WLAN Antenna Recommendation

Here’s the deal:

A customer approaches me looking for a solution to their dilemma. The customer has recently converted their garage into a home office/workshop that requires Internet access for multiple LAN and Wireless devices. They are trying to avoid running a wired connection due to the heavily landscaped yard that lay in between the house and garage. They are interested in a wireless alternative that would allow them to take advantage of the ISP connection from their house. They also do not want to lose bandwidth. What I recommend?

Well, I researched different avenues to take, and found a really cool path to follow. The only problem I can see is if the customer doesn’t have electrical power from the house. I found the Linksys PLWK400 Powerline Kit which I have described below.

Linksys PLWK400 Powerline Wired and Wireless Network Expansion Kit which costs around $90. The website ad is as follows:

Create a new high-speed Internet connection using your home's existing electrical outlets and Wireless-N technology.

• Wireless speeds of up to N300 Mbps*

• Wired speeds up to 200 Mbps**

• Simply plug each adapter into a wall outlet and sync to router

• Connect up to eight devices wirelessly

• 1 Fast Ethernet port per unit

HOW DO POWERLINE ADAPTERS WORK?

Powerline adapters expand your network by using your home wiring like an Ethernet cable, sending the Internet signal from your router to any active power outlet. This means you can use your adapter just like an extra Ethernet port, to connect wired devices without rewiring your home. The PLWK400 also functions as a wireless range extender, to increase wireless signal strength across your home network.

This photo is included as a reference to what the system will do once it is installed. According to the manufacturer, the installation is simple, just plug the devices in to the existing outlets in your home, and one in the garage or new office. I also read the reviews, and of course there are pros and cons. But mostly they say to follow the instructions to the “T”. I’m sure this comes to no surprise for the DYIers. We all know that not following directions only causes pain. The features for this device state the ability to connect up to eight devices to the unit.

An alternative to this system would be to use an antenna to antenna connection from the house to the new office. Then connect a Wi-Fi router to the second antenna, and set up the office WLAN.

I found this Hawking Technology High–Gain Directional Antenna, Indoor/outdoor, 14dBi HAO14SDP made by Hawking Technology.

From the Manufacturer:

Hawking's Hi-Gain 14dBi Outdoor Directional Antenna Kit will extend Your Wireless Range by up to 1.5 miles. (Note: Distance may vary in different operating environment.) The HAO14SDP Hi-Gain 14 dBi Outdoor Directional Antenna Kit is a heavy duty, weather proof, high powered antenna for extending the range of your existing wireless 802.11 b or 802.11g Wi-Fi devices. Whether your application requires extending a wireless signal from on building to another or simply from one end of the house to another end, the Hi-Gain 14dBi is the perfect solution. The power rating of Wi-Fi antennas is measured in terms of decibels (dBi). The HAO14SDP boots the antenna power of standard antennas from a minimal 2dBi to a staggering 14dBi. The Hi-Gain Directional technology concentrates your wireless signal directly towards the wireless source from your network. This results in a significantly increased in wireless distance. When paired with another Hi-Gain 14dBi antenna, you may extend your distance by up to 1.5 miles. Installation of the HAO14SDP is simple. It is compatible with most wireless devices (access points, routers, bridges, and network adapters) on the market with removable antennas. The Hawking antenna comes equipped with N-Type, RP-SMA and RP-TNC connectors to support a wide range of Wireless device. Note: An outdoor low loss antenna cable (Hawking Model# HNC10N or HNC30N) is required for outdoor installation and must be purchased separately. Depending on your set up, a shorter cable is recommended for minimal cable loss due to cable length."

The unit is priced at $89.99 but on sale for $76.99 on Amazon.com.

For the router I found a Securifi Almond - (3 Minute Setup) Touchscreen Wireless Router / Range Extender. The manufacturer specifications are as follows:

Revolutionary Touch Screen Wi-Fi Router + Range Extender Almond is a revolutionary device that brings touch to Wireless Routers for the first time in history. For the first time users can setup & maintain their router easily from its highly intuitive touch screen. You can avoid the cumbersome PC/Mac based setup that is common with other routers. Its dual purpose -- You can use it either as a Wireless Router or a Range Extender Range Extender (Booster/Repeater) if you already have an existing router but are not happy with its range, Almond can help you extend its range wirelessly! It is compatible with most routers from Apple, Netgear, Linksys, Cisco, Belkin, Dlink, Asus, Verizon, AT&T, etc.

Wireless N Router Almond can also be used as a full featured Wireless router with speeds up to 300Mbps. Just connect it to your Cable/DSL/Fiber modem and follow the intuitive on-screen instructions to set it up Wireless Bridge (Wi-Fi to Ethernet) You can connect your older devices (PC/TV) that only have Ethernet to a Wi-Fi network Security Securifi takes Security very seriously. Unlike other routers, Almond is fully secure out of the Box. Also, each Almond ships with a unique and random name (SSID) and password set at the factory. Almond default SSID's 'nomap' tag prevents your router from being recorded in Google's Location Tracking Database. Technical Specifications 802.11bgn 300Mbps MIMO, 2 antennas 2 LAN + 1 WAN Ports Power Supply: 5V, 1A Port Forwarding, Firewall, DMZ, UPnP

This unit is listed for $99.99 but also on sale for $69.99

This item was found on Amazon the website listing from Citation Machine didn’t give enough information so I am including my rendition of the site. http://www.amazon.com/Hawking-Directional-Antenna-outdoor-HAO14SDP.

What would I recommend? That depends on how much the customer wants to spend. I could go with the Linksys PLWK400 Powerline Wired and Wireless Network Expansion Kit because I have electric wiring under the concrete in my backyard which runs into the garage. However, I really do like the Securifi Almond - (3 Minute Setup) Touchscreen Wireless Router / Range Extender. I like the features of the device. With the Linksys device, the router is not needed. I guess I will have to consult with the customer and take a look at the premises to make the correct decision.