square mile wifi

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yelbis

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Ive recently subscribed to sq. mile in brighton. the signal is always around 2 bars at 11 mps.. What can i use with my laptop that does not incurr lots of kit and cost. Thanks.
 
If you're using an internal wi-fi card then try an external USB wi-fi adapter which you can pick up online for £10 to £15. You can connect it to the PC via a USB extension cable, so allowing you to position it as high as possible. I wouldn't go so far as to buy the Marine Wi-Fi booster as advertised on the Square Mile site, for several reasons. I had zero bars originally with the internal card, but with the external adapter it has gone up to 2 or 3 bars. (You are obviously closer to the ramp than me!).
 
Have you tried a USB adapter... Courtesy of advice from various people here, I use the Linksys WUSB54G as recommended by Tome... stick it on the cabin roof and Bob could be your Uncle... the higher the better I guess, so up a mast with a USB cable extension.

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite...FVisitorWrapper

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/p...mp;oldpage=true

Tome has adapted his by removing the aerial and soldering on a connector to enable a longer extension.... mine works fine on the cabin roof. Power levels have increased from about 30%, (i.e. no connection), to 60%, connection down below every time.

I also tried a USB stick adaptor, but the Linksys is much better.
 
Had the same problem at Brighton ( pontoon 13xx), and even my generic external USB adapter on an USB cable couldn't cope. Went to the city and bought a 100 mW Senao adapter.
SENAO ADAPTER .
Admittedly, a bit pricey, but as Square Mile's connection fees go, the cost is earned back quite quickly.
 
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I wonder if it is better than the Linksys above?

[/ QUOTE ]
Most likely, it is. The crucial factor in obtaining a good link is to have enough transmitting power, so the access point "sees" your adapter. That 's why you might very well have have a full five linkbars on your screen interface , but still no internet.
In the specifications, look for the "transmitting dB" specs. AFAIK in July, the most powerful adapter legally on the market was the Senao.
 
Square mile don't use poweful enough kit for the environment they operate in and IMO are very expensive.

To cut a long story short, I carried out a professional survey of one of their installations (I was in the area with an engineer having just finished surveying a clients site for an outdoor wireless network- so we nipped down to the marina to see what had been setup). There were not enough transmitters and the ones in use were of poor quality. A great disapointment as I would of liked to have used their service from the boat.

Don't spend too much on external antenna for the boat. the problem is most likely with the Square Mile network in the first place. Best option would be to use a different supplier.

I now use a O2 3G data card from the boat but you may find this option expensive as an individual. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
I use the Linksys with a 9dB omni-directional external antenna and have no problems with wifi access (many others in the same marina do have problems)

There are 2 factors: signal strength and antenna siting. Our antenna is mounted at the transom 3m AWL and clear of rigging

The Senao adaptor with detachable antenna (NET-EL-362EXT) simplifies the fitting of an external antenna - I would certainly recommend this over the Linksys which needs to be modified if used with an external antenna like ours (NETGEAR ANT2409). In either case, keep the antenna cable as short as possible as the losses are significant at wifi frequencies

If you are sticking it on a cabin roof then I would expect either to give similar performance IMO
 
A pal of mine is living on his boat anchored off at Chaguaramas, Trinidad. A bar ashore has wi-fi access - it gives out a very weak signal apparently, and Owen wanted to be able to pick it up on his boat, but he couldn't.
So he created a homemade directional parabolic antenna using a standard S/S kitchen seive, and reports that it works brilliantly on the boat now!
Owen was also of the opinion that a wok would work just as well, if not better......
 
Re: WiFi parabolic wok antennas

Thank you for these links - have just had a brief shufty, but they look fascinating!
I am very tempted to try and make a parabolic antenna for my future laptop for when I go off sailing in about 15 months time.

And as you suggested I scrolled down past all the theory on the 2nd link until I got to the section on antennas - lots of good stuff there. Need to bean up on them - havent really looked at them since doing the ARSGB ham radio exam 16 years ago.
But I shall definitely also have a ham radio on board, and Winlink for emailing when at sea.

Have you got a ham radio on your fine Nicholson 26 ? Very fine vessels indeed, with an excellent reputation offshore from all accounts read.
 
Re: WiFi parabolic wok antennas

I do have a ham radio. The boat was originally equipped with one, I think, because there is a very old sintered bronze earth on it. God knows where the original owners took it. . I have only sailed England/Holland/France/channel islands but would love a chance to go further afield. One day!

Discussions on ham radio here can bring out a ferocious side of some posters (who feel very proprietorial abt the subject) so it's prob best if we discuss it off forum in pms
 
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