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    Need excellent wireless range!

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by bithorax, Sep 12, 2008.

  1. bithorax

    bithorax Newbie

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    Hi all,

    I'm trying to connect to the wireless network of my university from my apartment (which is very close). Unfortunately the signal is low -in fact, I can't even connect to it. My roomate can do it, as his room is a little closer to the adjacent university building. What should I get for better range? Are there antennae that will enhance the signal? Or should I get a better card? Right now I have a new lenovo t400 with an a/b/g/n card.

    Thanks for your help!
     
    bithorax, Sep 12, 2008
    #1
  2. shoelace_510

    shoelace_510 8700M GT inside... ^-^;

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    You can't reach it with a wireless N card??
    Is your roommate using one as well?
     
    shoelace_510, Sep 12, 2008
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  3. FrankTabletuser

    FrankTabletuser Notebook Evangelist

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    A Yagi antenna should do it :cool:
    Or try a simpler directional antenna, or just a better placement of your laptop display.
     
    FrankTabletuser, Sep 12, 2008
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  4. bigozone

    bigozone JellyRoll touring now

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    i don't quite understand how you intend to hook up external antenna to an internal WIFI in a notebook??

    maybe a N-CLASS ROUTER setup in BRIDGE mode?? (placed in the window closest to campus... on the second floor if it's an option)
     
    bigozone, Sep 12, 2008
    #4
  5. FrankTabletuser

    FrankTabletuser Notebook Evangelist

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    Ah, sorry, you are right. He will have to modify his laptop a bit to do this.
     
    FrankTabletuser, Sep 13, 2008
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  6. bithorax

    bithorax Newbie

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    Actually my roomate can get a low/good signal from his room but only on his desktop, not his laptop. Today I managed to briefly connect on Very Low signal strength, which was basically useless...

    I checked out the "Signal King" and it looks good. But so expensive... Could a N-class router in bridge mode be better and less expensive? I'm not too good at networking so thanks for all your help!
     
    bithorax, Sep 13, 2008
    #6
  7. Faruk

    Faruk Notebook Evangelist

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    This is what I would try:

    Go to www.dd-wrt.com and purchase a compatible router - you can probably get one for $60 or less. And then you can flash the firmware, and use it as a wireless ethernet bridge. So you can connect the router to the ethernet port on your laptop, and use it as an external wireless card. The custom firmware will allow you to raise the output power up to around 250mW - but you probably will only need something around 100mW or so. (Raising the output power too much causes more noise in the signal and reduces quality).

    Oh, and positioning the router in a good place will also help.
     
    Faruk, Sep 13, 2008
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  8. jin07

    jin07 Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    This is probably your best option.
     
    jin07, Sep 13, 2008
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  9. emike09

    emike09 Overclocking Champion

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    emike09, Sep 13, 2008
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