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[torano]

Hi. I have to have my 4500 in our basement, so I get horrible wireless reception in our house. Is there a recommended extender? Perhaps this? http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=416

Wondering which of the three antennas I would replace it with?

[FurryNutz]

I have this one:

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=545

[Trikein]

Good call. That one works great on wireless NIC's. It can function on a router but the antenae are the same stock ones that come on the router.  But its awsome if your signal issue is from a deadzone since you can move the location of where your capturing or broadcasting the signal.

Now if you actually want to increase the amount of signal the router is broadcasting, try this the product below. Keep in mind, this may sacrifice your routers ability to use N, and it will certianly stop if from using the 5mhz range, so if either of your laptops are N, don't use. Chances are though your network isn't even using N, and if not, you cant beat the price and ability.

6$ reconditioned on Newegg
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=416

Or you actually want a repeater, theres:

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=741

But I wouldnt suggest it. A, it got bad reviews, and B, the setup is not for the novice. Last point, these were all Dlink products, because of forum rules, but theres other options out there. Check out Newegg and Tigerdirect.

[torano]

So for this one, http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=416, looks like it plugs into one of the three antenna connectors. Which is used in the case of the 4500?

[FurryNutz]

Ya, you'll have to find the antenna connector on the 4500 that is broadcasting the mode your using. If mixed you'll probably have to pick the best one for the signal and mode your using.

[torano]

Hmm ok. I'm running G only. Any idea which that is? Just ordered from newegg, but now I wonder if it'll actually work. This 4500 has the antennas setup that way for a reason.

[FurryNutz]

I wish I was home I could tell you...LOL. At a friends for dinner. I was running N mode only and I did this, un plug all of the connected antennas and connect one antenna to each of the connectors and watch your signal on the PC. You'll notice it comes back and the signal goes up, then you'll have found the one you need. I think it's either on the in the middle or the once closest to the power jack in back...I think. 

[torano]

Interesting. So the router doesn't even use all three?

[FurryNutz]

I don't think so in single mode...I could be wrong

[Trikein]

Unless you have adapters capable of Wifi-N theres no point in putting it in Mixed. It can actually cause issues. I don't think any particular antenae does a certian wireless type.

[torano]

Unless you have adapters capable of Wifi-N theres no point in putting it in Mixed. It can actually cause issues. I don't think any particular antenae does a certian wireless type.

Yep, I run single mode G - no mixed. Will just try hooking it up to the center antenna first and see what happens.

[FurryNutz]

Let us know how it goes and what works. 

[Trikein]

I believe each antenna is capable of Omni-directional MIMO, hence why they are still compatible with singular antenna designs. The reason it needs three antenna is to split the connection within multiple channels along the channel width decided by the host? Each antenna can only atune to a set amount of freq. so they use mult to allow a broader range for the input/out rate. Just to test it, I disconnected one of the antenna, and my connections still works fine. I guess you could always just buy three too. Would still be cheaper then the adapter.

[torano]

Guys it's not working out well so far. I really need to know which of the three antenna I should replace with this one. Do I remove all of them? Or just one?

The problem is, I don't seem to gain anything with the antenna.

Edit: I don't think this extender is compatible with the 4500. Good that it was only $6 + shipping. Bad that the 4500 gives me horrible range in my tiny 1400 sq. foot ranch.

Edit2: Never mentioned that I'm running FW 1.22NA. Maybe that's part of the problem. However, I have disabled "Short GI" and "Extra Wireless Protection". Seems to be helping a bit on wireless range - or maybe it's just a coincidence with something else.

[FurryNutz]

What wireless mode are you running. Mixed or single?

I would try each connection and see if you get any better range. Leave the other antennas connected.