick up the incoming signal when it rains. In good (not raining) weather, the indicator lights sometimes indicate that the incoming signal is "good" (green light), sometimes fair (amber light), but often the incoming signal is "poor" (red light), but I still get use-able internet even when the signal is "poor". But, as I said, when it rains, and occasionally at other times, I get no incoming signal (light is not even red, it is "off") and there is no use-able internet.
I recently bought a new different extender that only extends the 2.4 GHz signal (an Ampedwireless SR10000) that has two removable omni-directional 5 dBi antennas, and I need antenna recommendations as to how best improve the connection between the buildings. It seems to me that a higher gain antenna would improve the signal transfer. I think the new extender has higher power (specifically multiple 600 mW transmitters) than the Netgear extender I am already using (I think 50 mW, but am not sure). But more power at the extender amplifier(s), it seems to me, would probably not improve the situation much, since the main problem is the poor/zero incoming signal, when it rains, etc. Increasing the strength of the wifi 2.4 GHz signal at the source (in the other building) that produces the 2.4 GHz incoming signal is not an option.
QUESTIONS:
Can anybody recommend how much gain I need for one or two indoor omni-directional antennas attached to the new SR10000 extender to achieve a reliable connection between the buildings even when it rains? (I think I can put the new extender in more or less the same position near the window as the Netgear EX3700 I am presently using.)
Do you think the 5dBi antennas that came with the new SR10000 extender will be sufficient to achieve that reliable connection between buildings that I am looking for?
Should I replace one or both of the antennas on the new SR 10000 extender?
If I replace one or both 5dBi antennas on the new SR10000 extender, what gain antenna(s) should I use as replacement(s)?
Any other comments would be welcomed.
Thank you,
A.
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