wireless networks

TonyM · 09-03-2002, 11:07 PM

I live in a dorm at school and i get dsl internet, I have both a laptop and a desktop computer. But the thing is, very frequently I bring my laptop to class to tke notes etc. it would be nice to be able to connect to the internet during class(when the teacher gets boring). Anyone ever setup, know how to setup, or have a tutorial to set up a wlan. The furthest signal I would need would be about a 1000ft. I see these wireless internet stuff you can buy on the internet for your house, but im assuming those only go a couple hundred feet max. Any ideas?

Buster · 09-03-2002, 11:45 PM

It all boils down to the equipment you are willing to purchase. As far as the Access Point goes, don't go cheap if you want any usable distance. I use an Orinoco AP-2000, and am able to receive my signal several thousand feet (LOS) on my laptop without an antenna on the laptop. The laptop uses an Orinoc Silver wireless card. To send the signal this far I built an antenna using an old primstar satellite dish. (build it yourself: www.trevormarshall.com/biquad.htm ) This antenna is very directional, but provides alot of db gain. I also use a slotted waveguide antenna that provide an amazing omnidirectional signal. ( www.trevormarshall.com/waveguides.htm ) You can buy antennas that perform almost as good, but the price is high. I built the Dish for apx. $20 and the slotted waveguide for apx. $15 both not counting and cables. DO NOT go cheap on cables. I get mine from www.hyperlinktech.com The shorter the cable distance from antenna to AP, the less db loss. The access point will be the biggest expense, but can be the worst bottleneck as well. My neighbors linksys access point does not get near the distance using my same antennas. The Orinoco RG-1000 is a good AP to start with, apx. $200.
What you want to do can be done, but not with cheap equipment.

09-03-2002, 11:07 PM	#1
TonyM Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mount Prospect Posts: 78	wireless networks I live in a dorm at school and i get dsl internet, I have both a laptop and a desktop computer. But the thing is, very frequently I bring my laptop to class to tke notes etc. it would be nice to be able to connect to the internet during class(when the teacher gets boring). Anyone ever setup, know how to setup, or have a tutorial to set up a wlan. The furthest signal I would need would be about a 1000ft. I see these wireless internet stuff you can buy on the internet for your house, but im assuming those only go a couple hundred feet max. Any ideas?

09-03-2002, 11:45 PM	#2
Buster Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: California Posts: 89	It all boils down to the equipment you are willing to purchase. As far as the Access Point goes, don't go cheap if you want any usable distance. I use an Orinoco AP-2000, and am able to receive my signal several thousand feet (LOS) on my laptop without an antenna on the laptop. The laptop uses an Orinoc Silver wireless card. To send the signal this far I built an antenna using an old primstar satellite dish. (build it yourself: www.trevormarshall.com/biquad.htm ) This antenna is very directional, but provides alot of db gain. I also use a slotted waveguide antenna that provide an amazing omnidirectional signal. ( www.trevormarshall.com/waveguides.htm ) You can buy antennas that perform almost as good, but the price is high. I built the Dish for apx. $20 and the slotted waveguide for apx. $15 both not counting and cables. DO NOT go cheap on cables. I get mine from www.hyperlinktech.com The shorter the cable distance from antenna to AP, the less db loss. The access point will be the biggest expense, but can be the worst bottleneck as well. My neighbors linksys access point does not get near the distance using my same antennas. The Orinoco RG-1000 is a good AP to start with, apx. $200. What you want to do can be done, but not with cheap equipment.

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