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wifi improvement

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Skip Gundlach - 31 Mar 2005 16:30 GMT
I'm looking for experience with external antenna solutions to very flaky
wifi access on the boat.  There's every sort of hub range improver (get your
signal out to others better) but I don't see much, if anything of the other
way around.

Topsides, the range is only flaky, but at least I can pull and send stuff,
albeit I have to choose my moments.  However, the screen is invisible in
anything between dawn and dusk and the keyboard is invisible in the dark,
limiting me severely in timing/scheduling.

So, I'd like to be able to go below, where there's no reception, not to
mention, protection from the elements.

Who's used what (up the mast isn't what I had in mind, though if it made
sense (I can't imagine it would, financially), I'd look at that) in the line
of plug-in remote antennas?

I've lost the link, but I saw something which was an antenna for those
laptops without wifi, on some unknown length of USB lead; one can buy
"active" USB extensions for not too much, which I assume would make it
feasible for me to put the antenna out the hatch while I'm at the nav, for
example...

Thanks for any real-world experience...

L8R

Skip

Signature

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig
http://tinyurl.com/384p2

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail
away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.
Dream. Discover."   - Mark Twain

Glen - 31 Mar 2005 17:06 GMT
On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 10:30:43 -0500, "Skip Gundlach" <skipgundlach sez
use my name at earthlink dot fishcatcher (net) - with apologies for
the spamtrap> wrote:

>I'm looking for experience with external antenna solutions to very flaky
>wifi access on the boat.  There's every sort of hub range improver (get your
>signal out to others better) but I don't see much, if anything of the other
>way around.
One solution is to use  a wifi pcmcia card that allows external
antennas.  I use the Orinoco Gold Classic now marketed by Agere.  When
I bought it, it was one of the very few cards supported by
Netstumbler, which I wanted to play with.  Now there are a fair
number, but I'm satisfied with the Orinoco.  Pretty old technology
now, though.  Probably not up to date with the latest security
improvements.  It does support an external antenna; few do.  Without
an antenna, your range is variable, typically from a hundred feet to a
few hundred yards.  

As for antennae, many people recommend what are called "Cantennas"
about the size and shape of a Pringles can.  The original model
actually was a Pringles can.  These are yagis, with some wave guide
types, that look very similar and seem to have similar specs and are
widely available on Ebay.  These are OK in the slip, but useless at
anchor.  They are highly directional, with only about a 30-45 degree
beam spread.  They claim 12-17 db gain.  There are omni directional
whips made for car use and boast about 7 db gain, with a magnetic
base.  I recently saw a 4 ft pole-mount whip omni antenna that claims
12 db gain.  I haven't actually tried any of these antennae yet, I'm
still in research mode.  802.11b and 802.11g use the same antenna.
802.11a uses a different frequency, but you won't  see many 802.11a
networks.

The tricky part are the connectors.  Each antenna has a connector
(commonly N type), each card has a connector (varies by brand, with MC
type perhaps being most commonly seen in the field.)  They are seldom
compatible.  The antenna vendors offer pigtails for the conversion.
The typical pigtail is about 5 feet long.  This is not acceptable for
boat use, IMHO.  First 5 feet is not long enough, but the cable
normally used is fairly high loss.  I don't have the specs onhand, but
if you need a longer cable, research low loss cables.  Don't just
daisy chain a couple of 5 footers.  Also, the connectors on many cards
are notoriously unreliable.  They wear a bit every time you remove and
replace the cable, sometimes needing repair or replacement after about
20 uses.  One solution is to buy a short (1 foot) pigtail and "glue"
it to the card with silicone.  Then use whatever length of low loss
cable you need to get to the antenna.

Hope this helps;

Glen
____________________________________________________________
Glen "Wiley" Wilson  <usenet1  SPAMNIX at world wide wiley dot com>
To reply, lose the capitals and do the obvious.

Take a look at cpRepeater, my NMEA data integrator, repeater, and
logger at http://www.worldwidewiley.com/
Rosalie B. - 31 Mar 2005 17:34 GMT
"Skip Gundlach" <skipgundlach sez use my name at earthlink dot
fishcatcher (net) - with apologies for the spamtrap> wrote:

>I'm looking for experience with external antenna solutions to very flaky
>wifi access on the boat.  There's every sort of hub range improver (get your
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>anything between dawn and dusk and the keyboard is invisible in the dark,
>limiting me severely in timing/scheduling.

