(regular)

29/06/2008 00:13

Wifi Antenna

I know you can buy a wifi antenna that will allow you to pick up a signal from a good distance away.
I think i read on here up to 3kms.

I cant remember what they are called or where to get them from?
Also i seem to remember that they are very directional so do they come with some sort of mounting bracket which will swivel?
Or do you have to make that bit yourself?

any help would be appreciated

Rob

sarabande

(regular)

29/06/2008 00:32

Re: Wifi Antenna

try
http://www.wifispark.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=123&Itemid=153

I can pick up stations at least 5k away.

Their support is very good, too.

BrendanS

(regular)

29/06/2008 00:35

Re: Wifi Antenna

Your response require here then

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1910005/an/0/page/0#1910005

JeremyShaw

(regular)

29/06/2008 10:22

Re: Wifi Antenna

I see the Repeatit, linked by Sarabande, is a directional antenna. This may be a problem at a mooring or anchor, though would be fine in a marina.

The Radio Labs Wave RV II is omnidirectional and has a USB connector. This is constrained to the usual USB limit of 15’ (though maybe more with a booster?). Personally I had problems with the RV I but I know several people who are very happy with them. Don’t know if there is a UK distributor, but you could probably get it shipped from the US – it doesn’t weigh much. http://www.radiolabs.com/products/wireless/waverv2.php

david_brighton

(regular)

29/06/2008 10:46

Re: Wifi Antenna

They look great but anyone know which one works with Mac OSX?

JeremyShaw

(regular)

29/06/2008 12:35

Re: Wifi Antenna

I see Radio Labs are now doing the Wave Magnum and say that works with Mac OS 10.3 and 10.4.

rolygate

(new user)

29/06/2008 17:37

Re: Wifi Antenna

There are cheap and expensive options. If you need long range or painless operation, buy a commercial system. If you just have a basic requirement and/or funds are low, then you might find this a better solution as it's a home-brew wifi cantenna microwave waveguide antenna that costs around Ł5:
http://www.pelaginox.com/pc/pc-cantenna.html

I'm a radio guy so the theory, formulae and practical stuff are all pukka. I get half a mile range with this cantenna on my boat, just to the normal sort of base units owned by unknowing but cooperative DSL subscribers. You can get double the gain if you want to try harder, with a bi-quad woktenna... And for 3 times the gain, get an old satellite dish and change the little active element in the centre. Heaps of fun for very little cash.

chris

ForeverFreedom38

(regular)

29/06/2008 17:48

Re: Wifi Antenna

Yes - we use it - no problem - you have to ask for the Mac software though.

david_brighton

(regular)

30/06/2008 09:19

Re: Wifi Antenna

Thnx for that, just ordered one. Trying to keep my daughter happy onboard!

NathanLee

(regular)

30/06/2008 09:41

Re: Wifi Antenna

3km from wi-fi is unlikely, although possible, but not on a boat.

From 5 watts of output on a marine hand held radio you can expect about 5/6 miles line of sight, right. The output of a wifi device for a computer, whether it's internal or external is about 50mw, also it's microwave to so doesn't propagate well at all.

The only way you can get that kind of range from wifi is to use an extremely directional antenna. This is to focus the 50mof power into a fine beam rather than radiating it everywhere. the problem with this is you must maintain line of sight, and with an antenna as directional as the kind required to achieve that sort of range you would struggle very much to keep the connection as your boat rolls around.

The best solution for internet access is probably going to be one of these phone dongles. They're about 15 quid a month.

david_brighton

(regular)

30/06/2008 12:02

Re: Wifi Antenna

I asked at the 3 shop, but it would be prohibitively expensive in Croatia.
Altho very cheap in Italy, where there is a 3 network.

Wightknight

(regular)

30/06/2008 19:08

Re: Wifi Antenna

I have a Wave RV antenna that is just great, its omidirectional with a gain of about 8db. I have picked up hot spots over 2 mines away whilst sailing past them... Im using it now to browse the web.
You can get the antenna from Budget Marine in St Martin for about $200

hideaway

(regular)

02/07/2008 03:11

Re: Wifi Antenna

I have a unit called ALFA which I got on-line from Allied Data for $65. It is an antenna, coax to card (3x2x1/4),usb to laptop usb.The CD has drivers for Windows and Mac, the range is at least 1/2mile (line of sight) and it is Omni. I hoist the antenna on the backstay and keep the card in the saloon, it dont seem to make a difference how high the antenna is however it will drop its single from time to time. Retuning takes seconds and away we go again for days. All the people who have seen the unit working have got themselves one. Free WiFi is the norm here in Florida, houses are large and most have routers so they can get on-line at the pool etc.Give it a look , all the best. Peter

Metabarca

(regular)

02/07/2008 09:06

Re: Wifi Antenna

Let me know how you get on, David!

