WiFi in St Peter Port

[TonyS]

There is a free wifi connection at 54 MB/s in St Peter Port Marina. The password is given when you pay for the night.
On my laptop with an 802.11g Wireless LAN CardBus PC Card from Maplin I got a good signal sitting in the cockpit on the first row of finger pontoons. The next row back it was intermittent and further away it was unusable. It was also unusable inside the boat in the first row.
Is this likely to be a defect in the sensitivity of my card or is there any way of increasing the signal by wrapping a piece of wire round the aerial?(bit that sticks out from the side of the PC). It is difficult in bright sun looking at a normal laptop screen and really cold at night having to go out in the cockpit to surf. However it is nice to find a free fast broadband connection especially when one is away for a few weeks. Has anyone else had a better experience with the connection in this marina?

 

[BrendanS]

a lot of people have had success making directional antennae out of pringles cans or similar. do a google search on wifi cantenna or wifi pringles can for more info
one link is
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html
it depends on your card having input for external antenna though, and not many do

 

[TonyS]

Thanks Brendan,
Unfortunately the card doesn't have an aerial connection. What I need is a parabolic reflector!!

 

[FWB]

If you feel upto shelling out £150, get a smartbridges antenna from Squaremile. This will really improve things.

 

[BlueChip]

Last season moored in the outer harbour using a Smartbridges Airbridge I picked up 4 open connections and spent several hours on-line

 

[TonyS]

Thanks for the info. Does the Smartbridges Airbridge just plug into the ethernet port on a plug and play basis?
A further question for Martin. If I get one of these, what marinas offer free broadband in France and the Channel Islands?

 

[FWB]

Some supplied software to install, then as you say plug into ethernet port.
I've put mine into a tupperware box so I can place it outside if ness. Usually works below though.
Go to Squaremile site....all their marinas free! Mine, in Mylor rejected them and chose IAP, we shall have to pay soon.

 

[BlueChip]

The airbridge does need low voltage supply (12V?) to power it - they supply a mains adapter which I generally run from an inverter. There is an adapter supplied which feeds the power up the ethernet cable. Youcould use a low voltage power supply from 12V
I bought my airbridge direct from Smartbridges - they have a web shop.

I have used mine all over the UK and the States and it gets a connection when my Centrino stands no chance. I stayed in a hotel near Hartlepool Marina and had a Square Mile connection for a whole week FOC. Beats the rip off hotel rates!!

 

[FWB]

I happened to have a 'tip' which fitted the Airbridge, so I can plug it directly into the boat's 12V supply. BUT, just like women, the Airbridge is Positive Earth !

 

[Gunfleet]

what a glorious website and set of links. I may never pay for broadband again!