It would be easier IMHO for you to learn to touch type for at night.
Since the screen is visible, you can see if you make a mistake.  Or
clip a battery operated light onto the screen if touch typing is too
hard for you.

And  put a hood over the screen for daytime.  Our PC is in a box in
the cockpit (made of marine plywood and faced with that counter
material (melamine or something like that) which he had left over from
another project.   We have it set up that way so we can use the
navigation software on it in lieu of a chart-plotter.   I can't type
on it very well like that because it is awkwardly positioned, but your
box doesn't have to be made of plywood and installed permanently.  A
cardboard box would do.

>So, I'd like to be able to go below, where there's no reception, not to
>mention, protection from the elements.

I have used wifi on the boat, and sometimes, after I've logged on the
first couple of times, and gotten the PC 'used to it', it will also
connect in the cabin. Places where I have connected in the cabin
include Deltaville and Charleston Harbor Marina.  I just refuse to
accept that I can't be more comfortable.

It often says the signal is weak, but it doesn't seem to make any real
difference.  I have my own wireless set-up for the house, and the
computer will tell me that the signal strength is low or that the
signal strength is very good at different times even though neither I
nor the wifi have moved.  I don't know why.  

You do have to have some kind of signal at the boat for this to work.
I've also been places where there was a wi-fi, but it was restricted
to the office of the marina and/or the deck outside, and I couldn't
get the signal at the dock, let alone the boat.  This is the case at
the Bellhaven Waterway Marina, and the Oriental Marina.

>Who's used what (up the mast isn't what I had in mind, though if it made
>sense (I can't imagine it would, financially), I'd look at that) in the line
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
>Skip

grandma Rosalie
RW Salnick - 31 Mar 2005 17:56 GMT
Skip -

I have been thru several iterations.  My recommendations:

1.  Get a 200 mw wifi PCMCIA card, instead of the standard 30 mw card.
SMC used to make one - don't know who else does.  The SMC card is set up
for both internal and external antenna.

2.  Get an external antenna.  I use a 5 db gain stacked vertical:
   http://www.fab-corp.com/  (look down the page for the 5.5 db gain with
   the MMCX connector - this fits the SMC card) - costs $11

3.  Add a reflector.  This one is cheap, easy to build, and _very_
   effective: http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template/.  It can be
   built with much more gain than a cantenna.  My first version I made
   from cardboard with aluminum foil taped over it  - took about 15
   minutes to build, and gave approx 18 db gain above the 5 db stacked
   vertical.  Having proved the concept, I have a more permanent version
   now ;^)

bob
s/v Eolian, DE45 #11
Seattle

On Thu, 31 Mar 2005, it was written:

> I'm looking for experience with external antenna solutions to very flaky
> wifi access on the boat.  There's every sort of hub range improver (get your
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
> away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.
> Dream. Discover."   - Mark Twain
Vito - 31 Mar 2005 19:12 GMT
> I'm looking for experience with external antenna solutions

http://www.jefatech.com/   (Temporarily closed)

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

http://flakey.info/antenna/waveguide/#list_of_tins
jeannette - 31 Mar 2005 19:23 GMT
On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 10:30:43 -0500, "Skip Gundlach" <skipgundlach sez
use my name at earthlink dot fishcatcher (net) - with apologies for
the spamtrap> wrote:

>I'm looking for experience with external antenna solutions to very flaky
>wifi access on the boat.  There's every sort of hub range improver (get your
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
>Skip

I use this Linksys USB wifi adapter. You can put a pretty long usb
cord on it. Works great for me.

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=36&scid=44&prid=435

Jeannette
aa6jh
Bristol 32, Puerto Escondido
http://www.eblw.com/contepartiro/contepartiro.html
dazed and confuzzed - 01 Apr 2005 00:22 GMT
> I'm looking for experience with external antenna solutions to very flaky
> wifi access on the boat.  There's every sort of hub range improver (get your
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>
> Skip

For another avenue, try Verizon's "AirCard". THeir service is excellent,
and works anywhere there is Verizon cell service (nearly).

Signature

The constitution promises freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM
religion. Think about it, It ain't that hard to figure out. If your
religion is none, then deal with it.

I strongly urge everyone reading this to check out WWW.anysoldier.com,
and support our troops with a letter, a package or a donation.

