RT-AC3200 - Better Antennas

[shez]

Is it possible to swap out the antennas that come with this router for bigger/better ones that would influence better wireless signal at all? And if so what antennas would we be looking at is there a name/brand at all?


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[L&LD]

'Better', will depend on what you need from them.

Describe your WiFi environment as best you can and many here can jump in and help.

Include number of devices and their capabilities (AC, N, etc.).

Include size of area to be covered and the obstacles in between.

Include the construction of the obstacles (drywall, lathe and plaster, brick, etc.).

Include all the above with a 3D view of the area too (single floor to be covered, multiple floors, etc.).

 

[shez]

My question was 'Is it possible?' - it's just a theoretical question. I don't intend to start building 3D models etc just for an answer to that.

Is it possible? What antennas would actually be better than the stock ones?

 

[thiggins]

Is it possible to swap out the antennas that come with this router for bigger/better ones that would influence better wireless signal at all? And if so what antennas would we be looking at is there a name/brand at all?

Just search for 8dBi omnidirectional antenna. You'll find they are quite large. Don't expect miracles, especially if you are trying to improve 5 GHz range.

 

[shez]

Thanks - are these better than the stock ones and if so why? I'm just trying to learn about antennas and if there are ways to improve on the stock ones.


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[thiggins]

Thanks - are these better than the stock ones and if so why? I'm just trying to learn about antennas and if there are ways to improve on the stock ones.

Depends on what you mean by "better". As I said, they won't work miracles to improve coverage.
In general router manufacturers spend a lot of time (at least the better ones do) to match antennas to router performance. Slapping different antennas on can sometimes do more harm than good.

I wouldn't bother. If I needed move coverage, I'd add an access point, or try an extender.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...oes-an-ac-router-improve-n-device-performance

 

[System Error Message]

Just make sure the antenna slots are the same and avoid using antenna cables. Cable always beats wireless in performance. When the AC5300 comes out i'd like to see it's practical wifi rates with 2 clients in comparison to gigabit ethernet.

 

[hggomes]

RT-AC3200 is a SDK7 device, dont expect to have the same "tweaked" coverage from previous models that easy, the antennas will not make miracles when you have it working only at 12dBm.

New antennas = Waste of money

 

[L&LD]

My question was 'Is it possible?' - it's just a theoretical question. I don't intend to start building 3D models etc just for an answer to that.

Is it possible? What antennas would actually be better than the stock ones?

Sorry, I didn't mean for you to build a 3D model. Just to describe your WiFi environment in 3D.

The take away is that unless you match the antennae to the router as well as the manufacturer did, the performance will simply mix up the balance from the stock antennae. It cannot magically give the router new powers (without taking away from somewhere else).

To answer the question 'is it possible'? Yes. Theoretically.

But to gain a significant advantage with little or no disadvantages for your particular environment will require a little more effort than just discussing theoretical possibilities (anything is possible, theoretically).

 

[dlandiss]

Is it possible to swap out the antennas that come with this router for bigger/better ones that would influence better wireless signal at all?

As with everything else, there is a tradeoff. Higher gain antennas can not make "more" power -- only redirect the existing transmitter power into a tighter pattern. In the case of the antennas usually sold for our routers this would be a doughnut shaped pattern oriented such that most of the power is directed at right angles to the antenna axis. Higher gain antennas would "flatten the doughnut," directing more power horizontally (assuming a vertical antenna) and less above and below. Thus: an advantage if all of the clients are at the same level, but a disadvantage if some are a floor higher or lower.

An additional advantage is that the higher-gain antennas improve the incoming signal from clients by the same amount as the outgoing signal from the router,