Quickertek antenna promises to boost Time Capsule's range

It won't do much to complement the Time Capsule's minimalist looks, but if you've been itching to get a bit more range of out thing, you now have a new option to consider from Quickertek, which recently introduced its new TriBand Antenna for the device. Available either as a self-install kit or pre-installed on the Time Capsule of your choice, the slightly janky-looking rig promises a 50% increase in range over a standard Time Capsule, with ample coaxial cabling provided to let you position it just right. As if that wasn't enough, Quickertek is also promising that the antenna will let you reach speeds "much closer to the theoretical yield of 300 megabits per second," although it apparently isn't making any firm claims on that matter. If that sounds like the boost you've been looking for, you can grab the self-install kit now for $130, get Quickertek to install the antenna on your existing Time Capsule for $200, or get a 500GB or 1TB Time Capsule with it pre-installed for $500 or $700, respectively.

[Allan @ Mar 17th 2008 1:11PM]

That has got to be one of the shadiest sounding names in the business. Especially with the spelling of "tek" thrown in there.

So is its range that bad out of the box that it would need a $130 antenna?

[happy_penguin @ Mar 17th 2008 1:11PM]

Good god that wiring is hideous.

[myntee @ Mar 21st 2008 7:55AM]

I have this patented guys. We'll see how far they can get with this one... I just can't believe they took my idea.

http://picasaweb.google.com/myntee/Engadget/photo#5178884033114553458

Check the reference.

[Brian f @ Mar 17th 2008 1:15PM]

Not such a great deal, thats the same antenna I got with a $15 Airlink MIMO card.

[Flashpoint @ Mar 17th 2008 1:15PM]

So not only is the FAKE "server grade" harddrive Apple promised a Hitachi "dektop grade" - "deskstar" harddrive (rather than the true server grade "ultrastar"...

...the damn thing has pitiful wifi abilities too...


I will never ever purchase an Apple product.

[DT @ Mar 17th 2008 1:26PM]

Ah, another Flashpoint anti-Apple rant. You're way beyond a hater, dude. You have serious issues to manage to summon up such venom over a base station. But hey, at least it's inanimate objects you're after...if it were people I'd fear we had a budding genocidal dictator in our midst.

[Zak @ Mar 17th 2008 1:26PM]

Yes, you hate Apple, we get it. You do realize that by responding to every single even vaguely Apple-related article on Engadget, all you're doing is upping the comment count, thus indicating popularity, thus causing Engadget to run more Apple-related articles?

Also, have you actually tried using Time Capsule (he asked knowingly?) Yes, I know you haven't. So why are you suggesting it has "pitiful wifi abilities?" Can you prove that? Please prove it, then come back and talk.

[David @ Mar 17th 2008 1:44PM]

Hard drive = mass magnetic field. Not good for WiFi. Need external antennas.

[Flashpoint @ Mar 17th 2008 2:00PM]

Ihave leopard on my workstation and I have tried using Time Capsule but as you know it requires a storage drive to be used. I've used it in theserver room

[jeffmc @ Mar 17th 2008 1:18PM]

why spend $130 on some sketchy ugly antenna when you can spend $99 on an airport express and get more range, more functionality and it'll be prettier?

[Zak @ Mar 17th 2008 1:29PM]

That is a very, very good point. You can use an Airport Express as a wireless network extender, and it has more functionality than an antenna, in addition to being cheaper.

[XGM @ Mar 17th 2008 5:09PM]

Why even stop at that, get one of those linksys WRT54G's for 50$ and set it up with some custom firmware to make a network extender.

[Ben @ Mar 17th 2008 11:13PM]

@Len

Go with a WRT54G and nix gigabit ports, 802.11n and integrated hard drive?

No thanks ...

[blueeyesm @ Mar 17th 2008 1:33PM]

Jeez what a lame setup.

They even left a grommet on it and fed the wiring through the keylock!

That's just sad. At least make an easy to connect design that seals the keylock hole, to make it look at least like it should be there.

[David @ Mar 17th 2008 1:45PM]

Er. Too expensive. Rather get better linksys 600 router + external hdd.

[Len @ Mar 17th 2008 2:01PM]

You can simply buy a $99 Airport Express for even more range -- but here's the incredible part: in order to use the Quickertek product you have to completely disassemble the Time Capsule to install the thing, and pay $130 for the privilege!!! This is a needless product.

[ericdano @ Mar 17th 2008 2:14PM]

Totally agree. It would make more sense to get the new Airport Express and set it up somewhere in the middle to boost the signal. But I have my wireless network reaching my garage with little signal loss and that is like 150 feet away....What kind of person needs such a huge range?

[Gareth Burleigh @ Mar 17th 2008 7:09PM]

Beat me to it buddy

[DrTheopolis @ Mar 17th 2008 3:03PM]

Wouldn't this type of hack work just as well on a non-Time Capsule Airport Extreme (n)?

[~~Tito~~ @ Mar 17th 2008 6:44PM]

I would get if they modded the whole thing to have the antennas come out from the case itself and make it all internally modded and all in white and if it only added 90$ to the original cost.

[Gareth Burleigh @ Mar 17th 2008 7:07PM]

Surely a $100 Airport Express in the black spot is not only a cheaper option, but a bit more elegant than the Radio Shack gang rape scenario Quickertek have on offer.

[dean-l @ Apr 9th 2008 9:12PM]

I just checked out the range in my apartment building.

50% signal strength loss through one wall + 12 feet in my apartment

20 feet down the hallway one way.
And about 30 feet the other.
Outside I'm getting about 40 feet.

At the same time I pick up THREE a/b/or g signals from the office building 600 feet away.

I can easily see the value of the antenna.