Having installed a lot of cheap-n-cheerful TP-Link routers and access points in mainly residential settings, I get a gut feeling that the Mikrotik’s without external antennas don’t seem to perform as well, esp. over distance. The TP-Link TL-WA1201 has four antenna: [image] How is this going to com…

Not even GSM reception I ENVY YOU… :imp:

The size of the antenna (not the plastic) matters. The bigger it is, the more directive it is. It allows you to focus the power in one direction/plane better. This effect works both for transmission and for reception in equal measure. For every doubling of distance, there is a loss of 6 dB of power…

If it wasn’t for the (needed to avoid risking frying the RF output circuit) needed 50 Ohm impedance, it would be interesting to make experiments with coat hangers, last time they were compared to gold plated cables they came out pretty good: https://www.soundguys.com/cable-myths-reviving-the-coatha…

The bigger it is, the more directive it is. It allows you to focus the power in one direction/plane better. So, in your opinion, the “bigger” an omnidirectional antenna is, the more directive it is… Interesting…

Side note I’ve seen multiple reports on various posts in this thread during the day. For now I will let it go but keep things civil, shall we ? Remember: always play ball, never man. Carry on …

So, in your opinion, the "bigger" an omnidirectional antenna is, the more directive it is... Interesting... Come on, he is probably trying to say that the doughnut is flatter. Like: [omni_radiation_pattern] [image]

So, in your opinion, the "bigger" an omnidirectional antenna is, the more directive it is... Interesting... Yes. The toroid gets flatter, and the signal gets stronger on the region served. Loosing "up" and "down" range counts as "more directional". But You knew it, didn't You? You just ignored…

Possibly gold plated coat hangers … Yeah, but of course! It’s obvious that the more expensive the cable, the better the quality of the electrons passing through it, which means a better signal – everyone knows that! :smiley: