[SLUG] wifi extra range needed
I've got a line of site between AP and laptop in buildings about 150 metres apart. Even when I tried dangling my lappie out the window I got no joy :( Even if that had worked, it would have been tricky holding my T30 in one hand 3 stories up while typing with the other. [1] I've checked google... lots of advice about using woks and steamers as parabolic reflectors for USB wifi's [2], and even some custom made doodads. It doesn't seem such a long range. Any suggestions? I'm presently using a netgear router/AP (not sure what model) at one end and a netgear wg511t pcmcia at the other end. On the same topic, does anyone know if it makes a difference which way you point the access point's fold out antenna? Should you point it AT the target, or side on to the target, or does it make no difference? Or should I place a direction-finding wok behind it! Linux related: If i have to get a USB wifi adaptor to fit the directional wok (as suggested by a couple of sites), are there any recommended? Many thanks David. [1] I tried walking between the buildings - the signal runs out about 10 metres short :( although it's possibly unusable before that. [2] suggested gadgets I've read about so far: fold out vegetable strainer, metal gauze chip strainer, wok, folded cardboard lined with kitchen foil. Lots of blog comments about how it *sounds* like a good idea, but not much saying hey, I tried it and it works -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] wifi extra range needed
directionaly antennas at both ends will easily give you 50m, i have personally done about 30km with 25db antennas. the silly pole antennas with ap's and cards might be 3db if youre lucky. a directional should give 15db or more. you might also be able to increase the output from the AP and from your card. even a larger pole antenna in the AP will help out. try walking away from the AP to see how much range you get. if possible replaces the AP's antenna and boost its signal. Dean On Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:37:50 +1100, david [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've got a line of site between AP and laptop in buildings about 150 metres apart. Even when I tried dangling my lappie out the window I got no joy :( Even if that had worked, it would have been tricky holding my T30 in one hand 3 stories up while typing with the other. [1] I've checked google... lots of advice about using woks and steamers as parabolic reflectors for USB wifi's [2], and even some custom made doodads. It doesn't seem such a long range. Any suggestions? I'm presently using a netgear router/AP (not sure what model) at one end and a netgear wg511t pcmcia at the other end. On the same topic, does anyone know if it makes a difference which way you point the access point's fold out antenna? Should you point it AT the target, or side on to the target, or does it make no difference? Or should I place a direction-finding wok behind it! Linux related: If i have to get a USB wifi adaptor to fit the directional wok (as suggested by a couple of sites), are there any recommended? Many thanks David. [1] I tried walking between the buildings - the signal runs out about 10 metres short :( although it's possibly unusable before that. [2] suggested gadgets I've read about so far: fold out vegetable strainer, metal gauze chip strainer, wok, folded cardboard lined with kitchen foil. Lots of blog comments about how it *sounds* like a good idea, but not much saying hey, I tried it and it works -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] wifi extra range needed
I got a nice $12 30cm wok that gives me 15dB+ (I confirmed this by measuring signal strength without and without wok). I used a $28 Shintaro branded USB device which uses the rt73 chipset supported by the rt2x00 driver. Apparently the driver supports master mode (but I couldn't get it to work). Debian testing and unstable versions of the driver works alright on my NSLU2 device, but not a hundred percent stable. Gentoo uses the CVS version at the time you install the driver, and some days it works some days it doesn't, other times it doesn't. Ralink have their own GPL'd version of the driver, but I haven't tested because you need to patch wpa_supplicant to use the Ralink version of the driver. I found using the Windows driver on the CD worked perfectly with ndiswrapper v1.32 (including measuring signal strength). I haven't tried it with Debian testing or unstable versions of ndiswrapper. Funny thing is that my acer laptop has a Signal Up technology that gives the in-built wifi heaps better signal reception than the best I could get out of my wokfi (by about 5dB). On Friday 05 January 2007 00:37, david wrote: I've got a line of site between AP and laptop in buildings about 150 metres apart. Even when I tried dangling my lappie out the window I got no joy :( Even if that had worked, it would have been tricky holding my T30 in one hand 3 stories up while typing with the other. [1] I've checked google... lots of advice about using woks and steamers as parabolic reflectors for USB wifi's [2], and even some custom made doodads. It doesn't seem such a long range. Any suggestions? I'm presently using a netgear router/AP (not sure what model) at one end and a netgear wg511t pcmcia at the other end. On the same topic, does anyone know if it makes a difference which way you point the access point's fold out antenna? Should you point it AT the target, or side on to the target, or does it make no difference? Or should I place a direction-finding wok behind it! Linux related: If i have to get a USB wifi adaptor to fit the directional wok (as suggested by a couple of sites), are there any recommended? Many thanks David. [1] I tried walking between the buildings - the signal runs out about 10 metres short :( although it's possibly unusable before that. [2] suggested gadgets I've read about so far: fold out vegetable strainer, metal gauze chip strainer, wok, folded cardboard lined with kitchen foil. Lots of blog comments about how it *sounds* like a good idea, but not much saying hey, I tried it and it works -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] wifi extra range needed
On 1/5/07, david [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've got a line of site between AP and laptop in buildings about 150 metres apart. Even when I tried dangling my lappie out the window I got no joy :( Even if that had worked, it would have been tricky holding my T30 in one hand 3 stories up while typing with the other. [1] I've checked google... lots of advice about using woks and steamers as parabolic reflectors for USB wifi's [2], and even some custom made doodads. It doesn't seem such a long range. Any suggestions? I was looking at doing some long range WiFi a while back, but didn't end up sorting it out. Here's a summary of the info I found. There's a few long range wireless clubs in Australia: http://wireless.org.au/states.php this one isn't listed on that site though: http://www.mervin.net.au/wireless/template/index.php They recommended the Mitsubishi R100 (Asus wl500g rebadged), from Deals Direct, who are out of stock, but will have them for just $60 including shipping when they get more, which is cheaper than what I paid http://tinyurl.com/yeolx8 (Deals Direct Mitsubishi R100) The stock antennas don't have a great range, even when the power is increased, so you'd probably want to get something better for more range. Freenet Antennas has the best gear from what I saw, and they have some forums and other good info too and are apparently all techs (no sales staff) from what they said when I emailed them a while back: http://www.freenet-antennas.com/ (they sell gear capable of up to 17Km, but also cheaper upgrades). The new UltraWAPs have an GPL source available from the manufacturer: http://www.edimax.nl/html/english/frames/b-download.htm see which version is correct here: http://tinyurl.com/ycbru3 (Freenet Antennas forums) --- Or you can try to do things on the cheap: Details of the pringles tin and other methods, along with some stats. http://melbourne.wireless.org.au/wiki/?Cantenna Good for those trying to lose weight too: On Golden Circle Pineapple Juice cans you should drill at FAT (between PROTEIN and CARBOHYDRATE) on the nutrition table. Ben -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
