wifi antenna enhancer

[zeehond]

Anybody got any information about how to pick up wifi at a decent distance ( 1000m or more) . Currently we have an alfa wireless usb adaptor and are looking to improve performance. What do we need to do or buy? Any help will be most appreciated.

 

[RobbieW]

Try this thread

 

[concentrik]

.

I can highly recommend this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150Mbps-O...K_Computing_Networking_SM&hash=item4ab2940bcb

Simple to use with RAlink software and pulls in faraway access points. It transmits at quite high power so can be heard as well as listen.

 

[lenseman]

Anybody got any information about how to pick up wifi at a decent distance ( 1000m or more) . Currently we have an alfa wireless usb adaptor and are looking to improve performance. What do we need to do or buy? Any help will be most appreciated.

I bet you plug the Alfa WiFi Extender directly into the USB port on the laptop and screw the antenna onto the end, turn on the laptop and connect to the interweb?

Your laptop and Alfa WiFi antenna is at sea level or just below and the body of the laptop is a very effective partial screen which will inhibit a large part of the 2.2GHz signal from the WiFi base from reaching your computer.

Go out and buy a 5-metre USB to USB extender cable from Maplins, Curry's, PC World and also purchase a condom.

Plug the Alfa WiFi Extender into one end of the USB extender cable and wrap the whole assembly inside the condom. Plug the other end of the 5-metre extender cable into the back of the laptop then hoist the Alfa WiFi extender up the mast using the signal halyard. (Signal Halyard, get it, get it? )

 

[alteredoutlook]

Basically, You need to improve your antennae in some way!

This is a vast subject area - You could buy some fancy ariel or go down a diy route.

A few years ago i looked into the latter and it is amazing what you can do for very little cost.

I stumbled on this website - www.usbwifi.orconhosting.net.nz about creating a poor mans wifi from a chinese cookware scoop. It really does work!

Being poorer still and having plenty of time on my hands I made a parabolic reflector out of a pringles tube - see the windsurfer reflector template on www.freeantennas.com I was astounded at the range improvement. Every school boy should make one!!

Have a go at making one - its amazing.

I got side tracked into somethin else and never really followed it up, but I'm intending sailing in scotland this year and want to improve my internet access so perhaps I'll make the chinese wok scoop.

 

[maby]

Pringles tube...

 

[alteredoutlook]

Pringles tube...

yep - a sour cream and onion one!

And it does work!

 

[maby]

yep - a sour cream and onion one!

And it does work!

does tend to get soggy in the rain - alternatively wrap aluminium foil round a suitable diameter plastic tube

 

[alteredoutlook]

........... alternatively wrap aluminium foil round a suitable diameter plastic tube

sounds too expensive for me!!

 

[nickf]

Can recommend ALFA AWUS036NH with 5m extension cable obtainable at http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&...aps&hvadid=11804129394&ref=pd_sl_12nbdm391l_e

 

[Mistroma]

Ditto Alfa units

I've been using the Alfa unit mentioned earlier (older 500mW version) for years. I've had reception from Internet Cafe 4.5-5nm miles away in open water. Obviously much worse with masts or hills around.

1) Hoisting up mast inside poly bag often helps but it is sometimes better at deck level.
Depends on what's in the way. I have 2m and 5m passive USB extensions and a 5m active one so can get around 10m above deck if needed.

2) As mentioned earlier: Don't extend the antenna wire as that just introduces signal loss. Extend the USB wire instead. No signal loss, just some degradation of digital output over >5m. However, active extension allows 10-12m length with no problem.

3) I tried a "cantenna" (purchased version of homemade pringle type). It improved the signal was HIGHLY directional. I didn't find it very useful so got rid of it. No much use at anchor as signal is lost when boat moves slightly.

4) I tried a larger 9Dbi antenna without much improvement so normally leave the standard antenna in place unless signal is very weak. Larger antenna sometimes helps but doesn't usually give a workable link. Perhaps I bought a dud antenna.

I was tempted to buy the eBay unit mentioned earlier but was put off by the number of people reporting that they didn't work (see toolhaus.org).

 

[Nostrodamus]

Alfa's and the like certainly boost the signal.
One of the problems I have found is that marinas and the like often have such slow speeds that it makes them almost useless to use apart from basic e mails.
Downloading anything large can take a day.

 

[RobbieW]

Download managers

Downloading anything large can take a day.

I installed a copy of 'Free Download Manager' (other tools are available) to help with another problem of using weak wifi signals, losing the link and the download aborting so you have to restart. FDM remembers where it got to in a download and can be restarted after the connection is re-established.

 

[bateau57]

WiFi Distance

The issue is often with USB connection as it has a practical limit of 2.4M from the antenna to the USB port. Plus you need a driver on Windoze which is where most folks come unstuck. If you use something like a Ubiquiti Bullet at mast top with a 9dB gain (not too narrow) antenna you could get 3NM+ with ease. I would never admit, but you can crank up the power beyond what I would like to live beside on mast top. No issue with the computer to antenna distance either as it uses ethernet (for both signal and 12V power) and that has a practical limit of 100m. Works for me and gets it above the other wifi signal contenders.

 

[mario]

freeantennas.com.....good tip might sound strange but....i have a baked bean tin with a cable bit of tape and some cable ties !

Gone from 1/2 dbs to 18dbs massive diffence and now "surfing" ?

Try it folks

 

[SJF]

Anybody got any information about how to pick up wifi at a decent distance ( 1000m or more) . Currently we have an alfa wireless usb adaptor and are looking to improve performance. What do we need to do or buy? Any help will be most appreciated.

My recommendation would also be the Ubiquiti Bullet 2HP, I've documented how I ended up using what I am here and I've been very impressed with the results.

 

[little_roundtop]

There are two components to all external wifi adapters; the antenna and the control unit.

Antennas come in two flavours; directional and omnidirectional. Directional antennas are the best choice when the antenna (ie. the boat) is not moving relative to the hotspot. These antennas need to be aimed at the hotspot like a torch and the more gain (power) the antenna has the more accurately it has to be aligned. If you go for a directional antenna look for one with a gain of at least 12dbi. Omnidirectional antennas are the best choice when the antenna (ie. the boat remember) is moving relative to the hotspot. These antennas receive signals in the full 360 deg. If you go for an omnidirectional antenna look for one with a gain of at least 6dbi.

Directional antennas need a clear view of the hotspot. Imagine a tube about 1m in diameter between your antenna and the hotspot, this must be clear of all obstructions. Trees, cars, buildings, yacht masts etc. all interfere with the weak wifi signals.

Omnidirectional antennas need a clear all-round view to be most effective so height is the key here. The mast-head is the ideal place for one of these.

Control units come with different powers (measured in mW). A basic minimum power of 500mW is needed to reach simple hotspots from a boat at anchor, but more power is better. 1000mW devices and even 2000mW devices are available.

If you're a CA member there are several documents about wifi and adapters on the member-only website.

 

[TQA]

This works well http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alfa-High-G...90/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1329772909&sr=8-12

Mount the aerial as high as you can and without any metallic items in the way to block the signal.

Works for me.

 

[CharlesSwallow]

We've had one of these for many years and it works well in connecting us to "free" hotspots.

Look at the whole RadioLabs website for many other options:-
http://www.radiolabs.com/

Chas

 

[NornaBiron]

Hi Dave we have an Alfa antenna that works well, but we also have a cosmote 5 gb deal with a new wireless hub so both Steph and i can log on at the same time and not have to plug in, and not use a prophylactic. love from puss and fluff x.