Stuff I bought on eBay, today I’m testing a 9db dual band WiFi antenna. Recently I had tried my Nexus 7 tablet outside the house to find my signal highly unstable; the signal was barely able to reach outside the door.

I purchased a 9db antenna (about 15 inches in length) on eBay from China at a great deal of $5.47 CAD. However, I didn’t realize that the time that the larger antennas do not actually increase the signal strength or range, the reason is quite complicated.

Understanding antennas, the higher the db rating the more narrow the signal and the better the antenna can receive signals. A larger antenna has more surface area, this surface area can catch more singles. The smaller antennas such as the most common 2db antennas have a wide signal area.

To increase the distance of a larger antenna we will require amplification, however, amplifying the antenna would decrease the antenna’s ability to receive signals therefor multiple antenna is required.

For home or office the standard 2db antenna is the most versatile and perhaps the most reliable on average. The larger 9db antenna does not guarantee a stronger signal, in my case I saw a drop in signal strength within the house, however, I saw a significant increase in coverage area outside the house.

All wireless routers advertise a theoretical coverage area of about 150 feet. Personally I received about 40 feet with the standard antennas.

Test Equipment:
Google Nexus 7 2nd Gen (2.4GHz & 5GHz 802.11n 100Mb)
D-Link DIR-825 Router (2.4GHz & 5GHz 802.11n 300Mb Draft)

Goal:
To get a single as the garage (about 110 feet).

2x 2db Coverage:

9db and 2db Coverage:

Upgrading one 2db antenna to a 9db 15 inch antenna did I fact improve my coverage; when tested using the 2.4GHz band I was able to receive a connect as far as an estimated 220 feet (calculated with Google Satellite Maps). Although, I had a connect at 220 feet, the signal was in fact quite slow and weak, and I was not able to receive a stable connection inside my garage. The 5GHz band connected as far as 110 feet which is at the front of my garage, as well, the signal using 5GHz was not very reliable outside the house.

Conclusion:
Without amplifying the 9db antenna I was not able to gain any signal strength, however, the antenna did increase the routers ability to receive signals thus maximizing the coverage area. My Google Nexus 7 tablet managed a connection as far as 220 feet with a very weak signal strength.

Alternatively, depending on what you need, you may find placing a tin-can on one of your stock antennas to be more beneficial and cheaper.

 

 

 

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