Wifi comparision/conclusion, SMA DBA etc...

**bimmerpc** · 06-20-2006, 08:01 PM

SUMMARY OF TEXT BELOW:
Adapter 1: USb stick with sma connector, 15Dba
Adapter 2: Engenius Senao with removable antenna, 23DBa

What will it cost for me to make Adapter number 1 equally or better

than adapter 2?
I would prefer the smaller stick if I can get the same send AND recieve as Senao for the same price.

Anyone?

Seller tells me there will be "no problem, dont worry"

        &# 160;       &#16 0; 

-----------------------------------------------

I am comparing two items..

I have seen the Senao Engenius 362 external wifi usb adapter that people think is good! It is on 23dba /200mw output power.
To ship it to me costs total of 91$

I have also seen a usb dongle with sma female connector on the plug so that I can add an external antenna to it later. It has no antenna currently and has 15dba output power.

I understand the dongle is not as good as the senao but it is smaller and I get it for 65 including shipping. I imagine I will have to buy an extra antenna no matter which one I choose, and that´s why I wonder if its ANY benefit in getting this SENAO compared to the cheaper plug since I am going for the extra antenna anway? Is there any downsides that I have forgotten?

I mean with the smaller plug I can just drag a usb cable all the way from my computer and glue it to just under the front windshield behind the roof cover and just have a omnidirectional antenna folding down when I want to use it. I guess that will be harder to achieve with the a bit bigger Senao/engenius

According to threads it will be downsides with having the actual wifi device away from the windshield and instead have to pull coaxial antennas instead of using usb wires and just have the actual device higher up in the car... (?)

**GizmoQ** · 06-22-2006, 12:49 AM

Just read up on the specs of the 362. If you open the case there's an external antenna connector. You could buy an external antenna, mount it in the window and leave the 362 next to the laptop or hub. I know a source in San Antonio that can make you anantenna cable any length/any connectors/any antenna, i.e., built to your needs so all you see above the dash is the antenna. (Stick a 5 or 8dB antenna next to or in your window pillar and watch that sucker talk

)

OBTW, search eBay for senao 362 - there's on seller with 44 available at $60.

**bimmerpc** · 06-22-2006, 03:40 AM

I heard that the strongest cards are the pcmcia with 400mw, is there any docking adapter so I can add more cards to my laptop which doesnt have room for more pcmcia cards now? I have searched for "pcmcia to usb adapter" but havent found any available

**BarryWoods** · 06-24-2006, 01:52 PM

Use the least amount of coax you can. The closer the radio (usb stick) to the antenna the better. Remember any connection in the chain will remove about 2dbi of signal.

**f1vlad** · 06-24-2006, 02:03 PM

I am using Dell "Truemobile" PCMCIA and I Am not too happy with it, loosing signal randomly. I am going to re-think my wi-fi setup.

**bimmerpc** · 07-09-2006, 05:04 PM

Some are convinced that the basic wifi-device is the most important component to recieve and send over long distances. An additiona antenna just makes one of the send or recieve going over longer distances

Others are convinced that an antenna gives better performance in BOTH these things.

I dont see why anyone would buy an antenna if it only extends the sending or only the recieving since networking is all about both sending and recieving...

someone hint me on this.. would be boring if I could recieve the google.com page from 10 miles but not put in any search words due to bad sending capacity....

I mean.. many boosters are powered seperately and in this case I dont see why it wouldnt be the obvious addon to be able to do internetting on longer distances.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

The above dongle looks like the optimal product since it´s small and You can choose whatever antena you want