Author Topic: Extending Wireless Range (Read 7837 times)

Anonymous · « **on:** February 16, 2004, 10:53:50 pm »

Is anyone aware of a way to extend the range of a wireless card for the Z?

I live in an aparment complex and can pull a 40% connection to some random person\'s linksys WAP/Router that is wide open. I\'d like to use it to play with the Z\'s wireless capabilities until I can get enough together to buy my own WAP.

I was wondering if anyone came across anything regarding CF wireless card hacking, makeshift antennas, etc. that could extend the range of my card for this purpose, and maybe some wardriving in the future.

Any links, advice would help (aside from telling me to buy my own WAP!)

derekp · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2004, 11:28:35 pm »

Check out seatle wireless for info on antennas. Oh, and get your own access point :-)

Anonymous · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2004, 11:40:27 pm »

I looked, but didn\'t find anything groundbreaking. Maybe a few rolls of tinfoil...

Anonymous · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2004, 11:44:12 pm »

I\'m looking more for a way to interface an antenna (perhaps some sort of wire wrapping, card dismantling, etc) with the Linksys WCF12 than antenna designs/ideas/etc, if that helps at all.

VeeDub · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2004, 09:09:15 am »

*bump*

slocaus · « **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2004, 01:18:25 pm »

Aluminum foil and Pringles can:
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/columns/article.php/1008901
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/columns/article.php/2221601
http://www.wirelessgarden.com/

VeeDub · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2004, 08:04:53 pm »

That part, I get. The question I have is how do I interface it with a CF wireless card that has no pigtail connector. Most CF cards don\'t, including my WCF12, so I was wondering how I can transmit the signal from a cantenna or similar item to my wireless card.

I\'ve searched all over and can\'t find any answers.

slocaus · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2004, 08:13:11 pm »

So you were guest in the original post? No AP? SOL is what you are....
I use one to transmit to the city park a block away when I take my dog.

VeeDub · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2004, 08:21:41 pm »

Yep, I was guest. On my buddy\'s computer. Anyways, I couldn\'t resist picking up an AP today, so now I have one. However, I still want to try and pick up long-range, or rather longer-range signals with my Z.

w4lna · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2004, 12:31:48 am »

Quote

That part, I get. The question I have is how do I interface it with a CF wireless card that has no pigtail connector. Most CF cards don\'t, including my WCF12, so I was wondering how I can transmit the signal from a cantenna or similar item to my wireless card.

I\'ve searched all over and can\'t find any answers.

You could mount the CF card (and the Zaurus) at the focus point of a dish. A 2 foot dish would have a lot more gain the most of the cans do.

VeeDub · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2004, 12:50:59 am »

That\'s definitely an idea. Do you think there would be a way to focus that signal near the zaurus through a cable? e.g. have an antenna on the roof of a car, out on a patio, etc. then have the cable focus the signal close to the Zaurus.

That would be pretty nice.

lardman · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2004, 07:40:44 am »

Once upon a time I saw a web page (and it might have even been linked from the devnet) about a guy who\'d dismantled his CF wireless card and attached it to a bigger antenna, etc. I presume this is the kind of thing you\'re after. I think it might void your warranty though.

Try the devnet then a google.

Si

drewsdad · « **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2004, 09:08:00 am »

A more mobile approach would be to use a compatible pc wifi card that has a built-in antennae connector with a pcmcia to cf adapter. You\'d be taking a battery performance hit with the pc card but it would allow you to enhance your reception. Actually, just the pc card\'s own antennae should give you better reception, my Samsung pc card usually shows double the signal strength of my D-Link 660.

w4lna · « **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2004, 09:41:04 am »

Quote

That\'s definitely an idea. Do you think there would be a way to focus that signal near the zaurus through a cable? e.g. have an antenna on the roof of a car, out on a patio, etc. then have the cable focus the signal close to the Zaurus.

That would be pretty nice.

Such a device has been made for cell phones though the efficiency might be poor. Something like an internal antenna or coupling device connected to a cable and then to an outside antenna. If you added one of the bi-directional amplifiers ($$$) available, it could work quite well.

slocaus · « **Reply #14 on:** February 18, 2004, 11:29:31 am »

That \"thing\" for cell phones costs about 5 cents to make, and sells in most places for $10 to $20. What it really does is enhanced the sellers pockets!

Speaking as a someone who has been in the wireless industry for 15 years, and a bench tech for much of that time. If that \"thing\" worked, the manufacturers would include it.

Some research on RF propagation would be pertinent to this discussion, given that phones are in the 800-900/1800-1900MHz range (depending on which continent you call home) and the Wif-Fi is in the 2GHz range.

Hacking RF is a little (sic) different than hacking linux. :wink:

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Author Topic: Extending Wireless Range (Read 7837 times)

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