ALFA Wi-fi signal enhancer

[Mistroma]

I struggled and gave up trying to make ICS work reliably, I would be very interested in seeing the commands you used.

I haven't used it very much as it was just a work around to do a firmware update on my phone (it wouldn't connect to either of my ancient routers). I had been meaning to try it for a while to see if it would save me buying an Alfa R36 and it worked first time (perhaps I was lucky). I have checked it a couple of times from a phone (running ICS, the other ICS) and a second laptop on Windows 7. No problems so far.

I was running Windows 7 (64-bit Home Premium SP1) and as far as I can remember I simply:

1) Disconnected my laptop WiFi link from any connection
2) Set my Wireless Network Connection to allow sharing
ControlPanel>Network and Internet>Network Connections
Wireless Network Connection properties Sharing tab
Tick "Allow other network users...."
3) Run cmd as Administrator and type
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=VirtualLink key=123456789
netsh wlan start hostednetwork
4)Connect to access point VirtualLink in normal manner with key 123456789

So far I've just typed into command line but will stick commands into a file next time and set it to run as Administrator next time.

Let me know if this doesn't work for you and I'll do it again from scratch on another laptop and write down each step to make certain I didn't miss anything (poor memory these days, I need an upgrade more than the PC).

 

[Eygthene]

Thank you all for your contributions and advice. I think this has turned out to be a most useful post.

 

[agurney]

..... This means my PDA, phone, Kindles and other laptop can make use of the 1000mW Alfa to pick up weak signals.

The Alfa doesn't so much pick up weak signals as transmit a powerful one; the usual problem with wifi and mobile phones is that you can see the transmission from the base station, but your phone/laptop isn't transmitting a powerful enough signal to be received at the far end. The result is that you might be able to see a network provider or SSID, but you won't be able to connect.

 

[Mistroma]

Sorry, I wasn't sufficiently clear in my earlier post.

I meant that I was going to connect my Phone, PDA etc. by sharing the connection on my laptop and that comes from the Alfa. Phone, PDAs and laptops have pretty poor WiFi capabilities in comparison with the Alfa and won't connect to weak signals. I'm getting around that by using the Alfa so that capabilities of Phones etc. on the boat are not relevant. In fact, I'll probably be able to share my connection with other boats at anchor nearby as well as other devices on my boat.

I know that the Alfa only transmits a strong signal but it has excellent reception capabilities wrt signal discrimination etc. so does a good job.

 

[VicMallows]

In fact, I'll probably be able to share my connection with other boats at anchor nearby as well as other devices on my boat.

Let's hope that becomes the norm. At Studland this year several boats were putting out really good WiFi signals - but all encrypted

(BTW, the National Trust place on Middle Beach puts out a free open signal, but I couldn't quite manage a meaningful connection from the Banks buoys and had to resort to 3G)

 

[agurney]

... In fact, I'll probably be able to share my connection with other boats at anchor nearby as well as other devices on my boat.

It's not likely to happen that way; you'll use the alfa to get an internet connection to the laptop, and you'll then share that connection with your phones using the laptop's wifi.

If you want a powerful hot spot you'd have to connect the laptop to the Internet another way (e.g. wired connection ashore) and use the Alfa as an acccess point.

You (probably/almost certainly) won't be able to use the Alfa to re-broadcast the received signal.

 

[Cardo]

I have just received my Alfa gubbins to be fitted to the boat. An R36 hotspot that will be wired into the boat to create its own hotspot that my various devices will connect to.

I then have two options for Internet:

The signal booster jobbie that connects to the R36 and picks up distant wifi hotspots that the R36 then rebroadcasts.

I also have a 3G USB modem that can also connect to the R36, which then shares the connection to the other devices.

The R36 takes a 12v input so this will be wired up to the boat electrics. The repeater and 3G modem take their power from the R36's USB port.

This solution does not rely on a laptop sharing a connection through small antennas and also uses much less power than a laptop.

 

[Mistroma]

It's not likely to happen that way; you'll use the alfa to get an internet connection to the laptop, and you'll then share that connection with your phones using the laptop's wifi.

If you want a powerful hot spot you'd have to connect the laptop to the Internet another way (e.g. wired connection ashore) and use the Alfa as an acccess point.

You (probably/almost certainly) won't be able to use the Alfa to re-broadcast the received signal.

Thanks for the tip, I assume that you've tried it and it was flaky. I said earlier that I'd only tried this so far with my laptop's internal adapter. No problem with that and the single device connected to one SSID and broadcast another that my wife's laptop and phone could use as a connection. I expected the Alfa to behave in a similar fashion.

I know that the AWUS036H is supposed to support this mode of operation so will still try it in case your setup had some other problem. Quite a few options here anyway as the Alfa software has an option that allows you to set up a virtual wifi connection as well as Windows 7's Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter (Soft AP) feature.

Alfa R36 is a good simple option but I don't need this functionality very often so would go for the cheaper solution.

 

[agurney]

Thanks for the tip, I assume that you've tried it and it was flaky. I said earlier that I'd only tried this so far with my laptop's internal adapter. No problem with that and the single device connected to one SSID and broadcast another that my wife's laptop and phone could use as a connection. I expected the Alfa to behave in a similar fashion.

I know that the AWUS036H is supposed to support this mode of operation so will still try it in case your setup had some other problem. Quite a few options here anyway as the Alfa software has an option that allows you to set up a virtual wifi connection as well as Windows 7's Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter (Soft AP) feature.

Alfa R36 is a good simple option but I don't need this functionality very often so would go for the cheaper solution.

No, not flaky, it just doesn't work in station mode and AP mode at the same time, that's the functionality the R36 gives you .. but I'm happy to be proved wrong.

 

[VicMallows]

The MARS 2414N in repeater mode would seem to be ideal. No constraints due to USB lead length so could be at the top of the mast. Anyone tried one?

MARS 2414N

 

[Mistroma]

No, not flaky, it just doesn't work in station mode and AP mode at the same time, that's the functionality the R36 gives you .. but I'm happy to be proved wrong.

I'd loaned my Alfa units to a friend so that he could try them both. Just got the 1000mW model back and tried ICS. No problem.

I think you might have misunderstood me, I wasn't trying to enable AP mode. I mentioned SoftAP, perhaps your driver is older and doesn't have that option. It isn't the menu option to switch between Station and AP (mutually exclusive as you correctly pointed out).

1) I tried to use configure for Windows 7 Virtual Miniport adapter directly without Alfa's Wireless LAN Utility and that was fine.

2)Then I re-booted and tried theSoftAP option on the Alfa Wireless LAN Utility and that worked as well. It pretty much does the same manual steps in 1 but via code so no real surprise.

So it does work and is easy enough to setup for odd times I'll need it. I think Alfa's own code might be buggy as I did get one BSOD on shutdown. No problems at all with first method. I'll check log files to narrow down the issue and perhaps update the driver.

But using Windows 7 Virtual Miniport adapter is fine to allow AWUS036H to pick up remote WiFi point and re-broadcast using a different SSID.

 

[lenseman]

The MARS 2414N in repeater mode would seem to be ideal. No constraints due to USB lead length so could be at the top of the mast. Anyone tried one?

The MARS 2414N seems to have a transmit power of 25 Watts (44dBm)! This is quite a powerful transmitter for this application and there will consequently be quite a large drain on the battery!


.

 

[Mistroma]

The MARS 2414N seems to have a transmit power of 25 Watts (44dBm)! This is quite a powerful transmitter for this application and there will consequently be quite a large drain on the battery!


.

Ouch, that's a serious output for WiFi. I imagine it would cause problems with noise from nearby object and all sorts o issues. Perhaps they have fitted a very high gain antenna and are adding the dBi and dBm figures together to get the 44 dBm and the transmitter is actually much less (1-2 W).

I vaguely remember someone trying to sell a 4W or thereabouts WiFi unit but it wasn't successful (at least I didn't hear any more about it). Power isn't everything and that's why didn't buy the 2000mW Alfa unit.

