can anyone recommend an antenna that would boost my laptop's ability to receive an internet signal?
thanks....
thanks....
OT: RE: WiFi antenna...
- Thread starter TUSK.sixpack
- Start date
clarify your problem.
a. you want to use your laptop out on the patio but the signal is weak.
b. you want to steal your neighbor's internet but the signal is weak.
If your answer is a - look into a wifi booster
http://wi-fi-booster-review.toptenreviews.com/
If your answer is B - I can't help you.
I'm not sure of a way to make your laptop wireless stronger (ie pick up signals better) but there are ways to increase the signal strength of the router pushing out the signal.
i built a small cabin about 600' from my house... my house has WiFi. I can get signal at the cabin when the weather is suitable... but it's spotty and unreliable...
If your question is a. in DawgHouse's reply, then get this and flash it with this firmware. There are plenty of how-to's regarding the process of flashing it with a new firmware. After you get the dd-wrt firmware on it, you can turn the TX power up to as much as 250 mW and shoot your signal out over an 1/8 mile or so. The FCC regulates the TX power the factory firmware can have at 70 mW. You can also get two of the wrt54GL's, flash them both, and make one the access point, and one a repeater. Put the repeater out in the guest house, and you've got strong signal everywhere, while keeping one SSID
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I'm not familiar with a booster rated for 600' but you could go get the best you can find and take it back if it doesn't work.
other option would be run some cat-5 from the house to the cabin and then attach a wireless end point there.
you could check your laptop wireless adapter to see if it matches the band of your router (you might have an n class router and an a class network adapter in the laptop)
did you run cable or electrical from the house to the cabin? If so you could use something like this http://www.walmart.com/ip/Netgear-Powerline-85Mbps-NW-Adapter-Kit/13021231
other option would be run some cat-5 from the house to the cabin and then attach a wireless end point there.
you could check your laptop wireless adapter to see if it matches the band of your router (you might have an n class router and an a class network adapter in the laptop)
did you run cable or electrical from the house to the cabin? If so you could use something like this http://www.walmart.com/ip/Netgear-Powerline-85Mbps-NW-Adapter-Kit/13021231
On the other hand, if said neighbor "B" is DUMB enough to have un-secure wifi, well. That said, anyone that searches my neighborhood wifi's sees mine listed as "Its mine get your own" so Im not one to condone piggy backing.
Am I the only one that doesn't have a clue what this means? I mean......DAMN..WTF is this ****? God, I am old and outdated.
It means that If I'm faced with this dilemma, I will probably be paying a nerd some money.
What experiences has anyone had with antenna for wireless pulling signal...
Thx.
From phone towers in rural area. Bought one, but signal was not as good for internet use as phone so I ran the computer off the phone. For hunting camp.
Thx.
You could go with a parabolic signal booster or the even more "homemade" looking Pringles can antenna.
I'm not sure if running cat5 will be your best option. A 600 feet length of cable is probably well outside the recommended maximum length of cable.
Homemade directional antennas work very, very well. I made one during my days at State. I don't have any hard measurements on hand but there was plenty of empirical evidence that it worked and worked very well.
Build the antenna (plenty of tutorials on the google machine), attach to your wireless access point, and point that bad boy at your guest house. In addition use 3rd party firmware to boost signal strength.
Good luck!
ETA: Here's a good how-to guide
Homemade directional antennas work very, very well. I made one during my days at State. I don't have any hard measurements on hand but there was plenty of empirical evidence that it worked and worked very well.
Build the antenna (plenty of tutorials on the google machine), attach to your wireless access point, and point that bad boy at your guest house. In addition use 3rd party firmware to boost signal strength.
Good luck!
ETA: Here's a good how-to guide
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