Antennas for N66U or AC66U

[wickedny5]

Hello I've searched both N66U and AC66U threads for a reliable alternative antennas but I cant seem to find any. From my searches people have said stock has always been superior against those found on eBay. Also I cant seem to find high gain dual band antennas from any top commercial companies (asus, cisco, etc..), are they not yet popular? I live in a apartment complex which has a very dense and congested wifi signals around me.

I've used inSSIDer and have found an unused channels which improved stability. Ive also set 2.4ghz to 20mhz, 5ghz to 40mhz. Enhanced interference management seems to help also. But I think i could really get better throughput with better antennas. Im subscribed to FiOS with 75/35 plan, but only get 30 down and 20 up on wifi, on ethernet i get the full 75/35. (I have the n66u with the latest stock firmware 354, I've tried merlins current beta and older firmwares and all have about the same performance, still cant get 75/35 through wifi)

Edit: Im on 2011 macbook pro, only way i seem to get full 75/35 through wifi is if im close to the router and on 5ghz

 

[AltF4]

Hello I've searched both N66U and AC66U threads for a reliable alternative antennas but I cant seem to find any. From my searches people have said stock has always been superior against those found on eBay. Also I cant seem to find high gain dual band antennas from any top commercial companies (asus, cisco, etc..), are they not yet popular? I live in a apartment complex which has a very dense and congested wifi signals around me.

I've used inSSIDer and have found an unused channels which improved stability. Ive also set 2.4ghz to 20mhz, 5ghz to 40mhz. Enhanced interference management seems to help also. But I think i could really get better throughput with better antennas. Im subscribed to FiOS with 75/35 plan, but only get 30 down and 20 up on wifi, on ethernet i get the full 75/35. (I have the n66u with the latest stock firmware 354, I've tried merlins current beta and older firmwares and all have about the same performance, still cant get 75/35 through wifi)

Edit: Im on 2011 macbook pro, only way i seem to get full 75/35 through wifi is if im close to the router and on 5ghz

I would also be interested in what others recommend about antennas...



Some various tips for you in the mean time:

If you have an N66U, I would HIGHLY recommend Shibby's TomatoUSB (I did the latest AIO version, and it works like a champ). It shows a lot more statistics than ASUS' firmware, and has some more information that helps track down interference.
Ex: Actively changing:
- Interference Level (I was getting "Severe" this morning because I was playing around with going to channel 5, before I knew to NOT. My whole network went to hell)
- Rate (current speed / throughput in Mbps) - It's interesting watching this change with various factors around...

Some recommendations:
1. Stick to channel 1 6 or 11 or 2.4 GHz because all other channels will cause more overlapping. See here - http://tomatousb.org/forum/t-307379

2. Only use N-mode, because if the Signal is set to Mixed (B, G, N), depending on if a client connect with a B or G adapter, than the signal will drop down to that as a max speed.
See these posts here - http://tomatousb.org/forum/t-301742

3. Learn about some measuring statistics, if you didn't already know: (Signal, Noise (called Quality in Tomato), SNR, Signal Quality - http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Index:FAQ#How_do_I_read_signal_and_noise_ratings.3F
This will help measure differences when playing with settings and channels

4. Less people have 5GHz routers in use today, so its a better chance that it will be less "crowded".

5. I've heard that increasing the transmit power simply does more harm than good, and can actually cause more interference, as opposed to less.

6. Ensure that the router is setup on its stand, and the antennas are pointed directly vertical. Ideally the router would be in the middle of the Appt, at a high level, in a room with little insulation or other electronics (easier said than done, though).


Overall though, it appears that Antennas are not typically "Ideal":
http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=6832

High gain antennas will not be the answer, as the added gain is never enough to solve the problem. An extra couple of dB gain will not make a measurable difference, and most the aftermarket antennas are cheap china made products that only state gain that has never been tested. Plus you have the signal loss of the coax cable connecting the antenna to the router, and you may end up with less signal rather than more. Save your money (since you will need 3 antennas) and add an wireless access point to cover the weakest signal area of your home.

With another user chiming in saying:

I've been similar situation to yours, in my case adding 2 powerline adapters and cheap rosewill router setup as an AP worked wonders.

 

[wickedny5]

What a great response Alt! thanks I appreciate it, Ive never jumped ship to tomato firmware but now I'm willing to try. I wish I could center my router in the middle of the apt but with verizons ONT in the corner of the apartment it seems nearly impossible. I keep my 5Ghz on N but my 2.4ghz is kept at mixed for iPhone 4S, printer and PS3. Again thanks for the response, I'm going to load that tomato firmware and see how it goes

 

[AltF4]

What a great response Alt! thanks I appreciate it, Ive never jumped ship to tomato firmware but now I'm willing to try. I wish I could center my router in the middle of the apt but with verizons ONT in the corner of the apartment it seems nearly impossible. I keep my 5Ghz on N but my 2.4ghz is kept at mixed for iPhone 4S, printer and PS3. Again thanks for the response, I'm going to load that tomato firmware and see how it goes

Glad I could help.

