What R my antenna options?

**nasa** · 12-08-2010, 05:47 PM

Hi,

I am trying to figure out how to improve my WIFI connection in my car. Right now I have an antenna sitting on my rear deck, which is hit or miss. From reading a lot of the threads, outside the car is option one - front dash number two - and where I have mine option 3. Additionally, my car windows are tinted. From some research, window tint (which contains metal) further reduces the effectiveness of the antenna.

So all this said... I am trying to figure some things out

1. What is the best antenna to use?
2. Where should it be located?
3. Both above give, while still keeping the ride looking nice.

This antenna looks nice (and it does both GPS and WIFI)
http://store.mp3car.com/Roof_top_GPS..._p/com-008.htm
But it's got no gain -- would it work better (due to position outside car) than a 7db gain antenna inside?

So... Any takers?

**Wayne613** · 12-08-2010, 06:36 PM

The best options I´ve been able to find so far are from here. Thinkin´ this one will fit nicely where my existing OEM satellite antenna is mounted and give me 3db gain (before the long cable run of course).

**nasa** · 12-08-2010, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by Wayne613

The best options I´ve been able to find so far are from here. Thinkin´ this one will fit nicely where my existing OEM satellite antenna is mounted and give me 3db gain (before the long cable run of course).

Looks promising... I didn't see price anywhere, did you catch it?

**Caelric** · 12-08-2010, 07:13 PM

Here's one purchase option

**soundman98** · 12-08-2010, 08:57 PM

here's what i am doing for a similar situation(been working great for the last year!):
wireless antenna array?

**boelle** · 12-09-2010, 12:06 PM

if all windows are tinted its not going to be better... also the antenna is a roof mount so it has to have contact with the metal to work.... the roof works as ground plane.... and without that it will not have any good output

**nasa** · 12-09-2010, 01:03 PM

Boelle,

Thanks for the info... I follow the part about the root mounting, but I'm not sure about the 1st part. I think you are saying that the mp3car antenna (outside) will not be better than a 7db antenna inside. How about a 3db antenna outside compared to an 7db antenna inside?

**boelle** · 12-10-2010, 04:42 PM

take it like the the ant signal to a tv... it has the shield and core, both have to be intact to work....

the ant for a car has to be connected to the "core part" and shield too... and most antennas uses the nut to connect to chasis/metal.... this is like the shield on the tv at home... so if you take a roof mount ant and dont mount it the in the roof the shield is cut and the ant will not work like it should

if you dont want to drill a hole in the roof you have to take a lengt of wire and crimp on a ring terminal at both ends so the nut is grounded

**nasa** · 12-10-2010, 05:10 PM

boelle,

I think we aren't communicating...

I have am using an antenna like this:

http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-ANT24-0.../dp/B00403NC6C

which is on my rear deck (next to window) which is tinted. I am trying to compare the performance I get with it to what I could expect by having an antenna mounted on the outside -- like the mp3car one. The mp3car one is of interest because it claims 0 db gain... So would it do better than the one that claims 7 dbi given it's outside the car?

**boelle** · 12-10-2010, 05:22 PM

now i got it.....

i think the main problem with the one you have is not the gain... i think the problem is the window tint.

are the front window one of those that has a heat protecting layer.. ie does is have a read tint to it when viewed from outside ? if that is the case in fact you have a total radio shielded car... more or less... just for the sake of the experiment have you tried to put the wifi on the dash? if that works better you could try to rebuild the antenna and hide it beind the a pillar trim... that is the way i did it but in my peugeot 207 none of the windows is tinted.

if putting the wifi on the dash does not improve it i would say you are better off with a 0 db gain outside the car..