Question Netgear WNDAP350 5ghz Antenna mode ?

[Starnet]

Hi, some time ago there was a post on the internet on how to add an external antenna on the 5ghz band of a Netgear WNDAP350 Access point.
After doing a great deal of searching I was not able to find the original or for that matter anything else on this subject.

The WNDAP350 allows the addition of dual external antenna on the 2.4 ghz band but not for the 5ghz band. There was a mod whereby you could add an external 5ghz antenna by drilling a hole and adding an smb mount tied to the internal 5ghz output and disconnect the internal integrated antenna. It really helped the 5ghz signal.

If I remember there were a few things about how the external antenna should be wired and I don't want to just experiment. Anyone been here with this issue?

 

[bill001g]

Why are you even messing with something that old. Some of the fcc docs come back to 2009. The cost to for the wires and the antenna are likely going to cost you almost half the cost of buying a cheaper modern router.

In any case if you were to look at the internal photos they provide to the fcc the antenna use the same standard connectors they used on pcie mini half cards used in laptops. All you need to do is get a extension cable with that connector on one end and the standard antenna connectors on the other. These were many times sold for desktops to extend the antenna to the back of the case.

That device is going to be slow no matter what you do since it is running older wifi encoding. Even replacing the antenna I am not so sure what it will do.
That massive block of plastic top of the router has fairly large antenna in it.

 

[Starnet]

Actually the WNDAP350 is a great commercial access point, and yes its true a bit past its prime.
I currently use 3 of them linked together and they work well. I do have one area where the 5ghz band is a little low on signal. I have an antenna and the sma connectors so adding it to the case won't be a big deal and will be cost effective. The big question is the internal connections.

I know there was a trick that need to be done in disconnecting the large tub antenna on top of the unit in order to not effect the 2.4 band. I may just experiment with it and systematically try different configuration to see if I can get it to work.

Yeah, its old tech but believe it or not I have better coverage in my home then a friend of mine with 3 Orbi's mesh units! Finally, I like segmented systems, Separate cable modem, Router, and Access points, yes its a bigger pain to maintain but really provide good service!

 

[bill001g]

You are not likely to find any documentation on this. You could just take it apart and try to follow the wires. Maybe there are makings on the circuit board. For some reason I can't find the FCC link today but if I remember correctly there where 4 connection going to that top part which means it has 2.4 and 5 antenna on the top.

Most modern routers use the same antenna for both 2.4 and 5 since they are almost a exact 2-1 multiplier an the optimum antenna length.

In any case you should be able to just unsnap the current antennas and buy a cable with the proper connector.