Larry W4CSC - 01 Apr 2005 02:10 GMT
> I'm looking for experience with external antenna solutions to very
> flaky wifi access on the boat.  There's every sort of hub range
> improver (get your signal out to others better) but I don't see much,
> if anything of the other way around.

Here, have some fun while you're playing with it....

http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448

My wireless router is 50' up a tree inside an inverted plastic bucket to
keep it out of the rain.  It's a Netgear with diversity antennas and
receiver.  The boys on the air force base enlisted housing about a mile
away get great access to it with the Pringles Antenna featured in this
article.  There's several Pringles Antennas on the roof over there.

It's what I do to "support our troops"...(c;

Here's lots more antennas for your wireless routers:
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html

The Pringles Antenna is a sharp little "beam", which is great because in a
city environment where there are lots of competing wireless signals, you
can POINT it at the node you want to hear, and it reject very well all the
nodes it's not pointed to.  The added 12 dB gain for your miserable little,
FCC-hobbled transmitter gives your output signal to that node a real boost,
too!

Remember - ALTITUDE IS OUR FRIEND on microwave frequencies like 2400 Mhz.  
It's why the telephone company's microwave antennas were way up a tall
tower!
Casey Jones - 01 Apr 2005 15:54 GMT
> I'm looking for experience with external antenna solutions to very flaky
> wifi access on the boat.  There's every sort of hub range improver (get your
> signal out to others better) but I don't see much, if anything of the other
> way around.

I use Broadband Express here in the Northwest and Canada.  I bought
their P{CMIA card as well as there omni directional antenna and have
received signals over half a mile away.  Works great and I can almost
always get a signal if I anchor in populated harbors.
http://www.bbxpress.net

Casey Jones
s/v Baba 35
lying Eagle Harbor, WA
Johnhh - 02 Apr 2005 20:34 GMT
I recently upgraded from their PCMCIA cart and interior antennae to the
networked boat solution because I needed the altitude of an exterior
antennae and to get away from that fragile jack on the card.  The system
works outstandingly for me, but both the price (even at big discount) and
the documentation are ludicrous.

john

>> I'm looking for experience with external antenna solutions to very
> flaky
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> s/v Baba 35
> lying Eagle Harbor, WA
Casey Jones - 01 Apr 2005 16:01 GMT
> I'm looking for experience with external antenna solutions to very flaky
> wifi access on the boat.  There's every sort of hub range improver (get your
> signal out to others better) but I don't see much, if anything of the other
> way around.

I use Broadband Express here in the Northwest and Canada.  I bought
their P{CMIA card as well as there omni directional antenna and have
received signals over half a mile away.  Works great and I can almost
always get a signal if I anchor in populated harbors.
http://www.bbxpress.net

Casey Jones
s/v Baba 35
lying Eagle Harbor, WA
thuss - 04 Apr 2005 04:48 GMT
I'd get a 200mW PCMCIA card and an external antenna. For Marine
Wireless http://www.marinewireless.us we use a 200mW Engenius card
http://www.keenansystems.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=6
with an external antenna. Granted we use it to transmit navigation data
wirelessly on large vessels but the reason we use that combo is for
it's strong signal and great reception.

-Todd

Free boat blogs: http://boatblogger.com
Patrick Wood - 07 Apr 2005 23:06 GMT
Take a look at this web site ..
http://bbxpress.net/
David Moore - 04 Apr 2005 20:18 GMT
Hi,

I went from being able to receive one access point with high packet loss to
receiving more than 20 solid high signal strength access points.

The problem with most wifi receivers is that their interface to your
computer is either pcmcia or usb. In both cases there is a severe limitation
to the height of your antenna.

My solution was to use a Netgear wifi bridge. This product has ethernet out
allowing the device with antenna to be elevated up to 300 feet. In my
application I simply installed the pcb of the bridge into a water proof nema
enclosure and hoisted it up to within 3 feet of the top of my mast. In a
standard ethernet cat 5 cable there are 8 wires and only 4 are used to make
a connection. I used the unused set of four to provide DC power to the
bridge. This therefore means that there is only one cable going to the
elevated box.

To my delight, the first time I powered up the elevated bridge I was able to
receive more than 20 access points.

This solution has worked so well for me that the next time I pull my mast I
plan to mount the nema enclosed wifi bridge perminately to the top of the
mast.

