How much do antennas really matter?

[Eric Kotz]

Hi all,
I've got a Linksys WAP-11 setup and am planning on adding a Cisco
AiroNet BR-500E as a second access point to my network. The WAP11 had one
antenna broken off recently, and I purchased the BR-500E used, and received
no antenna with it. I'm looking for basically onmidirectional coverage-NOT
yagi's. My question is how much difference does it make between antennas.
I've got a source for a few of the original antennas the Linksys used, are
those good enough? Will I see a measureable gain by using a better antenna?
How much? Can someone reccomend a fairly cheap (say under $30/each) antenna
that will show improvement?

Thanks,
Eric Kotz
newsg...@erickotz.com

[Don Widders]

"Eric Kotz" <newsg...@erickotz.com> wrote in message
news:3d9a...@news.isc.rit.edu...

Good question!

It depends on what you're after. With antennas, everything you 'gain' in
some direction(s) you give up in other directions. An omnidirectional
antenna has gain in all directions in just one plane, so the radiation
pattern is 'squished'. This is fine unless you're trying to cover more than
one floor or clients at various elevations.

Determine what your needs are in terms of coverage. Don't be too quick to
eliminate more directional antennas set up at one end or in a corner of the
area to be covered. Also, when it comes to antennas, don't forget the
clients. Often an external antenna can do more for the client than for the
access point. In the case of a client, the more directional the antenna,
the better (assuming you know where to point the antenna!)

AP placement and antennas will have a profound effect on coverage.

Don W.