Roger Ryder tells DailyWireless that the MIMO-enabled Linksys SRX wireless router (the ugly one with three antennas) is apparently upgrading their system to add external antennas.
The new WMP54GX and WMP54GX PCI Card will include SMA connectors so you could screw in your own antenna(s). The unit will ship with 2dBi gain antennas, but now will be able to use other antennas, such as the Linksys 7dBi omni antennas (the HGA7S). LinksysInfo founder, James Depew, says:
At ~$40 a piece, this could be quite the expensive upgrade to what likely will be an already expensive adapter, but could provide a viable solution for those looking for the max in wireless range and throughput performance.
While not yet on the Linksys page, the LinksysInfo page, a popular hobbyist site, has information on the new hardware.
LinksysInfo says the new products with external MIMO antenna connectors will join the current WPC54GX PC Card Adapter and WRT54GX Router. Apparently it’s an unannounced upgrade to the (non-removeable) WRT54GX. James Depew bought one at a local electronics superstore and shot the photos (below).
The 3 SMA removable antennas are listed as ver2.0. The product box does not state the version change, but the image on the front is different and features the new antenna setup. For anyone looking to pick one up, the image of the router on the box clearly shows the removable antennas.
The WAP54GX Access Point, featuring removable SMA connector antennas, is designed around Airgo Networks MIMO chips.
What kind of range could get with three 12dBi Omni antennas ($60 each), or three 16 db Yagi antennas ($35 each)?
Why not try it out!
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