Using 2 computers from one wifi signal

Thanks Nigel, ordered one now.

You have to laugh at some of the Amazon reviews. I love the ones where people complain because something behaves exactly as the designer intended.

>> Found Standard alfa 5dB aerial worked much better, when connect ot my zoom 3g 4051 router.
>> Up to 90 mbs. ( slightly fluctuating though.
>> This product 7 dB panel aerial reduced signal and speed to 11mbs over 10 metres distance in old brick built house.
>> I think the aerial is directional. So far standard alfa 5dB multidirectional aerial works better...

Spec. looks good in both E & H planes. I've lost count of the number of marina office staff who have apologised in advance for poor WiFi. I look at the antenna sitting at 45 deg. in both planes and suggest simply straightening it might be of some help. In one case they had also put it on a desk behind a metal filing cabinet. I was tempted to ask them to put it inside the cabinet just to make it a perfect job. :D
 
Last edited:
Have not followed the whole thread and am probably responding completely on the wrong subject but, I don't understand why separate computers on board should not each connect with an open access wifi. We have 3 Apple Macs, of different ages, brought from our house, each with the same name, which all connect quite happily, at the same time if so asked, to the same wifi, when we ask them to. Sometimes we get no connection, or a very weak connection - then we both take a laptop each to the cockpit/quay/nearest restaurant to get a connection - but we have no problem working at least 2 at once to the same wifi.
 
pmyatt said:
Have not followed the whole thread and am probably responding completely on the wrong subject but, I don't understand why separate computers on board should not each connect with an open access wifi. We have 3 Apple Macs, of different ages, brought from our house, each with the same name, which all connect quite happily, at the same time if so asked, to the same wifi, when we ask them to. Sometimes we get no connection, or a very weak connection - then we both take a laptop each to the cockpit/quay/nearest restaurant to get a connection - but we have no problem working at least 2 at once to the same wifi.
Click to expand...

I'll see if I can explain what I said in post #13 using an example.

You have a laptop with a Wifi booster and a smartphone (or laptop with just an internal WiFi adapter). Everything is fine at one end of the marina. However, when you move to the other end ou find that the signal is too weak for your phone. The laptop with the booster still works with the weak signal.

We've been talking about sharing that laptop's connection by re-broadcasting it to the smartphone. So the smartphone connects to the "Virtual Access Point" created by the laptop. It doesn't connect directly to the marina's WiFi point.
 
nigelmercier said:
I recommend one of these [AWUS036NH]: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0041L3FI8/dolcetto-21
Click to expand...

nigelmercier said:
I wasn't sure if the AWUS036H supported WHN... If it does, then ... a good deal: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0041OI01C/dolcetto-21
Click to expand...

nigelmercier said:
[directional antenna] only about £6:http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0041SLFLA/dolcetto-21
Click to expand...

Just heard back from Alfa: the logo on the directional antenna should point at the AP.

I'm pretty sure I normally had it the other way, so that makes it even more awesome!
 
Last edited:
nigelmercier said:
Just heard back from Alfa: the logo on the directional antenna should point at the AP.

I'm pretty sure I normally had it the other way, so that makes it even more awesome!
Click to expand...

Nigel,
Thanks for the interest in my question. I don't always have a lot of time.
I am also surprised at the answers from people who haven't read and understood the original question!
However, my vista laptop doesn't get "Hosted network supported : Yes"
I tried it with Windows 7 laptop, and that of course worked.
I don't want to use the Windows 7 computer most of the time as it isn't rugged and I don't have a 12 volt power supply for it.
I am surprised that my Engenius EUB-362 EXT, connected to the Vista computer, doesn't seem to support hosted network either.
On the internet the Engenius and Alpha units seem to be comparable in reviews but no one compares the ability to support hosted networks. Am I doing something wrong or do I need a different driver?
Finally, if I have to buy an Alpha unit, which should I buy? The 1000mW or 2000mW unit?
Is WHN Windows Network Support?
Thanks for your time.
 
