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TriBand antenna for Time Capsule

by Dave Caolo Mar 25th 2008 at 10:30PM

Quickertek has produced an antenna for the Time Capsule which, according to them, increases the device's range by 50%.

It's compatible with 802.11 A, B, and G, and comes either as a self install kit or an installation service. Or, if you don't have a Time Capsule just yet, you can order one from Quickertek with the antenna pre-installed. It comes with a good amount of cable so you can spend your weekend obsessively placing and replacing it in your home until it's just right. So that will be fun.

The 500GB self-install kit is $129.95US, and the service is $200US. Prices are the same for the 1TB version kit and service. If you want to do it all in one fell swoop, you can order a 500GB Time Capsule + pre-installed kit for $500US, or $700US for the 1TB version.

[Via Engadget]

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Quickertek has produced an antenna for the Time Capsule which, according to them, increases the device's range by 50%. It's compatible with...
 

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jgo

I searched the net for a real review of this product and did not find one. So I took a chance. I purchased the same antenna array as this, but labeled for AEBS.

Simply put: with the quickertek array installed there was no increase in range. No improvement AT ALL.

I wish I had thought to instead buy an Airport Express which is cheaper and WILL extend my network. Now I am less $129 and my only option (per Quickertek policy) is to return the product for store credit.

April 24 2008 at 12:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kleinias

.

April 06 2008 at 3:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rob

Most WiFi antennas are useless and actually DECREASE the performance of the built in antenna. Why? Well any gains created by the antenna itself are offset by the loss in the cable itself.

At 2.6 Ghz and higher there is a LOT of loss even in a short run of cable especially the poor quality THIN cable often used in these wifi antennas.

My advice. Don't waste your money on these antennas. If you do get one, replace the cable with a good quality low loss cable. (But note that even a short run of a good quality low loss cable can be pricey!)

March 27 2008 at 9:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Fritz Laurel

Great idea, but I don't remember hearing the range of a TC being an issue...

March 26 2008 at 12:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ryan Becerra

OR.. I can buy a 99$ airport express and bridge my network without paying their nutty price and getting more features.

March 26 2008 at 12:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
CZ

It IS good enough-- It's just that some people can't leave well enough alone and have to "mod" everything they touch. Unless you're trying to make it work in a lead house, you should be fine with most 802.11n networks.

Maybe if you were trying to boost signal for an office block, you'd need this. Otherwise, it's just a FUD device for the people who always have to eke every ounce of power out of their devices.

It's the same people who mod their TV and jailbreak their iPod touch. They're just used to the PC world where everything HAS to be modified in order to be useful.

March 26 2008 at 12:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to CZ's comment
Robert Nienburg

I've never lived in the PC world, and I still think everything has to be modded.

March 26 2008 at 4:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Alan

Why should you have yo pay for an extra antenna? Shouldn't Apple make the antenna built into the Time Capsule good enough?

March 26 2008 at 1:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Alan's comment
MacBookOwner

Christ, can't have ONE 3rd party Apple product mentioned without someone whining with the "Why can't Apple just make it good enough so it doesn't need it" question.


March 26 2008 at 12:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Adam

So I can drop 129 bucks in order to install an antenna that doesn't even boost an 802.11n signal? Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeak. Whats the point in even picking up time capsule if you are using a, b or even g when it comes to large file transfers?

March 26 2008 at 1:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
starwxrwx

don't you really need 802.11n for Time Capsule, since transferring a lot over even 802.11g is pretty slow? I guess if you have an older mac you have no choice, but I'd think to use it you would want n (or pre-n or whatever they are calling it now)

March 26 2008 at 12:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to starwxrwx's comment
Quagga

Well, my TC is n/g compatible for my ipod Touch to work. My Mac has all the bandwidth the cat6 cable can give it so it really isn't a problem.

Even if I disconnected the cable and put the Macbook on the TC at g speeds, there isn't a lot of data backed up every hour. After the first "big" backup is done, most of the other ones are only a couple hundred meg if that.

Also, I've never had any problems with TC's range and I'm still using the ultra-crowded 2.4GHZ range. I imagine if I kicked it into 5GHZ n-only the thing would fly.

March 26 2008 at 8:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kuy

Tri-band? 2.45Ghz, 5.8GHz and... what?

Don't they mean tri-_antenna_, as in MIMO?

-Kuy

March 25 2008 at 10:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Kuy's comment
Kuy

... as if Wi-Fi wasn't confusing enough for the average consumer. 802.11 a, b and g aren't bands.

March 25 2008 at 10:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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