Server-Unpleasant-motherboard company Asrock launched a gaming monitor earlier this year with a unique feature that had not yet been tested. The PG34WQ15R3A has a 7dBi high-gain Wi-Fi antenna built into the monitor stand, which allows users to directly connect a Wi-Fi card antenna output using two SMA connectors (SubMiniature version A). SMA connectors are also used in mobile hotspot devices like the Netgear Nighthawk MR5200 5G portable router.
Now, HKEPC has tested the accessory and the real world results have proven to be excellent with a 40% improvement in download speeds and a whopping 130% gain in upload speeds, great for video conferencing, cloud backup And online collaboration. Likewise, the ping dropped by 25% and the jitter by 75%, almost unbelievable stuff, although your mileage will vary depending on a number of factors.
There are two reasons why gain is so important: First, the size of the antenna in the monitor stand is at least an order of magnitude larger than the antenna you’d find on a Wi-Fi card. Secondly, there is the fact that a monitor is not tucked away under a desk or in a corner, but on a desk (or even better on a standing desk) which provides better coverage and therefore improves signal transmission.
Asrock’s monitor is the only one we know of to have this feature, but others are likely to follow, given the popularity of motherboards and systems with SMA connectors for Wi-Fi antennas and users keeping their device in a cabinet or under a desk. places.
A new way to improve internet speeds
As organizations worldwide have moved en masse to business laptops, business PCs still occupy a not so insignificant part of the market. Innovations like this unobtrusive Wi-Fi antenna stand aid performance and productivity without a significant cost.
However, laptops are unlikely to benefit from that nifty tweak unless used with one docking station for laptops with a special USB Wi-Fi card.
Speaking of docking stations, we’ve seen at least one case in the past where a supplier – Philips – merged one of them with a docking station; but this was a loaded idea that was quickly abandoned.
That said, there’s considerable real estate behind business monitors, especially as screen sizes have proliferated; 21-inch to 27-inch screens in offices are quite common. It has become more attractive to place accessories (monitor arms) – or even entire computers (e.g. Mini PC) behind the screen using the universal VESA mount.