WiFi Antenna Cable

by admin on September 21, 2007

When your setting up a wireless network for maximum range, the wifi antenna cable becomes very important. This is because most of the time your access point or other wireless device will be located inside the building but the antenna must be mounted outside where it is providing maximum coverage and free from obstructions.

A good way is to set up your equipment up as close to where your antenna will be mounted as possible. In some cases it is preferable to mount the device in a weatherproof enclosure with the antenna or in the ceiling space just below the antenna. This configuration is optimal as it minimizes cable losses.

Outdoor Enclosure

Where your cable length can be kept at reasonable length (around 10m/30ft or less for LMR-400), it may be easier to run a low loss coaxial cable. These cables generally have an ‘N connector at each end. You will just need to make sure of the gender of the N connector on your antenna and the N connector on your pigtail to select a suitable cable. Most wireless devices have a very small connector and a pigtail is required to convert from this connector to an N type.

pigtail

pigtail adapter to connect your wireless device to the N connector on your antenna cable

Antenna Cable

Low loss antenna cable with N type connectors

It is important to keep the antenna cable as short as possible even when using very high grade cable. As you can see from the chart below, the 2.4GHz frequency degrades a lot more than lower frequencies along the cable length.

coax cable attenuation chart

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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }

turbo April 1, 2008 at 1:48 am

nice. quick and to the point.

Reply

eddy chen February 17, 2009 at 8:19 am

dear sir/madam
how much is the 9 dbi antenna?
tks

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Calvin Tiegs May 5, 2009 at 9:37 am

I bought a Wi-Fi Catcher 12dbi UDA Antenna for $14.00 on ebay in Dec.08 and have had no problems with it at all.I have even dropped it a few times and it works fine.Getting wireless from about two miles down the road from a Meat Packing Company un-secured router.Pulls in four bars on my laptop,Two with out the antenna.

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Wi-Fi Pro May 22, 2009 at 9:00 am

Wi-Fi Pro is pleased to Warranty,Stock and Sell, the full line of Wi-Fi Catcher Wireless Antennas,Cables,Brackets and other products now available to the consumer at Factory Prices.Visit us at http://www.wi-fipro.com

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TommyTwoTone May 22, 2009 at 9:02 am

Another good source is Wi-Fi Catcher Antennas, http://www.wificatcher.com they sell cheap and very effective long range antennas.I use a Wi-Fi catcher Biquad antenna and can pick up three free wi-fi hot spots and at leat six neighbors routers just from my apartment.

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ankit August 25, 2009 at 2:05 pm

i want to know that wat kind of cable should i use to extend he wifi antenna . presently i m using using rg 6 cable of length 20mts but the signal is too low .plz suggest me a cable which has the least resistance …….should i go for rg174 …..plz reply me …….thanx

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paulyoung August 27, 2009 at 1:35 am

I would use LMR400 or CNT400. There are better cables than this but unless you need to use a long run, they should be fine.

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Alberto Rivera June 1, 2010 at 12:43 am

Very, very nice and good info thanx.

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