Re: iPhone:
It should have an N chip, since the iPhone 4 does



If you are looking for a good AP, I have had really good success with my Refurb e2500s ($43 on Amazon) running DD-WRT or Tomato.

With DD-WRT I used Repeater Bridge mode which is really easy to setup and blew my previous $100 Hawking "Range Extender" out of the water (and hence went back to Amazon months later ).

There are Pros and Cons of Both. DD-WRT's Repeater Bridge mode is very unique and something Tomato doesn't support, but with the e2500, the firmware doesn't [yet] support the 5GHz antenna, so it doesn't exist.

Tomato supports a Bridge mode - which means it takes up 1 Wifi signal. The other wifi signal can be made an AP, and works on e2500. I have 2 refurb e2500 and have both DD-WRT and Tomato. (And simple small pieced of black tape is handy to "dim" the LEDs down, since there aren't any controls for them like with the 66U routers)

So basically either can serve as a:
A Wifi connected Switch ("Bridge") - Connect additonal Wired clients
Wifi AP ("Range Extender") - Connect additonal Wireless clients
(unlike dumb hawking that can do only 1 or the other, not both).

It's fun to have a "Portable Wifi Adapter" of a router too . It comes in handy, especailly for "diskless" setup, to get some computer online in your house (or if configured for another person's house).




In any case, if you're looking for uber speeds through something other than running a cable, you may look into the Powerline adapters. (I have never tired it though, but have head good things). But I am not sure if something quirky would happen in an Appartment with it).


Or if all else fails: Buy another router (like another N66U or even an AC66U), and then:
Run a 100ft flat Cat6 cable from your main router, to your "centered" AC66U in the appartment. I was thinking about just this the other day

Such as:
N66U - Main router ---------------(cat6)-------------------> AC66U - AP

Red = Corner of appt
Blue = Center of appt

 

[wickedny5]

sorry I didnt clarify that the I kept the 2.4ghz mixed was because my iphone 4S is N and doesnt support 5ghz and my ps3 & printer are G and also cant support 5ghz.

im trying to install the tomato firmware but it seems rather difficult, ive read a couple tutorials which tell me to put it in recovery mode which I have done, but its still a no go. also the tomato download page doesnt specify which is for the n66u

 

[AltF4]

sorry I didnt clarify that the I kept the 2.4ghz mixed was because my iphone 4S is N and doesnt support 5ghz and my ps3 & printer are G and also cant support 5ghz.

im trying to install the tomato firmware but it seems rather difficult, ive read a couple tutorials which tell me to put it in recovery mode which I have done, but its still a no go. also the tomato download page doesnt specify which is for the n66u

Well, you are in luck, because I just did it last night, and wrote down instructions for the future.

First, this by Shibby himself:
http://tomatousb.org/forum/t-513938

shibby20:
1st way) use Asus firmware restoration and install tomato
2nd way) install ddwrt first, then change extension of tomato firmware from trx to bin and flash using ddwrt upgrade page.
both ways are correct.

So I choose the 1st route for my N66U. (For my e2500 I had DD-WRT on it first, which made it easy).

=======================
My instructions:
=======================
1. Download the Asus Firmware Restoration Tool (in the Asus Utility):
- http://support.asus.com/Download.aspx?SLanguage=en&m=RT-N66U (VER.B1)&p=11&s=2
- Select OS
- Utilities (version used: 4.2.7.6)
- DL: Global
- Install ASUS Wireless Router Utilities (I denied allowing the drivers to install)

2. Put the router into emergency firmware restore mode (AKA "rescue mode"): http://www.shadowandy.net/2012/03/asus-rt-n66u-tomatousb-firmware-flashing-guide.htm
- If plugged in: Unplug
- Hold down reset button (>o<), and then plug in the power cable
- When the LEDs come on, release the reset button

3. Use the Firmware Restoration Tool:
- Start Menu --> Programs --> ASUS Utility --> [Router] --> Firmware Restoration
- Browse --> Select the firmware
- Upload

Note: I am installing: "tomato-K26USB-1.28.RT-N5x-MIPSR2-108-AIO-64K.trx"

4. 192.168.1.1
root:admin

Worked!

You're welcome


Note: The main thing is getting it into Firmware Restoration mode, which is shown from that 2nd link there (holding down reset button when unplugged, and then plugging in the router and continue to hold it for like 15 seconds to be safe). No 30-30-30 needed . Also, be sure it's the reset button you are pressing down, as there are a few of them on the back of this Dark Knight . See my instructions above, for what it looks like / is labeled as.

