Advise on extending range without frying my laptop

Hello everybody

I often stay at a hotel with in-room internet access beyond my budget.
If I get a room on a low floor on the left of the building I can pick up
the free signal from the lobby, but have to balance my laptop on the
window ledge. Obvious solution is to get an extender/booster of some
kind, but after doing a lot of research I'm totally confused - I've even
read on a forum about serious damage being done if you're not careful
with what you attach. Sent an email to Sony support but they don't
recommend any attachment or devise for the laptop.

I *think* a Cantenna type devise (I'm not clever enough to make my own
with a Pringles can) would be what I need, but can't figure out if I can
attach one without somehow disconnecting the in-built wifi card. A lot
of the info I've managed to gather - including the USB adaptor
recommended on the Cannterra site - is telling me to install I just
disconnect my antenna, but I don't have one externally. There is also
information on PCMCIA - I think I have one of these (isn't it the slot I
use to put an SD card in?) but that confused me even more.

Or maybe I'm on the wrong track and need something completely
different. Cost isn't really an issue as I'm away a lot and would use
it often, but size or weight is something I need to keep in check. I
don't want to void my warranty by opening the cover and physically
removing or replacing anything so that may restrict what I can do. Any
help anyone can give will be much appreciated - it's only a matter of
time before I manage to drop it off the window ledge.

Thanks in advance


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konin wrote:
> Hello everybody
>
> I often stay at a hotel with in-room internet access beyond my budget.
> If I get a room on a low floor on the left of the building I can pick up
> the free signal from the lobby, but have to balance my laptop on the
> window ledge. Obvious solution is to get an extender/booster of some
> kind, but after doing a lot of research I'm totally confused - I've even
> read on a forum about serious damage being done if you're not careful
> with what you attach. Sent an email to Sony support but they don't
> recommend any attachment or devise for the laptop.

No original manufacturer in their right mind will let a customer do
something that they could claim warranty for :P

>
> I *think* a Cantenna type devise (I'm not clever enough to make my own
> with a Pringles can) would be what I need, but can't figure out if I can
> attach one without somehow disconnecting the in-built wifi card. A lot
> of the info I've managed to gather - including the USB adaptor
> recommended on the Cannterra site - is telling me to install I just
> disconnect my antenna, but I don't have one externally. There is also
> information on PCMCIA - I think I have one of these (isn't it the slot I
> use to put an SD card in?) but that confused me even more.

No, the SD card slot is much smaller. The PCMCIA (now PC Card) slot is
much bigger, much wider, and is designed to take any number of addon
cards - ie. ethernet, USB ports, wireless adapters etc.

If you wanted to go with a cantenna, your best bet would be purchasing a
PCMCIA card with an external connector. That way you can have any length
of cord you want.

At this range you could make a Woktenna - using a strainer, USB adapter
and USB extension cord, you could simply connect it up to the laptop and
seat the Woktenna at the window. Have a look at this place -
http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/ - reasonably simple design.



>
> Or maybe I'm on the wrong track and need something completely
> different. Cost isn't really an issue as I'm away a lot and would use
> it often, but size or weight is something I need to keep in check.

You could get a professional external panel antenna and connect it to
the PCMCIA card with an antenna connector (assuming you buy one). It
would be much easier to lug around with you than a Woktenna. You'd only
need a 9dbi panel, and these are pretty cheap these days.

> I
> don't want to void my warranty by opening the cover and physically
> removing or replacing anything so that may restrict what I can do.

An external addon, regardless of whether it's the PCMCIA card or the
cantenna attached to it, won't void warranty. Messing around with
internal certainly components will.

> Any
> help anyone can give will be much appreciated - it's only a matter of
> time before I manage to drop it off the window ledge.

That will void your warranty too

--
- dcf

David Fairbrother wrote:
>> don't want to void my warranty by opening the cover and physically
>> removing or replacing anything so that may restrict what I can do.
>
> An external addon, regardless of whether it's the PCMCIA card or the
> cantenna attached to it, won't void warranty. Messing around with
> internal certainly components will.

*Messing around with internal components certainly will.

Just woke up




--
- dcf