Hope this helps.
David

> I'm looking for experience with external antenna solutions to very flaky
> wifi access on the boat.  There's every sort of hub range improver (get
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> Skip
Skip Gundlach - 05 Apr 2005 03:29 GMT
Hi, David, and thanks for the post (left below).

Are you saying that you hoist an antenna which is also a bridge?  And that
the cat5 uses 2 sets of the twisted pairs, one for power and the other for
signal?

Where does the power and signal come from in your laptop/computer?  In my
case, the wifi is built into the computer.  I was hopeful of not having to
buy another card, carrying coals to Newcastle, so to speak...

Thanks.

L8R

Skip

Signature

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig
http://tinyurl.com/384p2

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail
away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.
Dream. Discover."   - Mark Twain

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> Hope this helps.
> David
David Moore - 07 Apr 2005 18:27 GMT
The solution I described will not use the wifi receiver internal to your
laptop due to the limitations I described in my earlier post. Instead will
use your laptop's Ethernet connection, which runs into a simple POE
interface box. (See the following url for the POE wiring instructions
http://www.nycwireless.net/poe/ ).

The input to this POE box is dc power and the Ethernet connection from your
computer. The DC power comes from the AP or Bridge supplied power adapter.
The output of the POE box is a cat-5 Ethernet cable spanning up to 300 feet
in length. This cable runs to your nema enclosure and now combines the DC
power and Ethernet.

If your access point or bridge is compatible with the IEEE 802.3af standard
one simply plugs the cat-5 cable into the AP or Bridge Ethernet connector.
If you do not have a compatible AP or Bridge one simply splits off the DC
power and wires it directly to the PCB's dc input power terminals.

This solution works equally well irrespective of the use of a desktop (
http://www.fantasia35.com/images/nav-1-03.jpg ) or laptop computer within
your vessel.

I hope this clarifies my wifi implementation strategy.

Regards,

David

> Hi, David, and thanks for the post (left below).
>
[quoted text clipped - 46 lines]
>> Hope this helps.
>> David
Skip Gundlach - 07 Apr 2005 21:02 GMT
Hi, David, and group(s),

> The solution I described will not use the wifi receiver internal to your
> laptop due to the limitations I described in my earlier post. Instead will
> use your laptop's Ethernet connection, which runs into a simple POE
> interface box. (See the following url for the POE wiring instructions
> http://www.nycwireless.net/poe/ ).

Thanks for the link.  Below, you may see why this might not be needed for my
setup.

> The input to this POE box is dc power and the Ethernet connection from your
> computer. The DC power comes from the AP or Bridge supplied power adapter.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> I hope this clarifies my wifi implementation strategy.

Indeed.  Are you up and running with it?  Do you have an antenna stick
mounted on the mast?

You may not recall, but the F35s were on our short list.  I recall seeing
your setup in the website until we actually got aboard one and found that we
were unable to adequately address the stern berth (see the forum archives
for discussion).  Your boat looks to be an absolutely marvelous example of
the type.

As much as might be achieved, I'm even, now, considering doing up-the-mast
with a cat5 (or any other 12V) feed to a bridge in a waterproof (NEMA) box,
thence to an external antenna
http://www.keenansystems.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?Path=1&products_id=8
&osCsid=36992a4886cc5198941401cfa1d316d4


and

http://www.keenansystems.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=19&osCsi
d=36992a4886cc5198941401cfa1d316d4

an 8.5 dB gain antenna atop the mast just above the box.

There's some potential for a couple of miles, and the added enhancement of
our ability to use our laptop ashore, communicating with the boat, or, of
course, both the nav and topsides (the one we'd carry ashore, if we had to)
computers  on at the same time if we cared to do so.

I'm also looking into fab-corp.com products as potentially having more gain
in the antenna portions.  They may also have some bridge solutions, but I
have not yet had a response to my query about their total solution ideas.

However, as attractive as cat5 is for getting signal up the mast, it makes
me tied to the boat as I understand your setup.  For that reason, I don't
know that I'd pursue that.  *IF* - maybe a big "if" - I can make this work,
I'd be able to see that bridge from anywhere on or even pretty far away from
the boat, with either of the two laptops (one "shoreside use" and other "nav
use" we expect to have aboard.  So, aboard could be in communication with
shoreside via IM, for example, or, better (for our circumstances), we could
be in communication with anyone in the world via VOiP.  My current carrier,
Vonage, has a "softphone" feature which is in the computer; tying in with a
headset/mike combo makes for better sound than the speaker and built-in
mike.  If we had a reliable connection, we could be on the phone anywhere we
had access, something which is *very* attractive to Lydia, who has 4"
Stainless Steel Hawsers for apron strings...