I'm certain Nigel won't mind if I answer some of the above. I don't think he has an AWUS036H but has the NH model, as he wasn't certain if the H model supported WHN. I used it last year and my AWUS036H (1,000mW) was working with Windows 7 WHN using commands in my earlier posts.

Oh, WHN is Wireless Hosted Networking. It is available in most versions of Windows 7 (Starter Edition probably doesn't include it).

AWUS036NH(2000mW) vs. AWUS036H (1000mW): I've previously said that it depends on use (see post #17).

Alfa's own Taiwan website has long given reasons for choosing AWUS036H and I've read comparisons elsewhere showing the same conclusion. I have also made some comparisons a couple of times (mentioned in earlier post). Not a scientific study of course but I found that AWUS036H did lock to weak APs where AWUS036NH wouldn't, even though it did "see" them.

Extract from Alfa's Web-site (I copied this ages ago and will try to post the relevant link)

This AWUS036NH vs. Alfa's popular AWUS036H 802.11g adapter:
We have compared this model to the 1-watt AWUS036H adapter from Alfa. This model pulled in more signals than the AWUS036H. However the AWUS036H was getting stronger signals to many of the access points both could detect. Not a great deal stronger, but enough to indicate the AWUS036H 1-watt adapter has a better receive sensitivity for 802.11g networks. The AWUS036H is only 802.11g standard though, whereas this AWUS036NH is 802.11n standard and can get longer ranges and faster speeds when used with 802.11n standard access points. Because 802.11n is a newer standard, many of the access points around you (in neighborhoods or places you travel) will still be 802.11g. However over the next year, many technology publications indicate that a high number of people and businesses will be upgrading their wireless networks to 802.11n to meet the growing need for faster speeds. The AWUS036NH will work with these new 802.11n signals as they begin to spring up everywhere, and will work with them better and faster than the AWUS036H and other long range Wi-Fi products on the market today. If you are trying to decide between the AWUS036H and the AWUS036NH, what it boils down to is how you want to use the product. If you plan on using mostly with 802.11g signals and are trying to get the strongest signal strengths, the AWUS036H may be the best option. If you are trying to get the best range, or will be using with 802.11n access points, the AWUS036NH is the best option.


I hope that this helps. Nigel may be able to add more detail if he has also compared both units. I guess it boils down to how many "n" and "b/g" networks you are likely to see in your area. I'm still finding a lot of older "b/g" kit in use on marina and hotel APs as that still allows connection by clients with older equipment.

I chose my first Alfa AWUS036H 500mW for other reasons many years ago. It uses the Realtek 8187L chipset that allows some useful tricks. It's legendary amongst network hacking community and I worked alongside guys employed as penetration test experts (i.e. Paid to break into networks and then help improve security).
 
Last edited:
>be possible to connect a second computer to the first by wifi

We have Virgin wifi and have networked two compiuters. Go to control panel/Network and Internet then set up a Homegroup. You can look up the details at the Microsofnt site, make sure that your C/D drives are shared before doing the setup.
 
Mistroma said:
I'm certain Nigel won't mind if I answer some of the above...
Alfa AWUS036H ... uses the Realtek 8187L chipset that allows some useful tricks. It's legendary amongst network hacking community and I worked alongside guys employed as penetration test experts...
Click to expand...
Good info, thank you. FWIW, the NH can also be used for penetration "tests" using BackTrack :)

KellysEye said:
Go to control panel/Network and Internet then set up a Homegroup. You can look up the details at the Microsofnt site, make sure that your C/D drives are shared before doing the setup.
Click to expand...
I think you may have missed the point of the OP.
 
Thanks for your detailed reply. I suppose that it is best to go with the latest as it is more likely to be supported in the future by Windows 11 or 12 etc? My Engenius is several years old and is no longer supported or even recognized on the Engenius website.
 
Sybaris said:
Go to www.connectify.me and download their free lite version. I have been using it for 4 years and it does what it says without any hassle. Should work with any wifi antenna, so no need to buy anything.
Click to expand...

