>>>>> "MK" == Michael KASSNER <KASSNER> writes:
MK> Hello, Quite a few questions and to begin with. Anything is possible, MK> just costs money. That's always the problem, ain't it. >> I would like to extend its range such that, at minimum, it covers my >> entire home better MK> Easiest first, this would require a better understanding of your MK> requirements and doing a simple site survey to see where the signal is MK> strongest and then weakest as well. It might be as simple as adding MK> another AP to the network or just adjusting the position of the MK> existing one. We will wait for this information before offering more MK> opinions as to what is possible. Do not forget to check out MK> microwaves and cordless cell phones and baby monitor type things if MK> they are in the vicinity. At this point I'd rather not purchase an additional AP. I'd like to see if there is some reasonable to boost the range of the AP I already have. Is that done by "boosting the gain of the antenna"? If so, how can I do that? I've relocated the AP to the middle of my home already. I've also fiddled with the antenna orientation so that it projects as best as possible. The next, I guess, is to replace the antenna (is this possible?) or to somehow boost the antenna. But I have no idea what I am talking about! >> but, more importantly, I'd like to extend its range out to my immediate >> neighborhood. I live on a cul-de-sac in a small, closed community. >> I'd really like to be able to extend the range of the box so that I can >> have a hot zone extending through the park-like area around my >> cul-de-sac. Is this doable? MK> Now the fun part. Again we need more information. Is this something MK> just for your use or are you going to offer the coverage for other MK> users? The increasing of the coverage zone requires first thinking MK> about security and just exactly what you want it to do. Broadcasting MK> to public area will increase the likelihood of curious types wanting MK> to see what you have on your network. This is saying it nicely by the MK> way. MK> Typically you should check out the FAQ of NYC Wireless and Seattle MK> Wireless, they have loads of literature on this very thing. With this MK> knowledge, you then could make your decisions as to what the network MK> would be like. If you indeed want to have an outside coverage area, MK> that probably will entail an outside AP and some kind of external MK> antenna. This would have to be exclusive of the inside AP as you will MK> want to separate these networks for security reasons. MK> Once you decide on the shape and size of the coverage, it is usually a MK> good idea to discuss what equipment and configuration with the forum. MK> To completely answer your questions would take an entire dissertation, MK> so that is why i referred you to the FAQ's. Hope that this helps. Thanks for the references. Maybe for the initial project I'll concentrate on boosting the signal (as I discussed in the first part of this email) to increase coverage within my home and limit the external coverage to a bubble around my house. This will allow me to use my patio, driveway, etc as an extended office. Does this make sense? As far as security goes, I am not using WEP. Instead, my server is configured to use dhcp to allocate static IP addresses only to known MAC addresses. Anyone attempting to connect to my wireless network would be unable to get an IP address so they won't be able to get access to anything anyway. This might be simplistic but should be effective enough. -- Jake Colman Principia Partners LLC Phone: (201) 209-2467 Harborside Financial Center Fax: (201) 946-0320 902 Plaza Two E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jersey City, NJ 07311 www.principiapartners.com -- NYCwireless - http://www.nycwireless.net/ Un/Subscribe: http://lists.nycwireless.net/mailman/listinfo/nycwireless/ Archives: http://lists.nycwireless.net/pipermail/nycwireless/