Back to the cat5, though, if you look at the URLs for Keenan, I'm wondering
if what you're saying is that one uses cat5 to get signal to the masthead,
and powering the bridge is a coincidence of the cat5 connection from the
comptuter.  Might one power a wireless bridge  (which would then see my
laptop sitting on the boat somewhere) and put the signal up the mast to the
antenna at the top?  I'd sure rather have the bridge below than in a NEMA
box at the top...

Thanks again for the input (all who have contributed, too!).

L8R

Skip, refitting as fast as I can...

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig
http://tinyurl.com/384p2

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail
away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.
Dream. Discover."   - Mark Twain
David Moore - 08 Apr 2005 03:21 GMT
Skip,
Yes, I remember your earlier search for a cruising sailboat and your
consideration of the Fantasia 35. I am happy to hear that you have selected
and purchased a vessel and indeed are well underway with your refit. It's
too bad you couldn't fit into the aft skippers bunk. I am confident that
with your enthusiasm, you would have been a regular on the Fantasia 35 forum
http://www.fantasia35.com/disc5_toc.htm
My wifi system is fully operational however it is temporally installed. The
Wifi Bridge is installed in a nema enclosure and hoisted to near the top of
the mast. http://www.fantasia35.com/images/wifi-22.jpg  A permanent
installation shall be completed the next time I pull the mast. The POE
interface box is mounted below and near the computer. (
http://www.fantasia35.com/images/wifi-05.jpg )
The key factor regarding the decision to mount the bridge near the top of
the mast relates to the fact that at the 2.4 GHz frequency of the 802.11g
wifi bridge, a significant signal loss in the transmit and receive modes
will be experienced with a transmission line in the 60 foot range. When one
compares the losses found in a standard Wifi access point with an integrated
antenna the total cable loss values may be considered zero. This is because
the antenna attached to the access point is about 1 inch from the
transceiver.

If I understand your intentions, you plan to install a high gain mast top
802.11g antenna and locate the bridge or access point down below. You
therefore will be forced to use a coax cable at least 60 feet in length and
will therefore experience significant signal losses. These cable losses
reduce the signal energy between the radio base station and the antenna. For
example a low loss antenna cable has a loss of 0.23 dB per foot at 2.4 GHz.
Standard loss cable is often closer to 1 dB per foot. For cable runs less
than roughly 10 feet the default value of 3 dB can be used assuming you are
using a top quality (and expensive) coaxial cable type.
The bottom line here is why use a coaxial cable where significant signal
losses will be present versus using a cat-5 cable to achieve the desired
antenna height. The theory supporting the significant signal loss at 2.4 GHz
over a 60-foot coaxial cable is as follows. The electrical resistance is in
a cable is the result of opposition to the movement of electrons. The power
output of a cable can be derived from Ohm's and Watt's laws when the voltage
is not alternating (DC current.) When a signal is alternating (at, for
example, 2.4 GHz) the moving electrons tend to push away from the core of
the conducting cable and move towards the outside of the cable. This is
called the skin effect. In essence, it's as though the cable had less
cross-sectional area than the area that is actually present. Skin effect
causes the current to occupy a smaller cross-sectional area. Consequently,
the relative resistance to current flow is greater for alternating current
than for direct current.

> Hi, David, and group(s),
>
[quoted text clipped - 108 lines]
> away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.
> Dream. Discover."   - Mark Twain
Skip Gundlach - 08 Apr 2005 13:38 GMT
Hi, David, and group(s),

> If I understand your intentions, you plan to install a high gain mast top
> 802.11g antenna and locate the bridge or access point down below. You

No...

I'm thinking in terms of mounting the bridge in a NEMA enclosure, feeding it
voltage from below, and using it to feed a 1' or less coax attached to the
antenna.

(> > As much as might be achieved, I'm even, now, considering doing
up-the-mast
> > with a cat5 (or any other 12V) feed to a bridge in a waterproof (NEMA)
> > box,
> > thence to an external antenna

http://www.keenansystems.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?Path=1&products_id=8
&osCsid=36992a4886cc5198941401cfa1d316d4


> > and

http://www.keenansystems.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=19&osCsi
d=36992a4886cc5198941401cfa1d316d4

> > an 8.5 dB gain antenna atop the mast just above the box.
> >)

Just where to mount the antenna is still up in the air (so to speak), as the
specs call for a 2" mast; I'd originally thought to put it on the NEMA box
top, keeping the coax inside, too.

