Re: [Madwifi-users] antenna problems

[Dan H. <om...@da...>]

I just redid my experiment with my current AR50004-based card.  I get 
similar signal strengths with the same antenna hooked to my PRI or AUX 
antenna connector.  However, the singal strength changes a *lot* over 
time.  At home I saw it range from 35-45dB using the A-band through 2 
walls.  At work with more distant B/G access points, I saw it range from 
7-14dB.

NOTE:  It looked like the card needed a reset when switching the 
antennas - I did this by unloading and reloading the module.   I'm 
guessing that part of the bringup procedure decides which antenna(s) to use.

So, for this card at least, it can use a single antenna on either 
connector equally well.  Not sure why that wouldn't be true of the AG621 
- maybe the board-trace to the antenna connector is tuned to different 
frequences for that card?

>>>Christian Krause wrote:
>>>      
>>>
>>>>...
>>>>
>>>>Now I have three questions:
>>>>
>>>>1. Can somebody confirm, that these 2 plugs are for different bands?
>>>>
>>>>2. I've seen a small chip on the card between these two plugs. Is it
>>>>possible to control via software, which plug is used for which band?
>>>>
>>>>3. Is there a way to connect physically only one antenna but be able to
>>>>use a-band and b/g-band with a good signal quality?
>>>>        
>>>>
>
>With regard to question #3, you need to use an antenna that's specifically
>tuned to that frequency for best results, so no, I don't believe it's
>possible, atleast it's not recommended.
>
>HTH,
>-Jason
>
It may not be optimal, but its certainly possible - most non-mini PCI 
cards use a single antenna.  Even my Dlink access point only has one 
antenna, and its running two simultaneous radios.