This is the one I used (as noted above), so go ahead and use this.
http://tomato.groov.pl/download/K26...ato-K26USB-1.28.RT-N5x-MIPSR2-108-AIO-64K.trx




From his website (for reference for others)
1. See here for which firmwares work for the current router - http://tomato.groov.pl/?page_id=69
2. Select the version type - http://tomato.groov.pl/?page_id=164 (in this case it is K26RT-N for N66U, as the page above shows).
3. Latest build (at the bottom) is 108. Then your options are English (EN) or Polish (PL) - http://tomato.groov.pl/download/K26RT-N/
4. Then select the Asus RT-N66u 64k - http://tomato.groov.pl/download/K26RT-N/build5x-108-EN/
5. Then select the type you want: VPN, Mega, or Everything (AIO - All-in-one) - http://tomato.groov.pl/download/K26RT-N/build5x-108-EN/Asus RT-N66u 64k/

 

[Astrix]

I use 2 nos. of 9dbi dual band antennas on my AC66U and it covered lots of dead spot in my house.

 

[AltF4]

I use 2 nos. of 9dbi dual band antennas on my AC66U and it covered lots of dead spot in my house.

Do you have a link please, to which brand?
Also, why 2 and not all 3?

BTW, nice name. Happen to like Psytrance by any chance?

 

[wickedny5]

woohoo thanks alot Alt!! got it going in no time after the quick tutorial. Im amazed by all the options in this firmware, I hope I dont break anything! lol Now time to work and see if this firmware can give me some great results.

 

[AltF4]

woohoo thanks alot Alt!! got it going in no time after the quick tutorial. Im amazed by all the options in this firmware, I hope I dont break anything! lol Now time to work and see if this firmware can give me some great results.

Glad I could help. Yes me too, this is the router firmware that teaches you at the same time .

The main page I was talking about earlier was the 1st page there:
\Status\Overview where it shows the 2 Wireless signals and has "Interference Level" and "Rate".

"Acceptable" seems to be good for Interference. But if it said Severe you need to play with some options.

What is working good for me here (for Wi-Fi) is the following: (Wifi configuration is under \Basic\Network).
2.4:
N-Only
Channel 11
Channel Width: 40
Control Sideband: Upper
WPA2 Personal
AES

5:
Mode: Auto (or N-Only)
Channel: Auto
Width: 40
Control Sideband: Lower
WPA2 Personal
TPIK / AES

Try that, and then take a look at your Overview page.

Perhaps because you have G devices, you should get another cheepo router (like some D-Link one on amazon), and have them connect to that, so that can set your speed to N-only. If it is true that Clients that require G or B force the router to come "down" in signal type, then you WILL be capped at 54Mbps wifi speed, at best.

 

[Astrix]

Do you have a link please, to which brand?

Bought at ebay: http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=251143453890

Not sure what brand, maybe unbranded

First time failed after 4 weeks of waiting.
Tried second time and it reach after 5 weeks.
Still fine for me as I can't find 9dbi dual band antenna here.

Before this I'm using 7dbi dual band antenna from Engenius and work good. Reluctant to use this (9dbi) as it unbranded but it really work and to my satisfaction.

Also, why 2 and not all 3?

Lol, my fren want it. So give him one

TapaTalking from Republic™ Of Android

 

[AltF4]

Bought at ebay: http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=251143453890

Not sure what brand, maybe unbranded

First time failed after 4 weeks of waiting.
Tried second time and it reach after 5 weeks.
Still fine for me as I can't find 9dbi dual band antenna here.

Before this I'm using 7dbi dual band antenna from Engenius and work good. Reluctant to use this (9dbi) as it unbranded but it really work and to my satisfaction.



Lol, my fren want it. So give him one

TapaTalking from Republic™ Of Android

This post here discourages me from trying any that I am not 100% sure about: http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showpost.php?p=38484&postcount=2

High gain antennas will not be the answer, as the added gain is never enough to solve the problem. An extra couple of dB gain will not make a measurable difference, and most the aftermarket antennas are cheap china made products that only state gain that has never been tested. Plus you have the signal loss of the coax cable connecting the antenna to the router, and you may end up with less signal rather than more. Save your money (since you will need 3 antennas) and add an wireless access point to cover the weakest signal area of your home.

 

[Astrix]

This post here discourages me from trying any that I am not 100% sure about: http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showpost.php?p=38484&postcount=2

It's up to individual.
I'm using it. The antennas proven to me it covered my home dead spot.

So I stick to it and use till today with satisfaction

I wont encourage anyone and discourage anyone.
Try it, test it, experiment yourself and make your own decision

Good luck


TapaTalking from Republic™ Of Android