Improve WiFi Reception: TL-ANT2405C

Are you facing wireless connectivity issues between your wireless Router and a desktop PC equipped with a PCI wireless adapter? The problem may not be the PCI adapter or the router; the antenna on your PCI adapter might be the culprit and the solution may lie in replacing the default antenna with a dedicated wireless antenna. These antennas can be positioned so as to achieve optimal reception with high signal strength and have a small wire which is fastened to the antenna slot of the wireless device, replacing the default antenna that your PCI card came with. And the results are more than impressive. TL-ANT2405C is one such antenna from TP-LINK Technologies Co. Ltd.

TL-ANT2405C is a 2.4GHz 5dBi Indoor Omni-directional Antenna equipped with a 130cm extension cable and an RP-SMA Male connector. This antenna was tested with a Netgear Wireless PCI Adapter WG311v3, connected to a Netgear Wireless ADSL Firewall Router DG834G. With the default antenna which came boxed with the PCI Adapter, the signal reception was extremely poor, ranging from 20-30% signal strength when connected to the router placed barely 5 meters away, leading to frequent WLAN disconnections and unresponsive internet connection. The reasons could have been the intervening walls as also the cabinet of the PC reflecting wireless signal; the latter seems more probable since a Nokia N95 mobile phone placed in close proximity to the desktop detected wireless signal strength of nearly 70-80%. That is where a dedicated antenna steps in. The increase in signal strength after replacement of the default antenna with the TP Link antenna was phenomenal; now the signal strength was nearly always in the range of 85-90%. The base of the antenna is furnished with a strong magnet and the antenna can be mounted simply on the top of the PC cabinet. The antenna was purchased online from Ebay.in for Rs.700/- with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty. Before starting a search for driver and firmware updates or hardware replacement, do consider giving a chance to a wireless antenna.

Information From Official Product Page (http://www.tplink.com/products/product_spe.asp?id=58)

Product Description: 2.4GHz 5dBi Indoor Omni-directional Antenna

Product Features:

Compliant with 802.11b/g
5dBi signal gain
130cm low-loss extension cable
RP-SMA Male connector

Product Specifications:

Frequency Range: 2.4GHz~2.4835GHz
Impedance: 50 Ohms
Gain: 5 dBi
VSWR: 1.92 : 1 Max
Polarization: Linear, Vertical
Beamwidth (HPBW): Horizontal: 360°Vertical: 32°
Connector: RP-SMA Male
Cable: 130cm RG-174 Coaxial Cable
Radiation: Omni-directional
Application: Indoor
Mount Style: Desktop / Wall Mount
Dimensions (? x L mm): 50 x 201 mm
Operating Temperature: -10?~60? (14?~140?);
Storage Temperature: -40?~80? (-40?~176?)
Operating Humidity: 10%~90% non-condensing
Storage Humidity: 5%~90% non-condensing
Safety, Emission and others: CE, FCC, Compliant with RoHS