Wi-Fi booster

I would say that the first thing to check us that your laptop had the latest wireless drivers. Free to check and can make a huge difference to getting and obtaining a connection.
If you have not checked then it's usually a case of going to the manufacturer website and checking the drivers list against what you see in your laptop device manager details..
 
Wi-Fi boosters

As Vyv says - I also use an Alfa 1 AWUS-036, but I did purchase the optional long antenna which gives more gain?
Works very well.
There are several very expensive ones on the market (which might give a better performance), and also 'fixed' type if you want a permanent installation.
There have been several threads on this subject.

M.
 
+1 £24.39 incl. del. sounds reasonable. Try http://www.crucialwifi.co.uk instead if they run out of stock. Also worth getting a good quality USB extension, I usually use an active extension cable (you can get these at 5m-10m sizes quite easily). I don't usually need to hoist the adapter but the extension allows me to put out of the way it under the sprayhood.

Line of sight is everything with Wifi. I'm only 0.5nm from a cafe just now but reception is not great because a bloody great lorry has parked in front (probably delivering beer).

Don't bother with the 2000mW AWUS036NH model, the 1000mW AWUS036H version normally outperforms it on older kit (sort you get in most cafes, etc.).
 
WiFi boosters come in several flavours. They have a power rating, an antenna type and an antenna gain (sort of like amplification).

You want something with a power rating over 1000mW so that the hotspots you use can be sure of hearing you as well as you hearing them.

There are two antenna types; directional (often panels) and omnidirectional (usually a stick). Directional offer better performance but only when pointed directly at the hotspot, so they are not good for boats swinging at anchor. Omnidirectional antennas offer slightly lower gain (usually) but they work over the full 360-degrees, so they are ideal for boats at anchor.

Antenna gain is effectively a measure of antenna power, for a directional antenna look for at least 10dbi and for omnidirectional look for at least 8dbi.

Omnidirectional antennas generally work best if mounted as high as possible, directional antennas need a clear line-of-sight to the hotspot.

Most WiFi boosters are USB attached and it is unwise to have a USB cable much longer than 5m, though an amplified extension does often allow for longer runs. Some WiFi boosters are Ethernet attached (to the network socket on your laptop/computer) and these have a maximum cable length of 100m. Still others are radio (coax) attached (to a base unit that is USB-attached to your computer) and these also allow for long cable runs.
 
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Salty John said:
In the US you see a lot of external antennae/boosters on boats and RV's. I don't know if they are as popular or, indeed, necessary, over here. Here's one:http://www.radiolabs.com/products/wireless/wireless-marine-antenna.php
Click to expand...

Claims up to 1nm so seems expensive at around $170 vs. Alfa (I've had sl. more than 5nm range from mine). I recently ran into someone with a similar looking setup to the one shown and he had managed 10nm but it did cost around £200+. I bought another Alfa AWUS036H last year as a spare, didn't consider anything more expensive at the time.

Tony gives a good summary above. However, it probably isn't worth getting a directional antenna for use at anchor. I have one but just for use on a pontoon. I did find it useful once at anchor but that involved my wife keeping it aligned while I sent an important email. :D
 
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I am using an Alfa just now. Works well.

N.B. Some of the much more expensive offerings consist of the Alfa circuit board in a pretty waterproof box.

Don't automatically use the high power settings use the lowest one that gets the job done. If you go high power then it blocks the signals to others so they turn up the gain too and everybody loses out.
 
I have one of the Alfa units as well and have to say that it does seem to offer a big improvement. Not only is the wifi signal stronger but previously my wifi connection at the marina would periodically drop out and I'd need to re log in. This doesn't appear to happen with the Alfa, which mantains the connection for days without interruption. Even when I switch the laptop off and reboot it seems to reconnect automatically.

I will say though that whilst my marina wifi is fine for browsing and email, it's not great when it comes to streaming video like catchup TV. For that I find an unlimited data sim from Three to be much faster and more reliable.
 
TQA said:
I am using an Alfa just now. Works well.

N.B. Some of the much more expensive offerings consist of the Alfa circuit board in a pretty waterproof box.

Don't automatically use the high power settings use the lowest one that gets the job done. If you go high power then it blocks the signals to others so they turn up the gain too and everybody loses out.
Click to expand...

I've run into a few people who'd paid quite a bit for an Alfa in a plastic box. Exactly the same performance in most cases but actually a lot worse in one case where they'd fitted a bigger antenna on the end of a longish wire (so lots of loss).

I also have the "power adjustable" s/w from Alfa. I don't think it comes as standard but can be downloaded from Alfa's own site (alfa.co.tw I think). I seem to remember hearing that latest setup files had an option asking if you were in EU. If so, I'd pick an alternative. I do know that Linux I use does now set power to 100mW by default. However, I can turn it up to 1000mW if required by "visiting" Bolivia temporarily (iw reg set BO). A 10% setting works well enough most of the time (similar to normal 100mW adapter).
 
vyv_cox said:
I use one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alfa-AWUS036H-802-11b-Wireless-network/sim/B002WCEWU8/2 Very effective and considerably cheaper than the offerings of many suppliers for equipment that seems little different.
Click to expand...

great bit of kit, but I suggest it is worth the extra couple of quid to get the one with the directional antenna:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0041OI01C/dolcetto-21

There is also an N version:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0041L3FI8/dolcetto-21
 
The Alfa usb ones work well, but I used one of the aforementioned models but with an edimax external antenna for better results.

I currently use an Ubiquiti Picostation M2HP because it connects via ethernet to my onboard wifi router.

The router is useful because it also transmits nmea data to other devices onboard and also supplies a Freeview set top box for
I Player.
 
Mistroma said:
I've run into a few people who'd paid quite a bit for an Alfa in a plastic box. Exactly the same performance in most cases but actually a lot worse in one case where they'd fitted a bigger antenna on the end of a longish wire (so lots of loss).

I also have the "power adjustable" s/w from Alfa. I don't think it comes as standard but can be downloaded from Alfa's own site (alfa.co.tw I think). I seem to remember hearing that latest setup files had an option asking if you were in EU. If so, I'd pick an alternative. I do know that Linux I use does now set power to 100mW by default. However, I can turn it up to 1000mW if required by "visiting" Bolivia temporarily (iw reg set BO). A 10% setting works well enough most of the time (similar to normal 100mW adapter).
Click to expand...

Bolivia? May I ask why?


Piers
 
I'm hoping to do the same... Can you please share a bit more detail on your setup? Which router, freeview box and nmea bridge do you use?
 
I use a ubiquity bullet m2 on Ethernet into the boats wireless switch. With it I use either :

15dbi omni antenna ( good distance but can pick up too much noise from all the other wifi hotspots I don't want).

Or 20dbi panel antenna that can be rotated. This gets better range and less noise. It also folds out of the way and sits flush at the back of the horseshoe so isn't an eyesore.

I can leave the bullet to just hook into any open network automatically and have yet to find a marina I can't get some wifi at. Easy to setup and loads of online help available.

Also have three unlimited data on the iPhone so it will tether to that if needed.
 
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