Re: Wifi Booster for less than a buck.

True, but I tend to think of a "booster" as some sort of artificial  
amplification. Something you would place between your radio and  
antenna. I think calling a stronger antenna a "booster" is just mis- 
leading. FWIW, as a HAM radio enthusiast, I tend to think DIY antennas  
are much cooler than the commercial antennas. But from experience, the  
ones you pay for always work better.

On Nov 22, 2007, at 2:09 PM, Caleb Phillips wrote:

>> Basically the same idea as replacing your linksys rubber ducky  
>> antenna
>> with a 9dbi omni. It's misleading that they call this a "booster"...
>
> Meh. It does increase the gain (a.k.a. "boost") in the azimuth plane,
> which is usually the direction of interest (unless you're a radio
> astronomer or something ;)).
>
> Overall I support DIY antenna construction so far as it convinces  
> folks
> to care more about the vagaries of the physical layer (the "it's just
> magic" approach to wireless networking sure isn't helping anything).
>
> However, if you really want performance out of your antenna, you'll  
> want
> to buy one from a manufacturer who actually tests their antennas in an
> anechoic chamber with fancy oscilloscopes and whatnot. (Which is
> basically what Keegan told me a million years ago when I asked him  
> about
> making a co-linear omni for my rooftop). When you pay $50.00 for a
> antenna, you're not paying for the materials, you're paying for the
> testing and validation.
>
> --
> Caleb Phillips
>
> -- 
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