a.ntivir.us

netgear mbr624gu external antenna

once i decided i wanted a mobile wifi setup, i started looking for components. i've seen more complicated and more powerful setups, but i decided to take a simpler approach that would give me the most flexibility.

i'd be connecting to the internet using a usb modem from verizon, specifically the um175 from pantech. it's a newer model that is small and easy to use. most importantly, it has an external antenna jack, which i would be using to get a better signal from a rooftop antenna.

for routers, i found lots of different options, that all had their strong points. i eventually decided to grab the netgear mbr624gu. it fit the bill almost perfectly as it supported my modem (with a firmware update), was small enough to fit inside the rear storage compartment, and was cheaper than the other options. when i learned it had an open source firmware, i ordered right away.

the one downside to the netgear router was the non-removeable antenna it came with. however, it's actually pretty simple to convert to a standard rp-sma connector, allowing me to use whatever wifi antenna i wanted.

add external antenna to router

to add an external antenna to the netgear mbr624gu you need a few simple things:

torx-8 driver
u.fl to rp-sma adapter (with nuts to mount it)
two 3/16 inch washers
pliers
beer

you need to remove the screws under the rubber feet of the router. the rubber feet fold back with a simple pry from your finger nail.

use a size 8 torx driver to remove screws under rubber feet

once you have the screws out, the cover comes off and you can gently get the case off. to get rid of the non-removeable antenna, you need to take it out of the frame. it's got clips on the side of it that snap it into place. i found that rotating the antenna helped to get it out.

disconnect the u.fl connector from the pcb. i found that using a pair of pliers and pulling straight up works best. prying it up from the side with a small screwdriver or finger nail can bend the connector.

remove the u.fl connector from the pcb with pliers

here is the non-removeable antenna (which i've removed), next to the u.fl to rp-sma adapter:

the clip that holds the antenna needs to come out next. it has clips similar to the antenna, but one of them is on the underside close to the pcb, so again, rotating it works the best to get it out without breaking it. i found that pushing down on the top clip just enough to have it start to slip out, then rotating 180 degrees and pushing the other clip made it come out really easily, and you could put it back in later if you needed to.

next i put the u.fl to rp-sma adapter in the empty spot. remember to connect the u.fl connector to the pcb.

install the rp-sma adapter where the old antenna was

with everything connected and tightened up, i put the pcb back in the case and tighten the cover down.

now there's an external connector on the netgear mbr624gu!