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Old April 6th 06, 08:05 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.antenna,rec.radio.amateur.homebrew
Dave Platt
 
Posts: n/a
Default How get RF through a sealed window?


In article -did-not-set--mail-host-address--so-shoot-me,
Lawrence Statton N1GAK/XE1 wrote:

But be sure to bring a hefty brick along to create the opening in the first
place

The OP's dilema was that the window COULD NOT open, and therefore some
way to pass RF through glass would have been Useful.


A lot of modern buildings have glass windows which not only cannot be
opened, but which have a "low-E" (low thermal emission) coating on the
glass. This is (I believe) a very thin layer of vapor-deposited
metal.

Its RF attenuation is considerable. Some years ago, we had our house
windows (1960s-era glass) replaced with new ones using a low-E-coated
glass. A previously-workable signal path for 802.11 signals, which
got to the back of the house from an access point in the garage by
going through the garage door and a couple of exterior windows,
suddently became quite unusable - I had to install an additional
access point to cover that part of the house.

The more obviously shaded or reflective the glass, the more of a
problem for RF transmission or coupling this stuff is likely to present.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
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