The further you are away from your router, the worse the WiFi reception. Sometimes, even if there are two walls between the router and the computer the Internet speed decreases rapidly. Also steel cabinets, PC housing and floor heating can significantly slow down the WiFi signals. The result: Videos start to pause, data transmission stalls or comes to a halt completely. This is particularly annoying if you also do not get any or only bad reception in the cellar and garden. The good news: The range of the router can often be increased by using external or longer antennas.
Prerequisite for antenna replacement: An SMA socket
Antenna replacement only works, however, on routers where the antennas unscrew. The popular Fritzboxes from AVM are therefore excluded.
Here, repeaters or Powerlinenetworks may be a solution to increase the signal or distribute it via the electricity network in the house.
On the other hand, if your router has an “SMA standard” socket, you can replace the existing antenna with a stronger one. Prices start at around 5 euro. Crucial for the performance is the dB value. Most of the series antennas have 3 to 5 dBi. A 10 dB antenna increases the theoretical range of WiFi from 300 to up to 800 metres.
There is a choice of two types of antennas:
- Omnidirectional antennas transmit signals in all directions. They are available as long rod antennas for direct connection to the router and as external versions, for example for the cover.
- Directional antennas send the signals in a certain direction — and you will also receive from there. This type is useful, for instance, when the router is located in one half of the building and a better signal is required in the other half.
Installing a new antenna
Installing a new antenna is, in principle, easy.
Simply unscrew the rod antenna installed by the manufacturer from the router housing and screw on the new antenna — that’s it. If using external antennas, you also have to place an antenna cable in between.
Important to note: The cable should be no longer than 3 metres. The longer the cable, the weaker the signal. And: The maximum transmission power of wireless devices must not exceed an effective radiation power of 20 dBm or 100 mW in accordance with applicable regulations.
For info:
In the field of wireless technology, i.e. also in the case of wireless components, various measuring variables are used for power specification. The following generally applies: The higher the value, the higher the transmission power.
- Decibel (dB): Means the total power, for example, of a router
- Decibel milliwatts (dBm): Refers to the absolute power specified in relation to a milliwatt. Commercial wireless components operate with a transmission line from 50 to 100 mW. This corresponds to 17 to 20 dBm
- Antenna gain (dBi): Indicates the performance gain through an antenna
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