Third party antenna ( >6dBi) & AP1260 compatibility

[balsheikh]

Hi All,

Any one had implemented AP1261 using third party 2.4Ghz antenna with power gain more than 6 dBi ?

I'm planning to use 18dBi Non Cisco antenna that support MIMO but I have found the note below on cisco N-antenna datasheet.. Technically i'm not convinced its not possible.

*Any antenna above 6 dBi is Not approved for use with Cisco Aironet 1260

Series, 3500e, and 3600e Series Access Point (must be 6 dBi or less)*

Any useful comments !!!

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[George Stefanick]

WOW, why so loud ?

If your AP is at 100mW and you add a 18dBi antenna your ERP is 6400mW .. Most clients only talk at 40 mw!

I also think that will exceed the FCC regulation as well ...

[balsheikh]

Why not !!

Since cisco have already outdoor antenna with gain of 12 dBi but not "approved" as they claimed for AP1260, i believe not approved means not tested in their lab but practically if i connect third party antenna (18dBi) to AP1261 technically should work fine as i had done this exercise earlier with AP1242 and worked significantly fine..

Once it comes to regulation, its different subject

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[George Stefanick · Accepted solution]

Your wireless connectin will not be optimal and may not work... 

Client talks at 40mW ---- Ap talks at 6400mW

You will have 1 way traffic .. Just becuase you can doesnt always mean you should.

[Leo Laohoo · Accepted solution]

Why not !!

As George said.  You can but whether or not your solution will work or not is totally a different matter altogether.

And the answer to the question?  Sticking an 18 dBi antenna WILL NOT WORK.

Here's the logic:  Your client can hear the signal very, very well.  But when the clients send their signal back, the WAP won't hear it.  As George has stated, it's a one way traffic.

The only time you want to put an antenna that strong is when you want to do point-to-point or point-to-multipoint bridge.  Besides, you can stick an 18 dBi antenna but the WAP will only transmit up to 6 dBi. 

[balsheikh]

mmm, make sense now.. Thx all for your valuable info

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[George Stefanick]

NOW ... if you do outdoor mesh and you have higher gain antennas but not 18 you will feel less pain ...

[George Stefanick]

Keep in mind.. EVERY 3 dBi gain you double power.

AP @ 100mW + 3 dBi gain = 200mW (23 dBm)

AP @ 100mW + 6 dBi gain = 400mW (26 dBm)

Make sense?

[balsheikh]

i believe i have to use 6 dBi omni antenna and increase number of AP's, cost will increase accordingly but what to do since no alternatives are available !!!!

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[George Stefanick]

Yea, louder isnt always better .. I mean Leo designs his wifi networks with 100mw Aps + 20 dBm power injectors + 20 dBi antennas ! #imjustsaying

[Leo Laohoo]

I mean Leo designs his wifi networks with 100mw Aps + 20 dBm power injectors + 20 dBi antennas ! #imjustsaying

30 dBi George.  30 dBi.

4-stack (25 element) yagi.

And don't forget my 2 kW signal amplifier. 

[George Stefanick]

Thats why I see your network in Houston! LOL

[Leo Laohoo]

Thats why I see your network in Houston! LOL

You can???

Oh cr@p, I think I need to tone down my amplifier. 

[Leo Laohoo]

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