Wi-FI reception

[bglewis]

Has anyone found anything that improves reception of WI-FI signals to a laptop, antenna, etc. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has experienced off and on Wi-FI service at RV parks.

[JimElliott]

Bernie, I got rid of my "wi-fi" frustrations with the Sprint aircard along with the good trucker antenna and the Wilson amp.....
Got dang tired with the up/down service plus the daily cost which would range $2.00 per day and up....

Jim

[RickO]

I'm with Jim, except we've gone with Verizon. We've had great luck with it while putting on 20,000 miles over 16 states. I've just upgraded from the PC card to the USB modem and matched it with a Cradlepoint wireless router. Now we have our own WiFi network in the coach. We connect a laptop, a netbook, a Wii game station, and Directv video on demand all through our wireless network. It's great.

My next step is to get a trucker's antenna to connect to the USB modem in weak signal areas. You might want to check out Verizon's deal on their MiFi. It's a very small, portable wireless router with a built in broadband modem. This will do the same thing as my current set up but without the ability to use an external antenna.

Good Luck.

[JimElliott]

Thanks Rick, Right now my setup is the "Wilson trucker antenna" along with the "801245" amp and the small flat antenna that sends the signal to the outside of the RV....595U is my card also, Found out Sprint was not REV-A in Havasu city but it chugged along fine.
I looked at the 801201 but the 801245 does a better job (IMHO)

Jim

[Gary RVRoamer]

You can get a more powerful wifi device, e.g. an Engenius EB-362 or a Hawking. Either of those will out-range your typical wifi adapter or the built-in on a laptop by a factor of at least 2x.

Keenan Systems Wireless Store Featuring Engenius

[bglewis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Roamer [Gary] You can get a more powerful wifi device, e.g. an Engenius EB-362 or a Hawking. Either of those will out-range your typical wifi adapter or the built-in on a laptop by a factor of at least 2x. Keenan Systems Wireless Store Featuring Engenius

Thanks for the info.

I have a Toshiba laptop running Vista. Use it in my Motorhome. Have you personally used htese units?

Bernie

[wa8yxm]

Most laptops the antenna and it's connections are where you more or less can't get at it, as it happens I know where they are on this one cause we attacked the question with screwdrivers

However an EXTERNAL Wi-Fi adapter, either a USB adapter or a Game Adapter, with the proper extension cables can be set up some distance from the computer,

This improves WI-Fi reception because: Computers are rather "noisy" radio wise, and 2: you can place the adapter in a "high gain" configuration (By various means) Many of the external adapters also have detachable antennas which can be replaced with a high gain antenna.

Wi-fi ranges are normally measured in feet... Some expermenters have done miles by using the proper antennas and no other changes

Google "Amature Logic Television" and view Episode 3 where they modify a LInksys game adapter

I do not suggest doing the antenna modification on the first try

(But I have not done it yet

Another trick is to tape/secure the Game Adapter so the antenna is right in front of the plastic "Hockey puck" on a satellite dish and then aim it about 15 degrees BELOW the router antenna (The actuall aiming point is higher than you think) The bigger the dish, the higher the gain by the way

I recommend use of a game adapter here because.. You can run CAT-5 a lot farther than USB extension cables

[Gary RVRoamer]

Quote:

Have you personally used htese units?

I have used Engenius wifi adapters for about 5 years and currently have the EUB 362 with an external antenna. I use it when the built-in doesn't do the job. Friends have various Hawking models and swear by them as well. The Hawking is a directional antenna and has to be aimed at the source, while the Engenious is omni-directional.

[Ray,IN]

I use an EnGenius USB adapter also - EnGenius Datacom Products
The cost about $70 now I think. I've used it for two years now with no complaints. If your computer detects a wifi signal, but can't connect reliably, the USB adapter nearly doubles the signal strength. The 2Ghz signal doesn't penetrate metal much, so sitting the USB adapter in a window really boosts the signal.
Sorry, I forgot about the Vista question. My older model(XP drivers) has a new driver for Vista that may be downloaded from that website. The problem is, Vista takes over and limits signal strength, so any gain in negated by Vista. Hopefully this is worked out now. My experience was last May.

[bglewis]

Gary,

Thanks for the info. The next person who replied says this adapter may not work well with my Vista running laptop. Do you use Vista of another operating system?

Bernie

[Daveo0o]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickO I'm with Jim, except we've gone with Verizon. We've had great luck with it while putting on 20,000 miles over 16 states. I've just upgraded from the PC card to the USB modem and matched it with a Cradlepoint wireless router. Now we have our own WiFi network in the coach. We connect a laptop, a netbook, a Wii game station, and Directv video on demand all through our wireless network. It's great. My next step is to get a trucker's antenna to connect to the USB modem in weak signal areas. You might want to check out Verizon's deal on their MiFi. It's a very small, portable wireless router with a built in broadband modem. This will do the same thing as my current set up but without the ability to use an external antenna. Good Luck.

Very similar setup with Cradlepoint 802.11g wireless router and 595U USB modem on Verizon. We use an external antenna on the USB modem to improve reception. This setup is reliable and we love the way it just works. No surprises.

[Gary RVRoamer]

I have one Vista system and two XP systems and haven't used the Engenius on the Vista yet. I don't know how Vista could "limit the signal strength", though. Only the device driver could do that, as far as I know.

[bglewis]

Gary,

Thanks for the response. Is it possible for you to try the Engenious on the Vista laptop for a comparison?

Sounds like the adapter would be fine for me if it works the same with Vista.

Bernie

[bglewis]

Sounds like you have a good system, however, we are only gone "down south" for two or three month in the winter so going the Verison route is not really cost effective for us.

Bernie