However, it may be that a flush mount base isn't possible, in which case I'd
have to consider other means.  A 2" pole on the side of the mast isn't an
attractive thought, let alone an attractive sight!

> therefore will be forced to use a coax cable at least 60 feet in length and
> will therefore experience significant signal losses. These cable losses

Yah, I know, which is why I don't want to do that...

The thought (maybe as unattainable as perpetual motion) was to provide much
greater reception on the boat, and have a repeater as a side benefit.  OTOH,
still researching, thus not knowing the answer, if my laptop can't see the
up-the-mast antenna/repeater from the deck or below, I'm still stuck with
getting a signal below, somehow.

However, with all that gain, perhaps the narrow broadcast width would be
moot and my built-in wifi would pick it up.  More research is required...

L8R

Skip

Signature

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig
http://tinyurl.com/384p2

"Believe me, my young friend, there is *nothing*-absolutely
nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing,
messing-about-in-boats; messing about in boats-or *with* boats. In or
out of 'em, it doesn't matter.  Nothing seems really to matter, that's
the charm of it. Whether you get away, or whether you don't; whether
you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or
whether you never get anywhere at all, you're always busy, and you
never do anything in particular; and when you've done it there's always
something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you'd much
better not."

David Moore - 09 Apr 2005 01:16 GMT
Skip,

I plan to fabricate a custom enclosure with the same footprint as my
existing mast top cap. All of the existing lights and transducers currently
mounted up there with the addition of the wifi antenna will then be mounted
a little higher and on top of the enclosure assembly. It will be designed
light weight and such that access to the wifi pcb, if necessary,  can be
achieved without moving anything else I mount on the enclosure.

Let me know what you finally do for your application as it sounds like yours
will be permanently mounted before my system is complete.

David

> Hi, David, and group(s),
>
[quoted text clipped - 52 lines]
>
> Skip
Skip Gundlach on wifi - 31 May 2005 21:02 GMT
Update, original left below for reference:

I bought a Hawking USB directional antenna along with an active USB cable,
which has allowed me to sit at the nav, with the antenna topsides, and enjoy
full connectivity, including my Vonage Softphone (drop me a line if you'd
like a referral; we'd both get a free month).  Unfortunately, as it's not my
ISP, I don't have convenient (I consider anything web-based to be extremely
inconvenient, so googlegroups is a last resort) access to this group - thus
my long disappearances, as I am on the boat, refitting, now, the vast
majority of the time.

On order, now, is a wireless access point feeding a wireless amplifier, both
with pigtails to externally mounted antennas on the NEMA box.  The rubber
duck from the hub goes down; there's a pigtail of Cat5 communicating with
the amplifier which has a bulkhead mounted pigtail onto which the external
big-stick 8.5dBi antenna screws.  Here's the specs:

Special Order Custom Built
Dual Radio

2611CB3+D w/ HGV-2409U Antenna

D-link 900AP w/rubber duck Antenna

Aluminum NEMA Enclusure

lightning protection

Powering the whole thing with 12V, I'm going to test it out here at home,
first, and, assuming all goes well, mount it to the mast the next trip
(Monday).  All indications are that wherever there's an open wifi signal
within a few miles of my anchorage, we'll be on the internet, and on the
telephone, transparently as though we were here at home (which is under
option contract to sell, so "home" is more a landside term than an abode).
This will greatly relieve Lydia's need to be in constant contact with her
children, and encourage me, who expected to have only sailmail/winlink and
cafe access to minibits of emails.

The refit process is coming along very slowly, but it appears that we may be
able to bring many things together at the same time.  When anything's
finished, I'll post about it and provide picture links.  In the meantime,
for any who may have an interest,  clicking on the URL in the sig, and going
to the home portion of the gallery will let you see the projects section.

L8R

Skip, refitting as fast as I can

Signature

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig
http://tinyurl.com/384p2

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail
away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.
Dream. Discover."   - Mark Twain

> I'm looking for experience with external antenna solutions to very flaky
> wifi access on the boat.  There's every sort of hub range improver (get
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> Skip
 
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