Wireless Card Antennas

[aka.Goliath]

I have tried to find some info on this but no luck so I’m now asking all of you. I have a D-link DWA-556 PCI-e wireless card that has 3 antennas which I thought would be able to fix my connectivity problem. But it doesn’t, the problem being the reinforced concrete wall between my pc and the router 20m away. I want to know whether an extended antenna would make a difference and whether I need to get 3 or would only 1 be ok? Secondly should the larger antenna go onto the router (netgear wireless n) or my wireless card?

 

[PsyWulf]

MIMO is most effective when both the sending and receiving unit use the technology. In your case you are likely using a Single antenna for transmit/receive on the router,versus 3 antennae for sending/receiving on the wireless card ( transmits would be clearer but reception poor when assuming a certain penetration per antenna used). Assuming any kind of useable signal can pass through these walls.

So your first step to trying to sort this would be a MIMO capable router. Another option would be Powerline ethernet adapters ( if both rooms are on the same phase of power ) or Powerline Wifi extenders like this

 

[aka.Goliath]

I do have a MIMO capable router, with only two antenna. The powerline adapter as cool as it is, it still costs R1000+ but for and a 5dBi single antenna its R250+/- So Ill go for the powerline adapter if the verdict is no larger antennas will work. I really want to know if I need to change all the smaller antennas on a device for larger ones, or will changing just one be ok, and how much of a differece will just one make.

 

[PsyWulf]

How are the antennae facing relative to eachother? I'd set the router's to straight up,with the PC's card facing multiple degrees from straight up

Honestly even if you could give the exact composition and measurements of your walls every case differs. There could be reinforcing bars or old cabling in those walls so any ideas are guessing at best. If you have a straight hallway connecting the rooms you could set a wireless repeater to bounce the signal more efficiently than the current setup. Stronger Antennae may help too

 

[aka.Goliath]

Awesome thanks psywulf.. I think I want to put larger antennae on the router cos then the rest of the house should get better reception as well. The question now is to get 2 antennae or just one?