Next message: Ron Rogers: "Re: lv-ab: Storing camera equipment on board"
On Fri, 2006-09-29 at 11:53 -0400, wrote:
> ok guys being a total numptie with these matters can i explain my
> needs and see if you can make some suggestions on what i can buy (i
> dont wish to get into building anything - unless it is very very
> simple) and how to configure the bits and pieces - i am an engineer
> but know little about wireless etc - just assume i have arrived from
> mars please.
>
> Question is for say $100/200 can i extend the range of my laptop WiFi
> so that i dont have to take it ashore to the wireless hot spot - lets
> assume i am going to be at anchor about 1/4 to 1/2 a mile away?
>
Yes, with several caveats.
The basic idea is to take a wifi gateway, like a Linksys WRT54-GL, then
reflash the firmware, put it up the mast. Connect your laptop's *wired*
ethernet port to the gateway, and use that as your route to wireless
nirvana. Obviously, this is a little more technical that most folks are
comfortable with. But if you want directions on how to do this. A great
place to start is <www.openwrt.org>
There's not much you can do to the laptop. Even if your wireless card
has an external antenna connection (most don't) you don't get much with
a direction antenna in the cabin. Too close to the water. In the
cockpit, you might get a bit more, but 1/2mile is really optimistic for
anything other than a parabolic or tuned horn, and those are unwieldy at
best.
Remote mounting a gateway high up, maybe with a patch or colin antenna
will do what you want. But it requires a fair bit of technical knowhow.
Either yours, or someone who'll do it for beer :) Check out the local
college campus for wifi nuts, you might be able to hook up with someone
who'll be able to help there.
> We are sailing in the BVI's (where there are lots of free WiFi spots
> as well as a crazy paid for one that charges you by the day not by
> usage) not in some marina so we will generally be at anchor which i
> think means a unidirectional antenna
>
> If so what do i need to buy - and from where - i am sure i can connect
> all the bits and bobs with a bit of basic instruction. I need a PCMIA
> card as the Laptop has built in WiFi.
>
> thanks in anticipation
>
> David
>
> In a message dated 29/09/2006 07:06:22 GMT Daylight Time,
> writes:
> On Thu, 2006-09-28 at 22:42 -0400, Ron Rogers wrote:
> > Except, you need to use heavy coax cable to prevent signal
> loss over
> > extended distances. Locating and installing such cable is
> difficult and the
> > cable is expensive. That is why several correspondents have
> mentioned
> > devices that employ 16' USB cables or remote antennas with
> co-located amp
> > which then connect via cable. The latter hardware is
> expensive.
>
>
> POE, power over ethernet. CAT5E cable has 4 pairs of wires.
> You use 2
> pairs for the ethernet traffic to the router, and 2 pairs for
> a low
> voltage AC or DC power line (20v is common) and
> rectify/regulate at the
> router on the mast. You put the router in a sealed enclosure,
> and run
> the single ethernet cable up the mast. (inside preferred of
> course) and
> Bob's your mothers brother.
> You can use a cheap wireless router like an WRTG-54GL for
> about $50. Add
> in about $25 for the antenna, and another $50 for enclosure,
> cable, and
> sundries, and you're done.
>
> If you use POE, bear in mind that the RJ45 connectors are not
> waterproof, and need some sealing, and that they are only
> moderately
> secure. The little tabs break off after a while, and they can
> be yanked
> out. So running the cable into the enclosure, into a loop, and
> then
> clamped in the position it needs to connect to the router is a
> good
> idea.
>
> None of this is going to extend your range beyond a mile or
> two, if
> that. Unless you add power, or are willing to trade much more
> directonality (and thus, lose signal when you move more than a
> tiny
> bit.)
>
> You're right on the RF cable issue, especially at low power,
> with high
> freqs. The line losses would make putting the antenna up on
> the masthead
> a losing proposition from the power standpoint. But POE turns
> that on
> it's head. More vulnerable in a lightning strike of course,
> but if
> lightning strikes my boat, internet connectivity isn't my
> biggest
> concern.
>
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jim Richardson" <>
> > |
> > | Also, the higher up you put the antenna, the better for
> this.
> >
> >
> --
> Jim Richardson <>
> Erisian Claw
>
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--
Jim Richardson <>
Erisian Claw
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