Can I swap one antenna out from a dual-antenna PCI network adapter?

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baldurthebladefist

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Nov 2, 2013
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Hi all,

I already have the TL-WN851N 300Mbps Wireless N PCI Adapter but the antennas are attached at the back of the computer case.

Worse still, the case is huge (475x200x440 mm LxWxH) and the PCI wireless card antennas are right smack in the middle of the back of the case. The back of the case is facing a wall, and the internet speed is really slow (about 2Mbps from speedtest.net).

I thought of replacing one of the 2x2dBi antennae with a 8dBi antennae (thinking of TL-ANT2408C). Would the PCI card be able to function with one antennae swapped out?

By the way, I'm using a Cisco Linksys E1000 router which is one floor away and has to pass through 1-2 ceilings/walls...can't shift it's position because it is connected to the only ISP point in my home.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
Solution
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That is a tough call.

You first thing to try is to move you computer around just as a test to see what the best you can get with the current card. This should indicate the location you would place a USB adapter with a similar antenna strength. You could put the USB on the ceiling if it works good there where it would be tough to mount your desktop there.

If it works ok then the USB would be a valid choice. If not then you are better off using the antenna and microwave cable method. You want to buy as short cables as you can get away with. Every foot of cable eats part of the DB gain of your antenna.

Your largest issue may be that even 8db is not enough houses tend to do a great job of eating wireless signal and even...
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bill001g

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Aug 9, 2012
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You really should swap both out. To get the 300m the card is running mimo which is dependent on the cards ability to transmit and receive 2 different overlapping signals. If you were to replace only one you would likely greatly degrade the cards ability to run mimo.

This is the big downside to internal cards and why USB adapters on a USB extension cable tends to be a better choice when your computer placement limits your signals.

You can get external antenna that have cables that allow you to place it away from the case. Ones with good quality cable that do not lose more than the better antenna gains are fairly costly....most times you can buy a new USB card for about the same price as the antenna system.
 
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baldurthebladefist

Honorable
Nov 2, 2013
24
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10,520
I'm considering a 300Mbps USB adapter but it has only 2x3dBi antennae...while they can be placed at the front of the case, will the antenna be able to pick up the already weak signals? Or should I get 2x8dBi antenna and use the cable to place them on top of the case?
 
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bill001g

Titan
Aug 9, 2012
28,365
2,766
125,640
That is a tough call.

You first thing to try is to move you computer around just as a test to see what the best you can get with the current card. This should indicate the location you would place a USB adapter with a similar antenna strength. You could put the USB on the ceiling if it works good there where it would be tough to mount your desktop there.

If it works ok then the USB would be a valid choice. If not then you are better off using the antenna and microwave cable method. You want to buy as short cables as you can get away with. Every foot of cable eats part of the DB gain of your antenna.

Your largest issue may be that even 8db is not enough houses tend to do a great job of eating wireless signal and even though 8db should provide more than 2.5 times the signal of a 3db the house seems to be able to also absorb a higher amounts.
 
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