cheap way to improve wireless reception.

[HONkUS]

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/837885/wifi_antenna_hack/

I want to try this!

[Methious]

I saw two other Wifi tricks that I actually tried and know work. One is to punch a 1/2 inch hole into the bottom of a metal colander, hot glue (or gorilla glue) a 802.11g wifi usb stick into the 1/2" drilled hole with the usb connector at the bottom of the colander, use a usb male to female cable to connect it and you have a directional wifi receiver with much improved range. I did it with junk from around the house (the colander I used was the collapsible type metal one) and went from no wifi to 2 wifi nets available (one a commercial truck stop net). Not that I'd ever hack a wifi net using "Lightning Storm" or some despicable hacker program like that (cough).

The colander idea set my last three brain cells on fire and I came up with this one on my own, I have an old huge Sat dish in the yard, one of the old EchoStar dishes, so I used the same premise, put the usb stick where the LNB used to be positioned, swiveled the dish to sweep for wifi, found 7 wifi nets. Pretty good considering I live 5 miles outside town. If you get as bored as I was give it a try, all I was out was 15 bucks for an 802.11g wifi stick I needed anyway. They have usb extenders that will extend the connection a pretty good distance these days (like inside to your easy chair LOL).

Wish I had known a while back cause I'm on wildblue now and woulda been a lot cheaper if I had.

[Sparky]

I'm going to have to give this video a try. Anybody out there tried it yet and what were your results?

[Darkstar]

It works

here is a detailed USB Antenna howto also

http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/

[stev]

This thread would be a good sticky under a Peripherals/Accessories section in the forums.

[FZ1]

I'm sure Ken will weigh in here...

[Darkstar]

Or maybe a Switch/router/wireless section?

[DMB2000uk]

Or maybe a Switch/router/wireless section?

I suggested a networking type one over here, so same difference

Dan

[Darkstar]

Or maybe a Switch/router/wireless section?

I suggested a networking type one over here, so same difference

Dan

good spot for it too!

[kenc51]

Or maybe a Switch/router/wireless section?

I suggested a networking type one over here, so same difference

Dan

good spot for it too!

I've wanted a networking section here for a long time!
Part of me secretly also doesn't want it though as I get enough networking stuff @ work.

Some people say "There's no place like 127.0.0.1" - For me, it's got the stage where "Networking is now 255.255.255.255"

[stev]

I've wanted a networking section here for a long time!
Part of me secretly also doesn't want it though as I get enough networking stuff @ work.

Did you just volunteer being the new moderator for the WIFI network forum?

[stev]

It works

here is a detailed USB Antenna howto also

http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/

The neighbors just tossed out a Dish Network setup. So, now I have a really nice light weight dish with the adjustable mount and mounting arm.


Belkin sells a USB wireless-N at Wal*Mart for about $70+tax.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... id=6339405

or the

Belkin sells a USB wireless-G for about $30+tax.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... id=3756936

Hey! those prices are good compared to even NewEgg right now.

Looking at the NZ website, the plastic baby bottle covering would be ideal for the USB device.

[DMB2000uk]

Wow, nice find.

What size is that dish? And how much gain do you think it'd give?

Dan

[Methious]

I don't know about that dish but when I play with the 5 foot dish (old EchoStar) I pick up the truck stop wifi from 2 miles away with enough signal strength to reliably connect. (40 to 50%) My better half is the book keeper there so once in a while I crack it and send her errr you get the idea.

[dicecca112]

Or maybe a Switch/router/wireless section?

I suggested a networking type one over here, so same difference

Dan

good spot for it too!

I'm working on it, just waiting for the OK from Nate to do it.

[stev]

Wow, nice find.

What size is that dish? And how much gain do you think it'd give?

Dan

Well, the dish itself is a commercial 600mm (23.62-in) as you can see in the posted picture in my last post. According to the NZ website, a solid dish will out perform a wired mesh dish. However, the solid dishes are prone to wind problems if not permanently mounted.

This dish has the ability of reaching an amazing ~24dB gain while connecting to WiFi up to ~10km (6.21miles) away.

The longest USB cable to use is about 5m (16.4-ft). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB#Cables

Methious, how long of a USB cable are you using???

[DMB2000uk]

lol, i read that as 600cm first time round >_<

60cm is still a pretty nice size for the wifi-dish setup ^_^

You can get active repeater USB cables, and if you have passive 5ft to active (say 5ft again) and so on then you can route it pretty far.

Dan

[Darkstar]

another cheap one is the Pringles can antenna or the "cantenna"

http://www.seattlewireless.net/Pringles ... antenna%29

[Methious]

I'm running active repeater cable about 24 feet, to an old laptop I was given with a dead screen, then I share it's connection. I think the total cost was 30 bucks, most of the stuff was gimme and trade from a local computer shop I do some repairs for.

I'm working up repair credit for a Gateway 36 inch monitor to play with right now. Would be great to sit back in the recliner and game.