ASUS RT-N13U External Antenna Mod

[DDY]

Quick mod log time.

I had a strange dead spot in the corner of my bedroom where a few of my wifi devices would suffer severe packet loss and erratic pings.

I couldn't figure out why; the signal was very strong, there were no other WAPs in range on the same channel and some devices were OK where others had problems.

The affected devices were fine everywhere else in the room. Changing the WAP's WiFi channel and transmit power had little or no effect.

The problem started when I moved my WAP, moving it back to its old location fixed the problem but I wanted all the upstairs network kit to be in one location.

My (upstairs) WAP is an ASUS RT-N13U running DD-WRT configured as an AP. The N13U is known to be moddable, so I decided to upgrade the antennas, although I had no idea if would have done any good.



Having cracked it open, I noticed two SMD antenna connectors, immediately I thought, U.FL, great! It meant I only needed a pair of U.FL to RP-SMA cables and two antennas for this mod. £10 worth of parts, might was well try at that price.





As I'm putting it all together, it turns out the N13U's mainboard connectors are not U.FL... Not a problem.

I could have transplanted U.FL connectors donated from old wireless cards I had in my parts bin, but I wasn't in the mood for SMD soldering. Instead, I went for the lazy approach; chopped the U.FL connectors off the cables and soldered the coax directly to the board.







As for antennas, how about a pair of 10dB ducks?



Mod complete, here are the results:

- Wireless dead spot eliminated, no more packet loss and pings while still erratic, are much better.
- Wireless performance around the house prior to the mod was very good, bar the dead spot, so I can't say it has improved on that count. I already had three WAPs, including the N13U, in operation.
- I normally get a weak but semi-useable signal down the road at the bus stop. Now the signal is dead-stable.
- The N13U looks cool, now.

I'm now tempted to mod the other two WAPs, for no other reason than to give them cool looking oversized antennas.

[herulach]

How big is your house that you need 3 APs? I've got a single asus ac66u in the worst possible location (front corner downstairs) and get solid signal on 2.4 an 5ghz all over the house. Even the craptastic thing sky supplied could manage 3 bars as far as you can get away inside.

[DDY]

I live in a house with three floors, two APs are necessary for a reasonable signal through out, one at the top and one at the bottom. However, I have another AP on the middle floor simply because I need a switch and had a spare router.

Top: ASUS N13U
Middle: Netgear DGN2000
Bottom: Buffalo G300NH (actually used as a router)

[herulach]

fair enough. I suspect you might find better results from a single newer ap sat on the middle floor, but then I suppose that also depends on where the net comes in. mod looks useful though.

[ryba]

can you make photo or write what is this chip u504 on board

[ryba]

can you make photo or write what is this chip u504 on board