I posted something about this before but never got it resolved. Basically I need a wireless antenna which I can place away from my PC (otherwise my antenna would be facing a wall and I can't get a good signal). I was advised to get a booster with a "pigtail" (I think thats what the wire is called). My current wireless adapter card is this (I think it's this, not 100% sure): http://www.tp-link.com/products/product_des.asp?id=53 I was browsing ebay and thought that this would be along the lines of what I need: http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170249771735&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=007 So, first off, are they both compatible? And secondly, is the booster any good, or can you recommend a better one? Thanks.
I'd say give that one a go, and if you don't have any luck, try a directional antenna. (Assuming you use just 1 wireless network.)
What if I just got the extension cable and also bought a 10dBi directional antenna, and just stuck the antenna to the wall/desk or wherever? I presume it would still do the same job, right?
Yup. It'd do a better job of connecting to your particular network, but near-useless for any other network.
I don't quite understand. The situation is that I will be in student accommodation and there is wireless access around the building. Last year I had to turn my computer backwards to get a decent signal and thats why I thought this might work. Will it be okay for that type of network, or what do you mean by "near-useless for any other network"?
It's like having a satellite dish - you can only connect to the satellite within sight of the dish. Same idea with this. You might be able to connect to a network hosted really close by, but it'll be sketchy at best. Upshot: Directional antenna will be better, as long as you can find the direction of the network hub you want to access.
Well currently I am using the wireless adapter linked in my first post, which has a directional antenna. So it can't get any worse with the extension and 10 dBi antenna, can it?
The antenna you linked in the first post needs a large metal surface to sit on, think car roof. Go with one of these guys, this is what they were made for. http://cgi.ebay.ie/Genuine-D-Link-A...ryZ61816QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
That would be ideal, only that you need to put it on a desk or something. I was thinking of attaching it to a wall (as I have no desk space near the router), plus I could do with at least 2m of cable length. Unless, does it make much of a difference if I place the antenna on my desk compared to placing it 2 metres closer to the signal?
Sticking it to the wall will still work, that's why they make double sided tape, the connector on the antenna also will bend 90deg. You want the antenna pointing up. Think of the signals coming out of the antenna looking like a giant doughnut. Most access points have the antennas in a horizontal polarization, which would look like a doughnut sitting on a table. If the antenna was sticking straight out from the wall it would look like a car tire, and you wouldn't get a good signal unless the access point was in the same plane as the signal. I installed one of these antennas to my grandma's computer. She lives around the corner from my dad and can pick up the wifi signal from his house. As long as you don't have a lot of metal furniture around it, it should work just fine. It comes with a 1.5m cable, I don't think that extra .5m will make any difference.
