• 𞋴𝛂𝛋𝛆@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    73
    arrow-down
    19
    ·
    1 day ago

    This is a 2.4 GHz directional WiFi antenna. Only the back element is connected to the transceiver. All of the other elements are there to focus the signal. Anything metallic within a few feet of an antenna will have a substantial effect on the signal. Think of it as light, because it is, only transparency of materials is a bit weird. The biggest issues will come from metallic materials that are earth grounded and anything with a wire length that is close to the wavelength of the radio light or below, especially around half and a quarter of the wavelength. That pictured wire pitch is spaced very close to the approximate 2.4 GHz wave length. For example most antenna are an insulated trace on a circuit board that is insulated with ground up to a point and then there is a small circuit element that stops the ground and the actual antenna trace continues for the respective light wavelength to transmit or receive. All an antenna is here is an exposed length of single conductor wire.

    • Tja@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      15 hours ago

      Even if this was right, which it isn’t, wifi stopped being 2.4Ghz exclusive almost 20 years ago. You have 5Ghz and since 5 year ago or so, 6Ghz, with significantly shorter wavelengths.

      • zaphod@sopuli.xyz
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        8
        ·
        edit-2
        13 hours ago

        And if I look at the frequency spectrum I see that all my neighbours use 2.4GHz (9 are in channel 8) and I got the entire 5GHz spectrum to myself.

        • Tja@programming.dev
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          10 hours ago

          Channel 8? I thought modern routers automatically select 1 6 and 11. That must be some ancient equipment around.

          • zaphod@sopuli.xyz
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            10 hours ago

            Probably because for most people as long as it works it works and there’s no reason to upgrade.

            • Tja@programming.dev
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              9 hours ago

              Sorry, but 9 networks on channel 8 can hardly be described as something “working”. I’d bet you barely get a 1mbps on that, and a crazy jitter and packet loss.

    • SupraMario@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      43
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      23 hours ago

      That’s just an AP. That’s not a directional antenna for a wireless bridge. You can even read the AP sticker on it.