On Wed, Dec 06, 2006 at 01:18:33PM -0800, Garl Grigsby wrote: > Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 13:18:33 -0800 > From: Garl Grigsby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Eugene Unix and Gnu/Linux User Group <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Eug-lug] AVG virus protection software > > Brian Gallagher wrote: > >>Buy a higher gain antenna. Better yet, buy two. One for the client > >>and one for the WAP. I've used these [1] in the past and they are > >>well worth the money. Gained an extra 200 feet in one direction and a > >>solid signal through three walls in th other. If you watch you can > >>get them for < 15 shipped after rebate. Or you could always build > >>your own antenna... > >I would like to have a conversation with you about antennas. Ben > >recommended a bridge and I appreciate that offer, but this wireless > >share is transitory. Wireless bridges are generally expensive and if > >the share situation changes I could end up with a bridge to nowhere, > >so to speak. > Buy a WRT54GL (The 'L' is important). They run ~$50-$60. Replace the OS
Its often easier to get an older version of the wrt54g/gs, which will also run different OS's (such as DD-WRT, Hyperwrt, sveasoft's thing, ...) check out wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrt54g Armed with that info, you can go to ebay (or wherever you like best), and find usable unit. I have several of these units (no, not parting with any!), and ive done a lot with them. I currently has a wds bridge network with 3 routers using both hyperwrt, and dd-wrt. I think i like the dd-wrt better though, and will likely change everything over to dd-wrt. I used one of these units in client mode, and put the extended range antennna on it, and turn up the xmit power (84mw when i did it,but now you can crank it up to 251mw!!!) it rocked. > with one of the 'enhanced' versions. I know that they will do bridging > [1]. The nice thing with this unit is when you are done you can either > use it as a wifi/firewall or sell it easily. > >The picture of the high gain antenna that you suggest show the antenna > >on a pedestal, held down with a nut. Do I remove the nut and fasten > >antenna onto the post of the WAP w/ its antenna removed or is there > >some connecting hardware not shown? > The Antenna is on pedestal with a short cable, maybe 24". You can get > longer cables, but as I understand it, the longer the cable the more > signal loss, but don't quote me on that. My knowledge of radio antennas > is all experimental. The antenna can be mounted to the wall using > screws, but I always just set it next to the WAP or on top of the > computer. If you want something attached I know that a number of people Antanna position is critical... I suppose this needs to be said, maybe its too obvious? but moving the antenna to a spot it will get the best signal (like next to a window, or outside, on the roof, ....) will likely make the biggest difference! I assume you moved the antanna (or laptop or whatever...) and checked for the best signal. Jamie > make screw on replacement antennas but it all depends the card/WAP you > are using and the antenna connection. Personally the screw on types > never seem to work that well behind the computer. I always had better > luck when they were above the case. On the WAP, they seem to work OK. > >Building an antenna sounds interesting, do you have "hands on" > >experience there? I would need some tech help on that. > Google is your friend. You can google the word cantenna [2]. This link > [3] was buried in my list of 'things I want to look at when I have > time'. It has info on a bunch of antennas. > >>What card are you using? > > > >I have four cards, all D-link. I have no allegiance to D-Link, I just > >bought a set, on sale: wireless router, PCI and USB cards when I got > >started looking into wireless. I am working on the assumption that I > >have to test these cards under Windows to prove a "known good" status > >before delving into the Linux unknown. > > > >DWL-G510 (PCI) this card had a history of flakyness under WinMe (hey, > >its Me what did I expect. I haven't tried it under XP. The one thing > >PCI does seem to have is greater range!) > > > >DWL-G520 (PCI) this card was found in a computer by side of the road > >that some Frat Boys had take a baseball bat to. Status unknown. > I don't know what to say to this.... > > > >DWL-G120 (USB) this card is the one I use primarily. It has a long > >dongle cord and I have it run up the wall close to the ceiling. When > >I was playing with setting it up with Ubuntu I ran into the "which rev > >is the chipset issue." I chickened out on opening the housing to view > >the chipset, as this is my web access, unless I want to sit in the > >cold garage and I don't. > > > >DWL-G122 (USB) this card in promising. Ubuntu showed a Marvel > >chipset, if I remember correctly. The issue with these thumb drive > >type wireless cards is signal range; and with a short dongle cord to a > >pedestal base, I can't work the antenna directionality as I would like. > USB extension cables are cheap... The other issue is that you usually > can't replace the antennas on USB NICs. So if you go for the USB then > your best be would be to move the device around until you get a better > signal. > > > >Give me till after the holidays, I would like to revisit this > >discussion and solve this problem once and for all. Also, I got a > >how-to specific to this DWL-122 card and Ubuntu and it mentioned the > >software setup. I'll have to find that documentation. > > > >As with everything Linux, while I've been frittering, someone has > >already solved the issue and I just need to update my OS version, etc, > >etc. will probably be the case. > >>>Here is my question: should I stop worrying about virus protection > >>>and make implementing Linux wireless my top priority, because virus > >>>threats are low under Linux; Therefore, would I be better off > >>>running Linux, with no virus protection, then to keep working with > >>>windows and outdated AVG software? > >>That's up to you. If you are going to keep using windows, then get an > >>A/V solution. Also, make sure you are running Firefox and Thunderbird. > >I am running Firefox and Thunderbird. > > > Good man. > > -Garl > > [1] http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_Bridge > [2] > http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B2GGGL_enUS175&q=cantenna > [3] http://www.seattlewireless.net/AntennaHowTo > _______________________________________________ > EUGLUG mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug _______________________________________________ EUGLUG mailing list [email protected] http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug
