Danny_Labrador
Well-Known Member
Well thanks for that; it seems to be a solution. Is this what I hear tell of the mysterious “Booster Aerial” key though? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Internet connection?
- Thread starter AndyPandy
- Start date
Matrosen
Well-Known Member
When I was in my berth here I had a reasonable connection to the WiFi. When I moved to the hard there was no connection at all so I bought and external (USB) adapter and got a weak signal. I then purchased a stainless steel colander and the signal strength went from 21% to 56%.
Danny_Labrador
Well-Known Member
Brilliant - got a part no for the colander ?
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
webcraft
Well-Known Member
Seen a few people using a kitchen sieve instead of a colander - perhaps we could get YM to do a comparative review?
- Nick
- Nick
Danny_Labrador
Well-Known Member
Hi Webcraft
Can I ask you, where did you get your aeriel from and how does it connect to your laptop ?
Can I ask you, where did you get your aeriel from and how does it connect to your laptop ?
Drumtochty
New Member
Nick uses one of these and it is a waterproof unit.
http://www.wifispark.com/index.php/content/view/90/
http://www.wifispark.com/index.php/content/view/90/
Danny_Labrador
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that, nearly ordered something else! best to follow a well trodden path.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Richard10002
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Nick uses one of these and it is a waterproof unit.
http://www.wifispark.com/index.php/content/view/90/
[/ QUOTE ]
Is it directional, or omni directional?
Nick uses one of these and it is a waterproof unit.
http://www.wifispark.com/index.php/content/view/90/
[/ QUOTE ]
Is it directional, or omni directional?
Drumtochty
New Member
It is a 10dbi gain directional antena. The big advantage is it is a sealed unit so good for marine use.
Performance wise it would be better to get 20dbi gain antenna and cable that back to a usb device at the laptop. The extra 10dbi gain would make it 8 times more powerful with regard to Nick's unit.
The drawbacks are much more iffy with regards to aiming.
The connections would not be sealed.
Eddie
Performance wise it would be better to get 20dbi gain antenna and cable that back to a usb device at the laptop. The extra 10dbi gain would make it 8 times more powerful with regard to Nick's unit.
The drawbacks are much more iffy with regards to aiming.
The connections would not be sealed.
Eddie
Danny_Labrador
Well-Known Member
This is all interesting stuff.
I did a little research yesterday and it seems to me that there are two ways you could go.
1
Buy big aerial mount high and use coax to get back to an WiFi adapter device such as this at the computer. The drawback it would seem is that the attenuation of the signal in the coax may well loose any gain made by the sensitivity of the aerial.
2
Buy a device such a the one used by webcraft or Richard_Faulkner_M44 which incorporates the WiFi adapter in the unit which uses a USB cable this being a data cable it has zero loss of signal between the device and the computer. The higher this can be mounted the better obviously so webcraft’s unit seems to be the better of the two.
Apparently the distributors are waiting for the latest design to arrive so it should be interesting to see if this is better as they claim it will be.
Any other comments would be welcomed
I did a little research yesterday and it seems to me that there are two ways you could go.
1
Buy big aerial mount high and use coax to get back to an WiFi adapter device such as this at the computer. The drawback it would seem is that the attenuation of the signal in the coax may well loose any gain made by the sensitivity of the aerial.
2
Buy a device such a the one used by webcraft or Richard_Faulkner_M44 which incorporates the WiFi adapter in the unit which uses a USB cable this being a data cable it has zero loss of signal between the device and the computer. The higher this can be mounted the better obviously so webcraft’s unit seems to be the better of the two.
Apparently the distributors are waiting for the latest design to arrive so it should be interesting to see if this is better as they claim it will be.
Any other comments would be welcomed
Drumtochty
New Member
Max length of USB cable is circa 5m. Then USB cable can become iffy nothing to do with antenna signal loss.
So 10dbi gain at 5m say £80 to £100 with pre made item and waterproof.
Get a 20dbi antenna and 5 m of coax and a box at the laptop to receive the signal. Cica £120. Gain is 20dbi less cable loss 2.5 dbi so net gain is 17.5 dbi or about 4 times more than the made up unit.
If the antenna is say 10 m from the box we use thicker cable hdf 400 rather than hdf 200, same net gain but price goes up to say £150.
If we spend say £200 we get a net gain of circa 25dbi at 10m with thick cable at over 20 times the signal as the made up unit but it would start to be very specific with aiming.
The more gain the tighter the aiming becomes. Also you have to seal the joints
So 10dbi gain at 5m say £80 to £100 with pre made item and waterproof.
Get a 20dbi antenna and 5 m of coax and a box at the laptop to receive the signal. Cica £120. Gain is 20dbi less cable loss 2.5 dbi so net gain is 17.5 dbi or about 4 times more than the made up unit.
If the antenna is say 10 m from the box we use thicker cable hdf 400 rather than hdf 200, same net gain but price goes up to say £150.
If we spend say £200 we get a net gain of circa 25dbi at 10m with thick cable at over 20 times the signal as the made up unit but it would start to be very specific with aiming.
The more gain the tighter the aiming becomes. Also you have to seal the joints
Danny_Labrador
Well-Known Member
Yes I thought that USB had a finite rnage but these Repeatit people say that they have added a booster.
G
Guest
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
My experiences of WiFi in France in 2005 wasn't good. In fact i only found decent Internet Cafes in large towns. Also beware GPRS - i bought a Vodaphone datacard before i left which was only supposed to charge me by the amount of data sent/received, therefore could, in theory, be left on like broadband. Result - got charged astronomical sums by Vodaphone for roaming, on top of the data charge. Thankfully it was a PAYG simm, so i stopped using it after the first £20 got used up after 2 emails. Vodaphone never gave me an acceptable reason - just blamed it on SFR - the French network it is supposed to be in partnership with, despite my contract being with Vodafone. Chucked it after that!
[/ QUOTE ]
Correct .... I send Inspectors all over the place ... Germany, Denmark, etc. - we use GPRS / 3G ... we have special rates with our provider which is a set amount of 400mb over xxx period per card. Go outside that providers coverage and we still don't pay their mb charges - but roaming is horrendous expensive. The way to reduce that is to get hold of the list of affiliate providers your service have contracts with and stay on those .. but still it flames the cheque book !!
My experiences of WiFi in France in 2005 wasn't good. In fact i only found decent Internet Cafes in large towns. Also beware GPRS - i bought a Vodaphone datacard before i left which was only supposed to charge me by the amount of data sent/received, therefore could, in theory, be left on like broadband. Result - got charged astronomical sums by Vodaphone for roaming, on top of the data charge. Thankfully it was a PAYG simm, so i stopped using it after the first £20 got used up after 2 emails. Vodaphone never gave me an acceptable reason - just blamed it on SFR - the French network it is supposed to be in partnership with, despite my contract being with Vodafone. Chucked it after that!
[/ QUOTE ]
Correct .... I send Inspectors all over the place ... Germany, Denmark, etc. - we use GPRS / 3G ... we have special rates with our provider which is a set amount of 400mb over xxx period per card. Go outside that providers coverage and we still don't pay their mb charges - but roaming is horrendous expensive. The way to reduce that is to get hold of the list of affiliate providers your service have contracts with and stay on those .. but still it flames the cheque book !!
rickp
Well-Known Member
Or buy a wifi to wifi repeater. I have a Dlink G710 which works very well sat up in the wheelhouse - repeating the chosen signal to my (not particularly sensitive) laptop.
Rick
Rick
Drumtochty
New Member
The power fom the unit comes from the laptop. Believe me there is little spare power there to run a booster for the usb signal.
eddie
eddie
Danny_Labrador
Well-Known Member
So you think that a conventional aerial withe coax is the best solution ?
Drumtochty
New Member
A made up unit is the simple way and easily portable. good performance and simple and you can return it as not working for a refund if not satisfied.
The better performing units are larger and have more bits hanging off them. You will need a custom made cable say £40 that is not retunable. They are not as portable.
You pay your money and takes your choice.
Recently, on holiday a friend could bring his portable solution and improve the wirless reception on their laptop. A large antenna may have given the game away.
If you do not intended to take it off your boat then that's not an issue.
Eddie
The better performing units are larger and have more bits hanging off them. You will need a custom made cable say £40 that is not retunable. They are not as portable.
You pay your money and takes your choice.
Recently, on holiday a friend could bring his portable solution and improve the wirless reception on their laptop. A large antenna may have given the game away.
If you do not intended to take it off your boat then that's not an issue.
Eddie
tudorsailor
Well-Known Member
I have been recommended this USB aerial as a compromise http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=2984 The customer reviews look good, but have not found any marine use. My plan is to use it when in marinas to get free internet access so I am happy to point it in the right direction once moored up. I'll post back when I get it (when it is in stock)
TudorDoc
TudorDoc
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