We have this special Alfa-branded 7 dBi directional panel antenna. This antenna has an RP-SMA connector and can connect to many Alfa Network brand wireless USB adapters including the AWUS036H 1000mW USB long range Wi-Fi adapter. This will also work with other brand Wi-Fi adapters and routers/APs that have an RP-SMA port. This item is brand new. They come to us in OEM bulk packaging from Alfa so there is no retail box, it is just the antenna itself as pictured. Also there are no instructions, and that is because none are needed- you just screw it on to your Wi-Fi adapter's RP-SMA port and you are all set to go. If you are also in the market for a long range Wi-Fi adapter, we do have this antenna bundled with an Alfa 1000mW AWUS036H adapter here.Directional vs. Omin-directional antennasThe above image is not a precise scientific comparison drawing, but an illustration to show in a general sense how the two antenna types compare. This 7 dBi gain panel antenna is directional. Antennas that usually come with Wi-Fi adapters are often omni-directional. Omni-directional antennas can detect signals from multiple directions. Gain is not concentrated in one particular direction. Omni-directional antennas work best when you are mobile and do not know where signals are originating. Directional antennas concentrate gain in a particular direction. While the antenna does not need to be in a perfect line of sight to the signal, it needs to be pointed in the general direction. Due to the way antennas work, directional antennas can pick up signals that are the in the opposite direction, but they will be weaker than if the antenna was pointed in that direction. As our graphic above illustrates, each antenna type has an advantage over the other. That is why it is best to have each type, so you can use the antenna that is best for your particular needs. Because directional antennas work best in the direction they are pointed, in many cases you will detect more signals overall with your omni-directional antenna, but find that your directional antenna may get stronger signal strength to signals it is aimed at, and it may also detect additional signals in the direction it is pointed, signals the omni cannot see.Additional Features:
- Antenna is rotatable to you can adjust the direction
- Engineer-tested compared to other directionals on the market to ensure excellent performance
- Alfa-branded, the trusted name in wireless networking- not a generic antenna
- Complies with 802.11g standard for 2.4Ghz Wireless LAN
- Contains RP-SMA antenna connector
- Works with all 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi devices that have an RP-SMA connector, not just ALFA brand ones
FAQ- some common questions about Alfa 7 dBi directional antenna kit:
I pick up 6 signals with a 5 dBi omni-directional antenna I have but only 4 signals with this 7 dBi panel antenna- is something wrong with the panel antenna?
-The panel antenna is a directional antenna that concentrates gain in the direction it is pointed. It does not pull in signals equally from all around, but should pull in better range and signal in the direction it is pointed. So you may see more signals overall with the omni, but the directional one will help you get the best signal to one in particular.Whether I use a 5 dBi omni antenna I already have or this directional one, I see 3 signals, and all of them have the same number of bars in Windows. How can this be?
-antenna placement is very important. Wi-Fi signals bounce around and can be impacted by invisible interference (noise). Also note that when using a utility that reports signals as 4 or 5 bars, each bar represents 20-25% of signal strength. So one antenna may be pulling in the signal 15% better than the other, and yet the difference in bars may be only 0 or 1. We recommend using more detailed programs for precise signal strength analysis. Our support staff has over 100 years of combined Wi-Fi and antenna experience, so please contact us for help with antenna placement and details on what programs to use for signal strength testing.
How far away can I pick up signals with this compared to a standard antenna?
-For this question there is no exact answer. Wireless range is an imperfect science. The range you get with any adapter will vary markedly depending on the strength and quality of the wireless access point being used, as well as obstacles and interference in the area. Keep in mind that interference can often be invisible. This antenna is a directional antenna that should give you a better signal and longer range to a particular signal when it is pointed in that direction, vs. an omni directional antenna of the same game. Things such as antenna placement (even just a few feet) can have a big impact on performance. As always, if anything seems off about the product performance, please contact us directly for one on one assistance. If you are trying to pick up signals from far away, and are not sure this will give you enough range, please contact us with details about your situation and we may be able to offer an opinion. Orders will generally be shipped the same or next day after payment is received. Periodically if we are experiencing unusually high order volume, your order may not be shipped until the second business day after payment is received, but this is not usual. We offer both UPS and US Postal methods of shipping as described below.
US 50 States + Puerto Rico: FREE US Postal First Class Mail. This includes delivery confirmation and insurance. According to the US Postal Service, First Class takes an average of 3-7 delivery days to arrive. This is not a guaranteed transit time though, it is just an average delivery time (internationally First Class can take 2-4 weeks, international buyers please read all international shipping details down below).
US 50 States + Puerto Rico: $4.00 US Postal Priority Mail. This includes delivery confirmation and insurance. According to the US Postal Service, Priority Mail takes an average of 2-3 delivery days to arrive. This is not a guaranteed transit time though, it is just an average delivery time.
International Shipping Rates & Customs Duty Information: We ship worldwide via Standard First Class mail. This method is $11.75 ($7.75 for Canada) but can take 2-4 weeks or longer to arrive. This is primarily because the item can be held at customs for inspection for a long period.
*Import duties and taxes are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to offerding/buying. These charges are normally collected by the delivering freight (shipping) company or when you pick the item up- do not confuse them for additional shipping charges. We do not mark merchandise values below value or mark items as "gifts" - US and International government regulations prohibit such behavior. See full International terms and details in the "Overseas" section at the bottom
At Rokland, our products are guaranteed to work for 30 days. Additionally, we want customers to be able to return products that they don't want, don't like, or did not mean to buy. That said, we do incur costs for each return, such as the nonrefundable listing and feature fees. If an item returned was new, we must resell it for much less money as a used open box item. Therefore, we charge a minimal 10% restocking fee on all returned items (new and used), except for products that test defective upon receipt back here. We believe this is a fair policy as most sellers do not allow for any non-defective items to be returned at all, and the ones that do typically charge a 20% restocking fee. Again, this 10% restocking fee will be applied to all returns except where a product is reported to us as defective and tests defective upon receipt back here (if the product you return is defective we can send a replacement at our expense or issue a refund of the item price, whichever you prefer). A restocking fee WILL be charged even in the event a product does not work on your PC due to incompatibility or a conflict with another piece of hardware on your system, so long as the product is not defective. We can work with you to troubleshoot the problem if you have any difficulty getting it to work. We will not charge a restocking fee if you wish to exchange a non-defective product for something else, however a new shipping charge will apply for the new shipment.
