Upgrade antennas

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user28
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 26 Apr 2015
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:09    Post subject: Upgrade antennas Reply with quote
I have a brand new TP-link Archer A7 router which i have flased the dd-wrt build 52189. All good and the router is working fine.

My only problem is the range.. One corner of my house does not get the wifi signal and it is a dead zone. I cannot move the router to a closer location because my desktop and set top box are wire connected to this router.

I am thinking of the following options. I am a very novice and hence have no knowledge of router hardware and wifi radio working methods.

Option 1: Somehow adding internal antennas in the router. Possible?
like these ones:-
https://www.amazon.in/xcluma-Internal-Antenna-IEEE802-Bluetooth/dp/B073DG1CFS/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2O5ED0V1WT5DH&keywords=internal+antennas&qid=1680260170&sprefix=internal+antennas%2Caps%2C282&sr=8-2


Option 2: I opened the router and saw Ipex connecters through which the antenna cable is connected. So the cables are not soldered to the board. Can these antennas be replaced with the aftermarket high gain antennas? Does this replacement help my situation?
like these:-
https://www.amazon.in/NETBOON-Antenna-Wireless-Desktop-Adaptors/dp/B0BGH38YHF/ref=sr_1_10?crid=3HCGYSM0W9DW&keywords=high+gain+antennas&qid=1680260338&sprefix=high+gain+antenna%2Caps%2C264&sr=8-10


added the pic of the settings of my 2.4 GHz radio. I chose the most least congested channel for the 2.4 Ghz band and all the wifi settings i had replicated from a post by msoengineer I have read in the forum.
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blkt
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 20 Jan 2019
Posts: 5650

PostPosted: Fri Mar 31, 2023 13:00    Post subject: Reply with quote
Longer Ethernet cables to relocate or repurpose A7 as Ethernet AP after replacing gateway with R7800 or EA8500.

Mixed Ch 1 Disassoc Low ACK Disable Protection Mode None RTS Threshold Disable Beacon 100 DTIM 2 ACK 1350
matjazk
DD-WRT User


Joined: 21 Aug 2019
Posts: 120
Location: Here, There And Everywhere

PostPosted: Fri Mar 31, 2023 14:08    Post subject: Reply with quote
In my case, with Archer C7 v5, changing radio firmware to DD-WRT, overriding chipset restrictions and cranking up TX strength made a significant difference. But in general, wired connections (longet cable) should always be preferred.

EDIT: I see that your picture shows 2.4GHz radio where you cannot change the firmware.
ian5142
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 23 Oct 2013
Posts: 2318
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Fri Mar 31, 2023 14:22    Post subject: Upgrade antennas Reply with quote
Make sure Tx power is set to 30dBm.

I have upgraded my antennas on my Archer C7 v2 with 9dB external antennas. They get better range but nothing is even close to the Linksys EA8500 or Netgear r7800. My r7800's get at least 300ft+ range line of site with a decent throughput of >10MB/s download and upload speeds (actual Internet speedtest, dslreports.com)

Heck even my DIR-862L's get better range than the Archer C7 v2.

_________________
Before asking a question on the forums, update dd-wrt: Where do I download firmware? I suggest reading it all.
QCA Best WiFi Settings


Some dd-wrt wiki pages are up to date, others are not. PM me if you find an old one.

Atheros:
Netgear R7800 x3 - WDS AP / station, gateway, QoS
TP-Link Archer C7 v2 x2 - WDS Station
TP-Link TL-WDR3600 v1 - WDS Station
TP-Link 841nd v8 - NU
D-Link 615 C1/E3/I1 x 7 - 1 WDS station
D-Link 825 B1 - NU
D-Link 862L A1 x2 - WDS Station
Netgear WNDR3700v2 - NU
UBNT loco M2 x2 - airOS

Broadcom
Linksys EA6400 - Gateway, QoS
Asus N66U - AP
Netgear WNDR3700v3 - not used
MediaTek
UBNT EdgeRouter X - switch
dale_gribble39
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 11 Jun 2022
Posts: 1889

PostPosted: Fri Mar 31, 2023 14:33    Post subject: Reply with quote
You have to account for higher gain aftermarket antennas or your risk burning out your radios. Seems like nobody has ever set SWR, SNR, or anything on HAM, CB, AM, or FM radio towers, whatsoever.
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user28
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 26 Apr 2015
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 10:46    Post subject: Reply with quote
blkt wrote:
Longer Ethernet cables to relocate or repurpose A7 as Ethernet AP after replacing gateway with R7800 or EA8500.

Mixed Ch 1 Disassoc Low ACK Disable Protection Mode None RTS Threshold Disable Beacon 100 DTIM 2 ACK 1350


Both the router models seems to be not available in India including Amazon India. What are my next options?
blkt
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 20 Jan 2019
Posts: 5650

PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 10:53    Post subject: Reply with quote
WikiDevi: R7800 (XR450/XR500), R7500v2, EA8500, R9000 (R8900/XR700).
R7800, XR450, XR500, R7500v2, EA8500 (serial flash), x86 (one, two, three).

AC Wave 2 models are usually no longer in production, search used condition.
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