WiFi through walls - Directional vs Omni Directional
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Posted by Dennis on June 7, 2008, 5:05 pm
Please log in for more thread options I need to go through about 4 or 5 walls to get to my router. Would I do better replacing my NIC's 2 dBi omni-directional antenna with a 7 dBi, or would I have better luck with a 12 dBi directional antenna aimed at the router (through a bunch of walls)? | ||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Charles Turner on June 7, 2008, 6:09 pm
Please log in for more thread options Broadly speaking you can have two types of directional antenna: one which is still omnidirectional in the horizontal plane with increased gain, at the expense of the vertical plane which is reduced, i.e. isn't very sensitive to signals coming in from above it. The other is increased sensitivity in both horizontal and vertical planes (a bit like the inverse of a searchlight). So if you can "point" towards where most of the signal is entering the room you will get an improvement. HTH Regards, Charles | ||||||||||||||||
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Posted by tg on June 7, 2008, 6:53 pm
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> Do directional antennas only do well in line-of-sight situations?
I had a very similar problem recently. wifi hates walls, especially 4 or 5 of
> > I need to go through about 4 or 5 walls to get to my router. Would I > do better replacing my NIC's 2 dBi omni-directional antenna with a 7 > dBi, or would I have better luck with a 12 dBi directional antenna > aimed at the router (through a bunch of walls)? > them. If you have no luck connecting with your 7db antenna try network-over-mains. I'm in the UK and I got these: http://www.wirelesspro.co.uk/product/budget_85_mbps_homeplug_kit/ If you're outside the UK there must be an equivalent for your country. They great, and really are plug and play. There's no set up, no configuring, just plug them in connect the ethernets at each end and you're away. | ||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Jeff Liebermann on June 7, 2008, 6:59 pm
Please log in for more thread options On Sat, 7 Jun 2008 14:05:55 -0700 (PDT), Dennis
>Do directional antennas only do well in line-of-sight situations?
No. Directional antennas can be used for non-line-o-site situations. >I need to go through about 4 or 5 walls to get to my router.
Give up now, while you're still sane. Unless the walls are made of paper, it's not going to work. Most walls are good for considerable losses. If there's aluminum foil backed insulation in the walls, nothing gets through. Fairly lossy with poured concrete and chicken wire backed stucco or lath and plaster. >Would I
>do better replacing my NIC's 2 dBi omni-directional antenna with a 7 >dBi, or would I have better luck with a 12 dBi directional antenna >aimed at the router (through a bunch of walls)? Neither. Drill a hole under the trim and run CAT5. When you move out, patch the holes with spackle, and replace the trim. Nobody will notice. Also CAT5e in flat cables which does nicely through cracks, under carpets, the under doors. If impossible, think about power line networking. -- Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 | ||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Dennis on June 7, 2008, 7:36 pm
Please log in for more thread options > On Sat, 7 Jun 2008 14:05:55 -0700 (PDT), Dennis
> > >Do directional antennas only do well in line-of-sight situations?
>
> No. =A0Directional antennas can be used for non-line-o-site situations. > > >I need to go through about 4 or 5 walls to get to my router.
>
> Give up now, while you're still sane. =A0Unless the walls are made of > paper, it's not going to work. =A0Most walls are good for considerable > losses. =A0If there's aluminum foil backed insulation in the walls, > nothing gets through. =A0Fairly lossy with poured concrete and chicken > wire backed stucco or lath and plaster. > > >Would I
> >do better replacing my NIC's 2 dBi omni-directional antenna with a 7 > >dBi, or would I have better luck with a 12 dBi directional antenna > >aimed at the router (through a bunch of walls)? >
> Neither. =A0Drill a hole under the trim and run CAT5. =A0When you move > out, patch the holes with spackle, and replace the trim. =A0Nobody will > notice. =A0Also CAT5e in flat cables which does nicely through cracks, > under carpets, the under doors. =A0If impossible, think about power line > networking. I should have been more clear. This is not mission impossible. Even with my 2 dBi antenna I am receiving a signal, at about 15% strength. Perhaps do to multipath, open doors and open windows, but I am getting something. Enough to surf the web, slowly... See this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DvJwOpJjYKqA That's kinna what got me thinking about it. He's a directional setup to go through walls, he picks up 200+ access points at one point. Very interesting. Granted its a *completely* different situation, but I dont think his results would be nearly as good with any kind of omni- directional setup. | ||||||||||||||||
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> I need to go through about 4 or 5 walls to get to my router. Would I
> do better replacing my NIC's 2 dBi omni-directional antenna with a 7
> dBi, or would I have better luck with a 12 dBi directional antenna
> aimed at the router (through a bunch of walls)?
>