 

[lenseman]

Ouch, that's a serious output for WiFi. I imagine it would cause problems with noise from nearby object and all sorts o issues. Perhaps they have fitted a very high gain antenna and are adding the dBi and dBm figures together to get the 44 dBm and the transmitter is actually much less (1-2 W).

I vaguely remember someone trying to sell a 4W or thereabouts WiFi unit but it wasn't successful (at least I didn't hear any more about it). Power isn't everything and that's why didn't buy the 2000mW Alfa unit.

As some of you know, I used to work in enforcement (Home Office, D-Tels, RIS DTI and latterly Ofcom). I can assure you that it would soon be noticed and you would get a visit from two or more of my ex colleagues and they will confiscate your equipment as it is unlicensable and then would certainly check everything else onboard and want to see all your transmitter registration documents (Ofcom) and your personal transmitting licence, SRC or LRC (Secretary of Sate).

If you cannot produce any license documentation and they cannot find any record on the Secretary of State database, which can be accessed 24 hours a day, they have the powers to seize ALL your transmitting equipment and you will go to court. This would include VHF installations and you might not get them back as it would be classed as an illegal, unlicensed installation.

I am really surprised at the number of friends and yachts I know which do not have any record of the wireless transmitters that have been fitted or are incomplete regarding what is fitted. Every transmitter installed in any vessel has to applied for and registered and it is your responsibility to make sure it is done (VHF, VHFDSC, VHF H/H, Radar, SART, MF, HF (with or without DSC), EPIRB, AIS Transmitter, even SeaMe!

You can check your own vessel on here:

http://www.itu.int/online/mms/mars/ship_search.sh

Enter your vessel's name and it will give you all the equipment which is recorded on the Ofcom database. If it is not listed, you need to get it updated.

By the way, the way, all WiFi units greater than ½ Watt (27dBm) transmit power are illegal, the limit used to be 10mW (10dBm) but some 'might' have been increased to 500mW (27dBm) but only if using certain types of Spread Spectrum transmissions, DS or FH SS).

.

 

[Mistroma]

Thanks Lenseman, I thought the relevant UK limit was 100mW for WiFi (same most of Europe). Could be wrong as I don't keep up with that as the boat isn't in UK waters. Is that correct? I saw you'd written 10mW and that might be a typo except you also put 10dBm and not 20dBm.

I seem to remember that Alfa's newer setup installs limit power to 100mW for Europe. I've certainly seen comments about that wrt Linux. So even the 1000mW std. setup should be legal. As I said, power isn't everything (by a long way).

I've registered all radio equipment for my boat (Well obviously not laptops, Wifi Dongles, mobile phones, PMRs etc.). I'm careful about documentation regarding the boat.

 

[lenseman]

Thanks Lenseman, I thought the relevant UK limit was 100mW for WiFi (same most of Europe). Could be wrong as I don't keep up with that as the boat isn't in UK waters. Is that correct? I saw you'd written 10mW and that might be a typo except you also put 10dBm and not 20dBm.

I seem to remember that Alfa's newer setup installs limit power to 100mW for Europe. I've certainly seen comments about that wrt Linux. So even the 1000mW std. setup should be legal. As I said, power isn't everything (by a long way).

I've registered all radio equipment for my boat (Well obviously not laptops, Wifi Dongles, mobile phones, PMRs etc.). I'm careful about documentation regarding the boat.

I left Ofcom after 25 years and as you can imagine things are developing apace. It is all changing and European Harmonisation was slowly evolving the whole time I worked in that area. A lot or the European specifications were based directly on the British specifications (MPT 1200 series for marine and MPT1300 for land based transmitters) some of which I wrote or corrected. MPT stood for "Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications".

These were superceeded by the ETSI and the EN series (eg 300 086). Once the digital systems came alone then it developed at a very fast pace indeed. It all has to be agreed with other countries before there can be a standard.

I can remember the time when we rolled out Channel 5. This was to be located in the Band V spectrum on channel 35-37.

