MBR1000 with external antenna to extend wifi coverage?

goldman5 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 10 Oct 2009 Posts: 1

Can I unscrew one of the three external antennas and replace it with a cable to an omnidirectional antenna on my roof? I called support a few weeks ago and they said they didn't know! One engineer said that maybe one of the side antennas is for incoming data, the other side antenna is for outgoing, and the middle does both. So do you think I could replace the middle one with a much better antenna and get some results? Thanks!

im_electronic · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:58 pm Post subject:

I don't have a dead one to open up an look at anymore, but from taking apart an MBR the mini-PCI 11n card has three U.FL hirose connectors on it, you should install pigtails that go form the U.FL to your connector of choice (generic one is RP-SMA for small antennas, N type for large antennas)

I would suggest researching the mini-pci RALINK RT2860 card that unit uses as to what is the "main" antenna connection, only using one external long range antenna would limit you to 11g speeds most likely.

your best option (it's here in the forums somewhere) is to use a separate AP with you long distance/point to point purpose in mind, and it won't kill your warranty.

what is your objective?

flynmoose · EVDO Newbie Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 6

For OP - I'm not an electrical engineer (nor do I play one on TV) but . . .

The reason that the MBR1000 has three antennas is that 802.11N uses a technology called MIMO (multi-input, multi-output). The real dumb-dumb version of this is that all three antennas are used in a varying array of transmit and receive. This system capitalizes on the shadows and bouncing caused by structures.

If you just move one antenna - I don't know what will happen but I think you will have poor performance in both G network and may very well have no performance with N devices. Probably somebody with more RF smarts than me can chime in here.

As the previous reply said - what is your objective? If it is to extend range to another building or house - you are probably better off getting a second access point that is WDS compatible and setting up your MBR1000 that way.

This causes the second box to connect to both your MBR and the remote computer and act as a relay.

My 2 cents.