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What damage does hacking router firmware to increase antenna strength cause?
I was speaking to a friend about increasing the signal on my WRT54GS so I can use it 2 floors up in my house (in a new extension)... Currently I get 0% signal, but after buying a Linksys Range Extender (putting it halfway) I could get about 50%...
But he said to me the best way to increase signal would be to use a hacked firmware such as HyperWRT (I know there are many others but he recommended this to me) which is simple to install, and would allow me to increase the antenna power (increasing the signal).
Apparently EU models are restricted to 28mW, whereas American ones are 50mW, but the full limit is 250mW (which would damage the router)... You can only change the power with the hacked firmware..
I was wondering:
a) does increasing the power leave a health risk?
b) how far could I go up without damaging the router?
Thanks.
Well when you realize that Microwave ovens also operate on 2.4 gig, you certainly get the idea what high power and concentraded 2.4 gig radio waves can do!
Most countires have rules as to what power limits can be run when using 2.4 Wifi. The FCC sets these for the US and the limit is 36 db ERP (effective radiated power) at that setting you really don't want to get right up against the antenna and stay there for any long periods.. no one really knows what the damage would be over long time exposure but they do know it wont be good.
You can probably up the power on your Linksys (there are other routers built to handle the higher output linksys wasnt') to 75-100mw but you will need to monitor the heat! Those routers that are built for higher output have radio cards built to safely handle that level using heatsinks, good design, etc. Linksys wasn't! But you need to check local laws to be sure you do not exceed the maximum allowed... the fines are very high!
At those levels there probably isn't any increased health risk but I would sit the unit away from where I sat all the time. Remember the signal drops off with distance.