There is a WI-FI router in the building a few yards from where my Motorhome is parked. Getting on line in the MOHO is challenging and sometimes not available.

My laptop is a Sony Viao... using a Linkseys antenna attached to the lid of the laptop...

When I am inside the building the connection is "excellent"....in my rig..."low" to not available....Is there some way to enhance the reception? Like maybe something I can purchase and attach to my rig or the laptop? The aircard does not work at all....

Thanks in advance for all assistance....

BTW... I am in Rogers, AR....at the Rogers BPOE Lodge #2144.... When I do connect to the Wi-Fi in the lodge... those little guys inside the computer tell me I am connected to my hometown Computer store in Artesia, NM! How in the world is that even a slim possibility?????

ELIZABETH

Aircard... Isn't that for the EVDO phone? It isn't related to WiFi.

On your WiFi issue the easy fix is to get a USB WiFi device and place it in a window or other spot where you can see the park's antenna. Some folks stuff them up a skylight or vent with good results. You can play with this idea by carrying your laptop around and see where you can hold it (might not be practical for using it) that it gets a decent signal.

Hawking and LinkSys make decent USB WiFi devices and you can easily add a 15 foot extension cable to them to get the best signal.

Pick up an Alfa 500 mw usb unit and velcro it on your laptop or to the indside ceiling of your coach. 60 bux. Best bargain going for wifi.
Dan

I have a dell comp. and what I call an air card pushed into it and want to know if that 500 rig will work for it ? and where would you buy one.

STAN... Like HAPPY RAY, I have a "card" I call an aircard, that fits into a slot in my laptop... I do not have or want a phone. From other threads I have the impression that the EVDO connection does not need a phone? Is that correct or no? What do you recommend with EVDO and/or the Alfa gizmo? Please keep your response as simple as possible...

Right now I am on-line...with a weak signal that may go off any moment....

WDOAFQ...Thanks for this info.... Maybe that will work... I will give it a whirl unless someone has a better suggestion...cheaper would be better.... I already have more than enough "stuff".....

THANKS to all of you for responding!

ELIZABETH

EVDO is a service available from various cell phone companies, it can be used with a card or with some phones. What you have sounds like WiFi and not EVDO, switching would require an EVDO card and about $70 per month for the service so it probably isn't what you want.

I haven't looked at the Alpha WiFi device, you'd have to Google up some reviews to see it. Sounds similar to the ones I recommended but a bit higher powered.

All the computer terms are a bit confusing and sometimes it can help if you give the brand and model of the device that is causing you the problems.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wifi

http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/remoteaccesssolutions/g/aircard.htm

STAN....

Thanks for the response. Yes, I am on Wi-Fi here at the BPOELKS Lodge in Rogers, AR... also at home at The Ranch, SKP Co-Op in Lakewood NM...

Here at the Elks lodge the router is inside the building and my MoHo nearby....front pointing toward the building.... Sometimes the connection is made...Sometimes not. Sometimes it is on for awhile and then suddenly it is gone! I do not know about brand names of router...etc. I do have a name and password to get it up and running.

It seems to me there must be some way to make the signal strong enough so that it does not "go down" during my usage. This much I have learned through all the great information the good people of this forum share!

I have looked at the suggested ALFA 500 mw USB unit.... but of course will not know if it will work as a booster or not, until I try it. I'd like to consider other options additionally as buying stuff and finding out it does not eliminate the challenge is an all too familiar experience!

Your good help is always appreciated.... even though most of the time I don't understand the "geek" talk! (Hopefully geek is not a negative word to apply here.) I do usually have a glimmer of understanding now and then!

ELIZABETH

This is the first Amazon link to the Alfa, it has no reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/802-11b-Adapter-Booster-Antenna-Strongest/dp/B000QYDMYG

A similar Alfa model has several good reviews, it should work for you.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QYGNKQ/

This one came up, lower power at 200 MW but decent reviews

http://www.amazon.com/EnGenius-EUB362-Range-Adapter-802-11b/dp/B000CSQVJ4

This is the Hawking I like, it does have mixed reviews though.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000DINCIQ

Reading about the LinkSys it looks like they have a newer version than mine out now, haven't tried it but reviews look spotty.

