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Wi-fi antenna angles

NibbleNibble Registered User regular
edited August 2012 in Moe's Stupid Technology Tavern
I have a new wireless router with three antennas, but I have no idea how to position them. Should they point in the general direction of my computers, or does the signal come out of the side of the antennas? Should they all point in the same direction, or different directions? I'm trying to get the signal from the top floor down two or three floors.

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Posts

  • FoomyFoomy Registered User regular
    the signal will radiate out in a doughnut like shape from the antenna, so you want the sides of it to point towards whatever will receive the signal. and keep them all at slightly different angles to maximize the chance of getting a good signal.

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  • AthenorAthenor Battle Hardened Optimist The Skies of HiigaraRegistered User regular
    Keep it away from metal (reflects/absorbs the radio energy) and from fluorescent lights / other sources of high RF radiation, as these things will decimate your signal. Good on you for putting it high. :)

    They do make directional antennas if you are in need of something like that. Also, most wireless routers use standard antenna coupler/plug designs, so you can get shielded cable extensions to move the antenna to a better location.

    If you have a mobile phone, download a wireless analyzer and use it to measure the signal strength around your house in various configurations.

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