Using Wireless Networking Antennas

Over the years, I have received quite a few emails from people, asking how they need to connect a biquad antenna, collinear antenna or some other antenna to their computer. This page is designed to provide that information - to clarify just how these antennas are typically used.

Example Usage Scenarios

The image below show the components needed to connect a biquad antenna to an UltraWAP 802.11b/g wireless AP/bridge. The biquad has a female N connector on the end of its short length of coax, and the UltraWAP has a removable rubber ducky antenna connected to an rpSMA socket.
An rpSMA to male N connector pigtail is required, and the factory rubber ducky antenna needs to be removed to allow the pigtail to be connected.

using a biquad with an UltraWAP wireless AP / bridge
using a biquad with an UltraWAP wireless AP / bridge

The image below shows a biquad antenna connected to the UltraWAP.

using a biquad with an UltraWAP wireless AP / bridge
using a biquad with an UltraWAP wireless AP / bridge

Another option is to use a PCMCIA wireless card. The image below shows the components required to connect a biquad antenna to a Proxim/Orinoco 802.11b/g wireless PCMCIA card. Many wireless PCMCIA cards use an MCcard socket, and when a cable is plugged into it, the internal antenna in the card is disabled. An MCcard to male N connector pigtail is required to connect the biquad antenna to this particular card.

using a biquad with a PCMCIA wireless card
using a biquad with a PCMCIA wireless card

The image below shows the biquad antenna connected to the Proxim/Orinoco PCMCIA card.

using a biquad with a PCMCIA wireless card
using a biquad with a PCMCIA wireless card

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