Hello all,

How much power will the WRT54GL put out on Mesh nodes? I know that we have a WRT54GL with DD-WRT installed and it will do 251mw. However, I keep hearing about 79mw. What is the deal here? Can somebody explain please?

Thanks!

73,KK4TGV

Linksys own data sheet says 18dbm EIRP on their website.  I'm more likely to trust the manufacture on this one and believe its 18dbm (79mw)

My dad seems to think that it will only do 79mw with the manufacture  installed firmware, but will do more with something like DD-WRT installed. I don't really know. I guess the only sure way is to get the test equipment to test power output.

73,

KK4TGV

Linksys states 19-dBm.

18-dBm = 63.1-mW

19-dBm = 79.4-mW

20-dBm = 100-mW

Are these numbers for the 54G, 54GS, or 54GL?

19-dBm (79.2-mW) is the specified maximum output power for all three models. There are some hacks for bumping up the power on some models and, if you go to far, will shorten the life of your gear and, in all probability, will distort the signal transmitted. -Rusty-

DD-WRT will let you go up to 251mw on the 54GL. At least it will let you set that as the power output in the control panel.

I like playing with power – do you? :) [tangent warning]

I have an old Pontiac whose speedometer stops at 120mph. At the track, when the lights count down, and you release the trans-brake, it will bury that little needle in short order. When passing the finish line, the big sign lights up with something over 140 mph. But that may have something to do with the blower sticking out of the hood and the nitrous being sprayed into the intake manifold... That car does NOT do traffic on the highway... Ever... It only goes in a straight line, for short distances, very quickly...

Hot rodding a Linksys router is kind of like tossing dual turbos on a VW bug... It's kinda cool! But don't expect to be worth much in 5 o'clock rush hour... (And yeah, I have seen this done MORE than once! Those were some SCARY little bugs!)

I fiddled with bumping up the power output of the Linksys routers... In the long run, it was a waste of time. They were never meant to become high performance RF links. It's like strapping rocket motors on a bicycle...  Bump it up just a little and it starts to distort and splatter all over the place!

With that being said... I have been experimenting with bi-directional amplifiers. Amazon LOVES ME!

Here is ONE I have found that works as advertised, and I have tried several...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CR6V0GS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Installed in my mobile unit (Toyota FJ with a 120VAC converter plug in the back) with a Ubiquiti bullet M2 driving it and a 9db omni mag mount on the roof, my range to my tower mounted node went from barely 1 mile to 3-5 miles omni antenna to omni antenna. With a 24db BBQ grill dish, I always wondered if birds will fall out of the sky... :)

NOTE to the masses: Microwave radiation isn't anything to mess around with... If you get a headache and your eyeballs go fuzzy, TURN IT OFF! And NO, I am NOT kidding! The damage to your eyes will be PERMANENT! For testing, I put my stuff OUTside the metal barn, go inside and close the doors and make sure nobody is around my test antennas when I am “playing” with my toys...

But much like those dual turbos on a bug... Hot rodding your gear may not be the most reliable way to go. Amps DON'T work miracles, but they CAN make a difference. Gain at the antenna will get you more bang for your buck and be more reliable in the long run...

But hey – I like playing with 140 mph hot rods... :) It keeps me out of the bars. I'm still waiting to zap that pesky mockingbird on my tower though...  One of these days...  I want to find a crispy mockingbird in the grass...

Bill – N5MBM