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1491

External wifi antenna connector

1491 points posted to Broadband and Mobility, Laptops by cromo 02/17/07

I came into this idea some time ago. The idea is simple - to put an external wifi connector on the back of the laptop and a button to switch between internal and external antennas. There are loads of different solutions for laptop users that need better signal reception for their wifi cards, most of them simply increase transmitting power (thus exposing us, the users to higher radiation) while all the problems could be easly solved by adding external connector and some some cheap and small external antenna. It would be nice to see such connector on the replicator port, too. Considering the forthcomming WiMax that will be mostly used by ISPs to provide internet connection I am sure such external antenna connector is even a must for the laptops that will come with integrated WiMax card.

cyko_01
04/05/07		 this would allow for the use of amplifiers
abqaussie
04/27/07		 Yes. Please give us this in addition to the internal antenna, in a standard connector so we can attach our own antennas, and with a smart rubber and permanently attached plug (like the port covers on digicams) so we can cap it off (or just leave it capped) if we don't use it.
rotthund
05/01/07		 And attach a parabolic antenna to that connector.
p_ansell
05/24/07		 Its a great idea because it increases connectivity, but what scientific report has ever linked radio waves to "dangerous radiation"??
rotthund
06/04/07		 It's a matter of intensity. I think i've seen wifi stuff list that it's emmisions are way less than the FCC limits on human exposure.
batzel
Jan 25		 Indeed -- I'd really like to be able to experiment with directional long-distance wifi, and I'm sure if you do a search you'll see there's a wide array of internet pages about building your own antenna. This would attract users from those online groups. Users like me. :)
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