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-WUSB54G-Wireless-G-USB-Adapter/dp/B00009X6PH

If you think a longer USB cable would be handy order an extension 10-15 feet long so you can have the laptop in a comfortable spot and the USB device where it gets a good signal.


BTW, This is a WiFi booster, not what you want since you'd have to tear into your laptop to find a place to connect the antenna wire.

http://www.amazon.com/Hawking-HiGain-Signal-Booster-version/dp/B0009MYSHU

STAN.....

Thanks again for all the work you are doing to help me solve this challenge....

The Linkseys pictured on your list is the very one I have that does not work consistently. Now I am wondering about putting an extension on it to attach it to the front window of the MoHo and over to my dinette where I work with the computer????

I would have to string it across up high so Clyde, my cat would not be able to reach it! He does like wires!

The Linkseys has a USB plug at one end and a "D" shaped plug that goes into the little antenna box at the other end.... Maybe googling for a Linkseys antenna extension cord might find it....

The $45.00 unit has favorable comments but it seems to be about the same sort of thing I have with the Linkseys.... The others also seem similar....

ELIZABETH

Elizabeth,

All you need is a plain, relatively inexpensive USB extension cable. Plug the extension cable into your PC, and the standard USB end of the Linksys cable into the female end of the extension cable.

You wouldn't want the expense of a longer proprietary Linksys cable, even if one was available.

PHIL D.....

Your message prompted me to try your suggestion as I have an extension with a USB male connection on one end and the "D" connection on the other that plugs into the antenna....

Using this extension I moved the Linksys antenna to the window and therefore about 12' closer to the router in the BPOE building....
The signal has not improved and Clyde has already discovered that he can reach it for his investigative purposes...

Moving the computer closer, like in the building works great...."excellent" reception. Of course the Lodge is only open a couple of days/week and that is just not enough on-line time for me as I am accustomed to access 24/7 at The Ranch. I go into withdrawal in one day!



Is the extension I have described herein the "plain" extension you suggested?

ELIZABETH

It's not exactly what I was describing, but any longer USB cable -- which is what it sounds as if you have -- may help if it works with your receiver and gets you an improved line-of-sight between the wireless router and your receiver. As Stan mentioned in one of his early posts to this topic, improving the line-of-sight between their tranmitter (the router) and your receiver is most important, not necessarily getting closer to it.

Elizabeth, Phil has the right idea, find out where their antenna is and set the LinkSys up so that it has a clear line of sight to it. If there are rigs between you your best bet might be sticking it into a skylight to be above most of them. Make sure the antenna is as near vertical as possible to get and send the best signal you can.

Set the laptop up so that you can see the signal monitor and move the Linksys around to find the strongest signal. Clyde will be happy to wait in the bathroom while you experiment.

With the Linksys and its removable USB cable one of these will work:

15 Foot USB 2.0
http://www.amazon.com/Foot-Printer-Cable-Free-shipping/dp/B0002Q80RC

Some of the others don't have removable cables and you'd need an extension. Using one along with your existing cable on the Linksys would give you a bit more length too.

15 Foot USB 2.0 Extension
http://www.amazon.com/Foot-Extension-Cable-Free-Shipping/dp/B0002Q7YBA

The best prices for the alfa units I have found are on ebay. They now have a 300 mw unit for just over 30 dollars. These units plug into your usb port. No card is needed then. They also have an external antenna jack to which I have hooked a better antenna for very weak signals. The receiver in the 500 mw unit is very good. I compared it to my smc card using netstumbler, very little difference. Very simple plug and play.
Dan

quote:

This is the Hawking I like, it does have mixed reviews though

Stan...

Looking at the reviews for this the first one states that it isn't compatible with Linux. A later one says it works with Linux. Neither of the reviews give any details.

Have you used the HWU8DD with your Suse boxes? If so what did you have to do to get it to work?

DAVE