Amari

(regular)

02/07/2008 10:21

Re: Wifi Antenna

I use a Repeatit in Turkey. Limited experience so far but it strengthens marina wifi signals from 'poor' to 'excellent'. I use the laptop on saloon table and put the Repeatit through saloon hatch and change its direction by hand.
Couldn't get it to work until help-line advised me to disable my laptop's integral wifi

Lemain

(regular)

03/07/2008 13:06

Re: Wifi Antenna

That's my experience. Repeatit has been a good choice for us but is directional and does need to be turned.

charles_reed

(regular)

04/07/2008 09:57

It is

of course, illegal to use someone else's ADSL connection without their agreement and at least two successful prosecutions have been made in London.

So, Rolygate, I would be wary of incitement to commit a criminal offence.

rolygate

(new user)

04/07/2008 10:16

Re: It is

I think it unwise to take light-hearted forum jocularity too seriously, perhaps a little sense of humour failure here. On the other hand it is encouraging to see that one's posts are read with extreme attention to detail, though a little worrying.

Lemain

(regular)

04/07/2008 10:58

Re: It is

Quote:

of course, illegal to use someone else's ADSL connection without their agreement and at least two successful prosecutions have been made in London.

So, Rolygate, I would be wary of incitement to commit a criminal offence.

I don't think that it is illegal in Spain. Is it in other EU countries?

Metabarca

(regular)

04/07/2008 11:44

Re: It is

Sure to be illegal in Italy: if you log on to a public wifi network (using your laptop in a bar, for instance, the bar has to take down your particulars). An extremely useful bit of anti-terrorist legislation. they must be trembling

Lemain

(regular)

04/07/2008 13:12

Re: It is

I wonder how they know that you have logged onto their network? People with a laptop might be connecting via their GPRS/3G service or working off-line. Isn't it rather dangerous to empower bar staff in cafes to take 'particulars' from customers willy-nilly? More of a pro-crime intiative than an anti-terrorist one, I would think? Do cafes actually take these details down?

charles_reed

(regular)

04/07/2008 18:10

Indeed they do

and few WiFi s are unencrypted - and even the unencrypted ones can and do reject un-logged computer DINs.

charles_reed

(regular)

04/07/2008 18:18

I'd agree about using 3G

I was buying 15Mb for the equivalent of Ł0.15, on a PAYG card, in Croatia last year.

Prices everywhere (except UK) are tumbling on data traffic.

And what about WiMax - though the latest news on it roll-out isn't so good.

By-the-by, the prosecutions to which I referred were in the UK - haven't heard about other countries

charles_reed

(regular)

04/07/2008 18:24

Croatia 3G

I was using DeutschTelekom's T-Mobile Simpa card.

3G coverage is limited - round Dubrovnik, Split and Pula, were the only places I found it and the outer islands were a dead loss.

ThereAndBack

(regular)

05/07/2008 15:22

Re: It is

Quote:

Do cafes actually take these details down?

They most certainly do - usually by taking a photocopy of the user's passport.

Metabarca

(regular)

07/07/2008 08:36

Re: It is

You need a password to log on, so it's simple. I've only used in one bar in Italy, and they simply asked me to jot down my details in a little notebook. This is an excellent example of knee-jerk reaction legislation, serving no purpose other than showing 'we're doing something'.

Lemain

(regular)

07/07/2008 09:55

Re: Wifi Antenna

Thanks. Of course what this is all about (in the UK, IT and elsewhere) is to allow 'authorised' officials to listen to all phone calls you make, emails you send and receive and records of all websites you have visited. That it is happening today shows how far we have gone along the lines of '1984' and just how disinterested is the man in the street who cannot see why he should be concerned about a total erosion of his privacy and freedom.

Very scary stuff, but it's far more scary that nobody is troubled by it! People should be outraged. All the talk about the Chinese and 'human rights' - what about the 'right' to enjoy private liaisons with others without being spied upon by Government?

Vanilla

(regular)

07/07/2008 21:34

Re: Wifi Antenna

Totally agree Lemain.

phlim

(regular)

14/07/2008 18:46

Re: Wifi Antenna

Google poor mans wifi

Got to say I didn't have much success with the wok basket...

Jonny_H

(regular)

15/07/2008 08:22

Re: Wifi Antenna

I've just bought one of these:

Hawking USB WiFi

Haven't used it in anger yet but at home it seems to pick up a lot more than just the laptop wifi does (trouble is most are encrypted!)

Jonny

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