The trouble was that the French said "NON!"

We could only roll it out above the Thames as the French complained that we were interfering with their radio circuits on these channels. Even the home counties transmitters emitting Channel 5 had to have the Tx antenna all pointing north and with a transmit power -20dB down and nothing in Kent, Isle of Wight, Sussex, Hampshire or Dorset for many years!

Out of interest, Channels 35 - 37 had been reserved many years ago (before WW2) as it was a part of the radio spectrum where it had been found that there was radio signals emanating from space. By the time we rolled out Channel 5, things had moved on and no one was monitoring these frequencies anymore . . . . . except of course the French!

Standard WiFi dongles are exempt as they are not type approved under any marine specification and do not need to be listed on the marine database. The same goes for Bluetooth and mobile (cell) phones.

I am not sure if the Alfa 1000mWatt WiFi link is legal, I suspect it is illegal but it is not an offence to sell these transmitters, it is just illegal to install and use them which I think is unfair on unsuspecting purchasers!

After I left Ofcom, I became the radio design engineer for AB Pharos Marine and whilst I was there, I designed marine radio frequency equipment for Iran, Russia and Trinity House.

 

[SteveSarabande]

You can check your own vessel on here:

http://www.itu.int/online/mms/mars/ship_search.sh

Enter your vessel's name and it will give you all the equipment which is recorded on the Ofcom database. If it is not listed, you need to get it updated.

.

Interesting to note my licence is not listed there, using boat name, mmsi or callsign, yet I have the licence printed out after the online application.

Does it take a while to appear on there, I registered 3 or 4 weeks ago.

 

[lenseman]

Interesting to note my licence is not listed there, using boat name, mmsi or callsign, yet I have the licence printed out after the online application.

Does it take a while to appear on there, I registered 3 or 4 weeks ago.

It can take some time as you register with Ofcom who log it into the database which is held UK and then the ITU database is updated which I believe is held in Geneva. This might take a month to six weeks.

I suggest you just keep checking to make sure that all your details are correctly recorded.


.

 

[Mistroma]

Thanks for the update, a bit of thread drift but interesting background on Ch5 (I know there were gripes because of channel grouping when 5 was introdiced).

I don't usually have any need to use my Alfa 1000mWatt WiFi in UK but do store it at home in winter. A friend borrowed it recently to use in Egypt for a week and then I did some home tests for ICS detailed above. However, it is set to 1% power (which is 10 Watt) and that's fine for home use. I don't want to broadcast over a wide area and also cut back my home router to min. to give acceptable performance.

Using the Alfa is OK at reduced power doesn't cause anyone problems. I don't think it is illegal to install and use the hardware if the software makes it impossible to transmit at a higher power than allowed (just a guess though). I think that the newer "European" install does this (assuming it is selected of course).

Having said that, I doubt many "roaming users" get caught. Have you seen many cases? When sailing in NW Scotland last year a local told me that 1 policeman covered an area larger than Wales. I suspect it isn't exactly crawling with OfCom people either. Probably more difficult to catch people in busy areas. How do you catch one "careful" boat in a busy anchorage for 1 day. By "careful" I mean not staying in one place, linking to services such as email and not using a genuine MAC address. Safer but very limiting for normal use of course.

Sorry, I'm drifting way off original thread but curious about how much of an issue it is to use Alfa units on yachts. Theoretical only though as my boat is a thousand miles away at present.

 

[Skylark]

I am really surprised at the number of friends and yachts I know which do not have any record of the wireless transmitters that have been fitted or are incomplete regarding what is fitted. Every transmitter installed in any vessel has to applied for and registered and it is your responsibility to make sure it is done (VHF, VHFDSC, VHF H/H, Radar, SART, MF, HF (with or without DSC), EPIRB, AIS Transmitter, even SeaMe!


.

I read this comment and immediately felt guilty that I hadn't up-dated my licence since fitting radar and ais class b.

I expected the on-line process of up-dating a licence to be torture but to my surpirse and delight it took no more than a few minutes.

Thanks, lenseman, for a really useful post.