[Mod] 9dB Antenna Mod for Linksys EA4500 - Guide and Log

[amintha1992]

Reasoning 

 

I have a Linksys EA4500 that i  use to share the internet and share files between all the devises that i have in the house.

my house is not very big but is vertically high. i use the basement for my gaming PC and the ground level is where the Router is and my bed room is on the top floor. 

 

since there is a lot of interference and bunch of walls in between the router and my phone/tablet in side the rooms upstairs, including the Xbox in my brothers room which is the furthest away from the router.

 

even though the 2.4Ghz has reasonable levels the 5Ghz band does not. and streaming videos from the PC in the basement (connected to the router via Gigabit Cat6e) is not very present on the 2.4ghz

.

so i was thinking to my self, what if the router had better antennas to push the signal out. that is how i came up with these.

 

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/251047446733?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

 

 

 

Steps

 

i have orders 3 paris of those antenna and i am still waiting for those to come in. but until then here is what im planing on doing.

 

here is what the inside looks like 

 

im going to drill some holes along the sides, 3 on each side and feed the threaded connection head through from the inside 

 

 

i know that does not make much sense but i will post more photos as soon as i get the stuff in.

 

i should be getting those in by the end of this week.

 

Before and After WiFi Signal strength 

 

[more photos incoming later ]

[amintha1992]

UPDATE TIME

 

The Screws are hidden behind the little standoffs. you can easy pop them off and use a Philips head screw driver to remove all 4. 

then use some force but gently to take the shell apart. make sure you dont break any clips.

 

 

cut a small slit in the bottom half on both sides so you can put the wires through

use a safety blade, the plastic is very soft.

 

the original connectors will look like this. remove all of these very carefully apply even pressure so the connector will not be pulled out of the PCB. these are very fragile electronics be careful.  

 

 

 

put the wires trough the slits on either sides.

 

attach the new connectors to the PCB, be careful not to break the connectors on the PCB. apply even pressure. 

 

 

 

the final product

 

the trophy next to it is a total co incident. I swear 

 

 

 

[BRiteBak]

Awesome! Comparison results?

[amintha1992]

Awesome! Comparison results?

i forgot to do test and take down numbers before the mod.

but I can tell you that the signals and speeds are much more constant. 

 

specially the 5ghz band. but it totally depends on your situation. I have a lot of walls in the way then this might help.

[Hondasarecool]

Do you know which are the 5.8GHz antennas and which are 2.4? I don't use the 5.8GHz antennas and me being a dolt only ordered 2 antennas/adapters. I have 2 extra adapters laying around and figured I'd at least replace the 2.4GHz antennas for now, but don't know which is which. Also I've got mine replaced only the two grey middle antennas with some cheap $5 amazon antennas, and I'm already seeing an improvement in range!

[amintha1992]

Do you know which are the 5.8GHz antennas and which are 2.4? I don't use the 5.8GHz antennas and me being a dolt only ordered 2 antennas/adapters. I have 2 extra adapters laying around and figured I'd at least replace the 2.4GHz antennas for now, but don't know which is which. Also I've got mine replaced only the two grey middle antennas with some cheap $5 amazon antennas, and I'm already seeing an improvement in range!

no idea... maybe you can disconnect some and see which signal drops. Process of elimination my friend 

[d33g33]

Excellent work, external antennas are sure to make a big improveent.

 

im about to swap out a 2.4ghz only card for a dual band and install some new antennas on my media PC, also install a dual band with external antennas into my NUC.

 

Good write up