Q: For the Antenna Guru's

RouterOS General
1

I just set up a client that lives in an apartment complex that will not allow exterior antennas. Right now I have him set-up with a 15dbi panel shooting LOS thru his window. Problem is that the window must be UV protected and hampering the signal. The AP he is connecting to is a Cicso 350BR ( Don’t yell at me. The site is going to MT in 1 month ) His current signal in the Cisco is a 42/35 thru the window. If I hold the antenna outside, the signal goes to 79/65.

Is there anything better I can do with his CPE to bring the signal up?

Thanks.

ps. Still snowing in Michigan

2

I’d check FCC regulations, but I know for a fact no home owners association or any organization/government entity can restrict the use/installation of an antenna for communication purposes (internet/TV/Phone). It’s against FCC Regulations. An apartment complex however may be different because your client does not actually own the property, something to look into…

As far as anything better… maybe work with the Apartment complex and strike some kind of deal to make it a hotspot and flood the whole area with 2.4ghz. :slight_smile:

3

For the gurus:
Is this case a “dead loss” or does just a higher gain antenna fix it?

With infrared (laser) this would be easy, just use a higher gain box to combat attenuation.

But are all such indoor installations a headache?

Regards

4

I’ve run into this a lot. Some types of insulated and/or tinted glass won’t pass signal well at all. Not much you can do about it…if the distance is close (less than a 1/4 mile) you might have better luck with an omni away from the window. If it’s not that close, is there a attic with vents you could mount an antenna near?

5

I have several clients that actually do better through the wall than through the window.

Many of the coatings they put on the windows makes them absorb RF much the same way they are ment to absorb UV or other spectrums.

FWIW.

Joe

6

That’s really interesting.
In office buildings, there are lots of window coatings used to block heat (IR) and RF sometimes too.
But I would have thought residential windows are more likely to be “plain glass”.
With Infrared you get between 1 and 8dB depending on glass type and angle.
Guess with RF it remains “try and see” then …

Regards

7

Is there a screen on the window? An aluminum screen will act as a faraday cage and block the RF. MAny window coatings are “metlaized” also causing a similar reaction. Stucco walls will give you the same problem sue to the mesh used to hold the stucco. It is well known in the Antenna design industry that H-polarization is also better for small openings as well, mostly because of the typical shape of a window.