Advice needed: Dongle & Antenna

not_here.5....@xoxy.net

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Apr 1, 2013, 8:21:46 AM4/1/13

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Hi,

I will need to connect my pc to a router wirelessly.

I have seen two types of usb dongle. One type has an antenna which looks quite long. The other type seems to have an internal antenna (cannot be seen.

Which type would you recommend to connect a pc to a router?

Thanks

Mellowed

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Apr 1, 2013, 1:58:33 PM4/1/13

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I've done it both ways and never had a problem with either. That said,
if your router is some distance away I would think that something with a
larger visible external antenna would be preferred. I don't recall ever
seeing sensitivity measurements with either.

BTW, my laptop with a buried antenna has far more sensitivity than my
Belkin with an external antenna.

gregz

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Apr 1, 2013, 3:34:31 PM4/1/13

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Mine, with cord and long antenna works much better than internal laptop.
Depends on distance and objects. I assume you have a wireless router or ap.

Greg

miso

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Apr 1, 2013, 10:49:27 PM4/1/13

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On 4/1/2013 5:21 AM, not_here.5....@xoxy.net wrote:

Get the Alfa. Cheap and works with kismet. ;-)
> http://store.rokland.com/products/alfa-1000mw-usb-wireless-g-b-adapter-w-rp-sma-antenna-awus036h

I wouldn't bother with high power (2 watt version). Even 1 watt is
overkill. High power is only useful when you have it on both ends, and
even then directional antennas are better than blasting it out. The good
news is these units don't have to be set to high power. On windows,
there is a GUI to set the power. On linux, you can change it with a
command line.

I see no advantage to an internal antenna. If you have a removable
antenna, you can always put on one with higher gain.

not_here.5....@xoxy.net

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Apr 2, 2013, 12:50:02 AM4/2/13

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Thank you

Are these omni-directional antennas generally rotateable and detachable?

miso

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Apr 2, 2013, 2:06:51 AM4/2/13

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Generally you just run the router wifi antenna vertically polarized. The
alfa dongles have a "knuckle" in the antenna so you can change the
pitch. There is no reason to rotate a vertical antenna since they are
omnidirectional, but you might use the Alfa clipped to the back of a
notebook or use it flat on a table, so the antenna itself needs to be
adjusted to be vertical.

I'm not really sure why you are agonizing yourself over this. The alfa
is about as cheap as it gets unless you want to go with mystery stuff on
ebay.

You can't fight physics. Generally more is more and space is better than
being confined. The larger antenna works better and having it in free
air is better than embedded in a notebook. The Alfa devices are good for
war driving.

The only thing I've noticed is the 5.8GHZ/2.4GHZ version is not as
sensitive as 2.4GHz all by itself. If you have interference issues, then
I suppose 5.8GHz is a good choice, but the 2.4GHz dongle has far better
reception.

Since you say PC rather than notebook, it wouldn't hurt to explain what
you are trying to achieve.

If for any reason you are going to change the antenna, I'd go with the
Tube-U version. It is far more rugged and comes with a N-connector
rather than RP-SMA. The good antennas will use N connectors.

gregz

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Apr 2, 2013, 8:53:34 PM4/2/13

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Not all are detachable.

Greg