Good one, I'd forgotten about connectify. I think that I did download it but never used it because ICS/WHN worked fine but it is worth looking at instead of buying extra kit. Nothing to lose just giving it a spin. Lots of people suggest buying various bits & pieces, that's fine if used a lot and you feel £50-£250 is worthwhile. However, I'm happy with a free alternative considering the number of times I need it at present.
 
Last edited:
I used to look specs. etc. up on http://www.alfa.com.tw until Alfa launched a european site. Following link is now worthwhile for details of their product range. http://www.alfanetwork.co.uk

I used to worry about the amount of counterfeit Alfa kit that was rumoured to be around on eBay (& Amazon) a year or so back. I've bought a few items from http://www.crucialwifi.co.uk (or his eBay shop). So far all kit from him has been genuine, delivery tends to be quick and he displays an Alfa authorised dealer cert. on site.
 
Thanks again for the tip Nigel, I'd thought about a directional antenna years ago and tested a cantenna. Not much use at anchor of course. I had seen an Alfa directional model but thought it might be too directional, but your link showed useful graphs.

Alfa APA-M05 antenna arrived from CrucialWifi this morning. I've only had time for a quick test but it does look promising. I simply ran with the standard AWUS036H 5dBi omni-directional antenna and did a quick switch to the APA-M05 7dBi directional model. Just a matter of plugging the Alfa back in and swinging it around until I had a max. on one of the APs.

Initial improvement
1) 6 APs vound vs. 4 (1 lost & 3 new weaker ones)
2) AP I was trying to optimise went from 38% to 64% (66% briefly)

This quick trial does indicate that I should be able to see more APs and get useful increase in signal strength. The signal improvment remained quite good over at least 45 deg. swing (min. 58% vs. max. 66%).

I'll leave the omni-directional one fitted as it will indicate APs in vicinity and use the directional one to improve signal strength as required.

APA_M05.png
 
Last edited:
>I think you may have missed the point of the OP.

I took it that the OP has wifi and wants to connect two machines. I've done that and it's easy to do, you don't need a cable or router. Or did I miss something?
 
KellysEye said:
>I think you may have missed the point of the OP.

I took it that the OP has wifi and wants to connect two machines. I've done that and it's easy to do, you don't need a cable or router. Or did I miss something?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure anybody has missed the point, just responding with what works for them.

Like us, we've been down the windows route linking two laptops and found its not stable enough, or didn't allow for both to be online at the same time. Personally I never got on with the Windows network thing between two laptops. We've now got a Ubiquiti Bullet M2HP and a router, it works great and is trouble free. The Aerial is our access point (so only 1 payment when needed) and it goes to the router which distributes the signal.
 
nigelmercier said:
Is that the Alfa Wi-Fi front-end in the picture? I've never used it, should I?

I see that you have a FON spot locally, which is nice.
Click to expand...

Yes, I find the Alfa (RTL8187 Wireless LAN Utility) front end quite good and if you download it from .tw site (possibly .co.uk as well) you get the power adjust option. I usually wick power down to 5%-10% for normal use and only increase it when miles from an AP. Lots of other things you can do with the Alfa front end, just by tweaking an INI file (extra tabs appear, more options). Hours of fun and I'm certain you are well up to sorting out useful ones.

Local FON isn't actually that much use as I've never had to pay for WiFi acess so pretty much tend to ignore these. Usually some free hotspots within a few miles range when at anchor. :D :D

I must be missing something as well, as OP was clearly not talking about simply connecting 2 PCs. So many ways to do that, even via peer to peer using parallel or serial cables let alone WiFi or cabled network. I too thought the OPs problem was one of sharing a single internet connection with laptops and phone.

In fact, I'd hazard a guess that ICS/WHN was discussed because OP actually said:
"I would prefer the re-transmitting the wifi signal as I could then also use the Apps on my phone."

It's a zero cost solution and he can then buy Alfa R36 or other device if it doesn't suit his needs.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top