WiFi Help

[captjohn360]

where can i find a usb to coax a adaptor for a wifi antenna....jt

[Sunspot Baby]

Do you not have a usb port on the comuter?
George

captjohn, you have my attention. I am not sure where you could find such a device, but on a hunch, are you trying to add an external antenna to an internal wireless card? If so, I did not think this was possible, please let me know what you find out so I can do the same.

[benjiwoodboat]

I have a system that works, although its a little combersome. I have a common Linkys wrt router flashed with 3rd party firmware: dd-wrt, which turns the router into a reciever, rather then broadcaster. I've attached this to a variety of antennas. Currently I use a very common 7dbi booster antenna. However I jsut ordered a 15dbi omni antenna. Ive also used a 12dbi directional antenna called a cantenna. Works great on a dock, but poorly on the hook, as its highly directional. Ill try and get a picture of my set up and post it to my blog when i get the 15dbi omni directional antenna hooked up in a permanent installtion. Oh and I connect my computer to the router via a regular ethernet cable.

These guys sell a bunch of antenna's and pre-made systems for marine/RV usage: radiolabs which is where i ordered my 15dbi omni from.

Along those same lines, you can purchase a wireless bridge that will hardwire to the linksys. The wireless bridge can be hooked to the hi gain verticle antenna, then the linksys connects the internal wireless card to the wireless bridge. This alos allows several computers to use the same wireless account if it is a secured account.

[hellosailor]

John, there's a "USB A" but no such thing as a "coax a" fitting. USB wiring is never connected to coax cable, it is unsuitable in electronic properties.

What exactly are you trying to connect up??

[Sunspot Baby]

here is a lot of information available on building directional external wi-fi antennas on the internet (see http://www.freeantennas.com). If you want to go a little more up scale check out Baltimore Wireless/Wi-Fi Provider

George

[Zeus]

Ben,

So your set up basically amplifies any signals that may be in the area? Is this setup all contained within your cabin or can you mount the "receiver up higher, say 10-12' up your mast, which I would imagine will improve the signal? Please do post a pic.
zeus

[sv_makai]

The only way to attach an external antenna is to open the card and install a connector or buy one that already has the connector port for an external antenna.

My setup was easy to build, inexpensive andworks great. A 200 mw Engenius EUB362 with external antenna ($54) and added the MFJ-1800 2.4 GHz WiFi 15dBi Yagi Antenna ($29). Slid everything into a 3 inch PVC tube sealed the ends and ran a 15 foot usb cable.

Most wifi cards in/ext have only 40mw so you gain in the power side and with the 15db gain yagi you boost the effective signal. We realiably get strong clear fast signals from a mile and half and greater.

Even a high gain omni antenna placed higher up will improve the signal strength. The setup can be permaently mounted or temp as in our case.

[Ram]

Hi Bill
You mean , you can connect it right in your usb port, and that powers it also ?
I have internal wireless card in my laptop without an external hookup

[sv_makai]

Exactly. Very few internal wifi cards have external ports. I actually can't remember the last time I saw one.

This setup is is easy, flexible, and inexpensive. the unit is only about 1 1/2 inches sq and maybe 3/8 thick. It comes with a omni 2 db dipole stick. With cable the antenna can be extended up and away or in my case I attached the yagi to really max the gain.

About the only time I ever use an internal card is when I am in a internet cafe. Even then I use an external so I don't have to be teathered to the cafe.

[captjohn360]

thanks for all the info i got it....jt

[highseas]

Another vote for the Alfa 500mw usb adapter,with the Engenius 2408 omni antenna.

[TikiCat]

I see some insecure sites and can connect with them, but when I try to open a browser to go to the internet I get this: "The CradlePoint MBR-1000 could not find an attached WAN device. Please connect a WAN device and try again." I have no idea why it's looking for a WAN device. That's like a cell phone modem, I believe, and nothing to do with WiFi (I think). Searching the web shows many hits on this error message but no site I've been to had any answers. Anyone here see this and know how to deal with it? Thanks.

[Sunspot Baby]

Check your Internet options. It could be that it is trying to dial up.

In your browser (assuming IE) click tools, Internet options, connections, the click the never dial up box.

This is only a guess but seems possible.

It is also possible that you are into the router/network but they aren't hooked to the Internet at the time. That happens to be occasionally when I am playing broadband bandit and accessing an unsecured network.

George