AP access hardware

So, I'm a starving college student, living in an AP rich environment.

However, my laptop antenna, including amps like the Hawking 54G desktop,
can't get out of my concrete cellar apartment.

Several folks have offered to share their connection on wifi, but I can't
see them (from downstairs). I can't afford my own ISP broadband (or any
other, for that matter) subscription, relying on the school or my neighbors
for access (thus the gmail address). Having to go out is a nuisance, but I
can't see them at home, so that's currently the solution. Makes
study/homework and research a nuisance at best.

Is there a way (what equipment needed??) to set up a piece, or pieces, of
gear so that my laptop antenna could see said equipment, and said equipment
could see those APs, such that I could select from them, and wifi surf, as I
can when I'm out of the basement? I'm assuming I'd need some omni
antenna(s?) and amplification for distance to overcome my bunker.

Assume for the moment that I can set this up somewhere with power available
but it needs to stand alone, otherwise. No connection to my or the other
computers or my benefactors' hardware.

Can it be done? Is anyone now doing it? What gear do I need?

Thanks.

Skip

The Society for the Preservation of Tithesis commends your ebriated
and scrutible use of delible and defatigable, which are gainly, sipid
and couth. We are gruntled and consolate that you have the ertia and
eptitude to choose such putably pensible tithesis, which we parage.

>>Stamp out Sesquipedalianism<<

PS you can also reach me at skip at engr dot uga.edu

"Skip Gundlach" <skipgundlach at gmail dotcom> wrote in message
news:8583f$43ce7645$a227fd53$(E-Mail Removed)...
> So, I'm a starving college student, living in an AP rich environment.
>
> However, my laptop antenna, including amps like the Hawking 54G desktop,
> can't get out of my concrete cellar apartment.
>
> Several folks have offered to share their connection on wifi, but I can't
> see them (from downstairs). I can't afford my own ISP broadband (or any
> other, for that matter) subscription, relying on the school or my
> neighbors for access (thus the gmail address). Having to go out is a
> nuisance, but I can't see them at home, so that's currently the solution.
> Makes study/homework and research a nuisance at best.
>
> Is there a way (what equipment needed??) to set up a piece, or pieces, of
> gear so that my laptop antenna could see said equipment, and said
> equipment could see those APs, such that I could select from them, and
> wifi surf, as I can when I'm out of the basement? I'm assuming I'd need
> some omni antenna(s?) and amplification for distance to overcome my
> bunker.
>
> Assume for the moment that I can set this up somewhere with power
> available but it needs to stand alone, otherwise. No connection to my or
> the other computers or my benefactors' hardware.
>
> Can it be done? Is anyone now doing it? What gear do I need?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Skip
>
> The Society for the Preservation of Tithesis commends your ebriated
> and scrutible use of delible and defatigable, which are gainly, sipid
> and couth. We are gruntled and consolate that you have the ertia and
> eptitude to choose such putably pensible tithesis, which we parage.
>
>>>Stamp out Sesquipedalianism<<
>
>

On Wed, 18 Jan 2006 12:09:19 -0500, "Skip Gundlach"
<skipgundlach at gmail dotcom> wrote:

>So, I'm a starving college student, living in an AP rich environment.
>
>However, my laptop antenna, including amps like the Hawking 54G desktop,
>can't get out of my concrete cellar apartment.
>
>Several folks have offered to share their connection on wifi, but I can't
>see them (from downstairs). I can't afford my own ISP broadband (or any
>other, for that matter) subscription, relying on the school or my neighbors
>for access (thus the gmail address). Having to go out is a nuisance, but I
>can't see them at home, so that's currently the solution. Makes
>study/homework and research a nuisance at best.
>
>Is there a way (what equipment needed??) to set up a piece, or pieces, of
>gear so that my laptop antenna could see said equipment, and said equipment
>could see those APs, such that I could select from them, and wifi surf, as I
>can when I'm out of the basement? I'm assuming I'd need some omni
>antenna(s?) and amplification for distance to overcome my bunker.
>
>Assume for the moment that I can set this up somewhere with power available
>but it needs to stand alone, otherwise. No connection to my or the other
>computers or my benefactors' hardware.
>
>Can it be done? Is anyone now doing it? What gear do I need?

You need a "repeater", it plugs into an AC jack (wall-wart
usually), picks up the wifi signal and as the name suggests,
repeats it. A router "might" be able to function as one,
but it'd need be listed in the specs as it's not manditory
feature. Many access points can do it too but again, check
the specs (features) for any product not marketed
specifically as a repeater.

It may have better pickup than your notebook when sitting
right beside the notebook, but ideally it would be placed
strategically closer to the wifi source.

If your repeater has trouble picking up the signal too, then
you'd look for a better antenna for it.

Skip Gundlach wrote:
>
.... snip ...
>
> The Society for the Preservation of Tithesis commends your ebriated
> and scrutible use of delible and defatigable, which are gainly, sipid
> and couth. We are gruntled and consolate that you have the ertia and
> eptitude to choose such putably pensible tithesis, which we parage.

Can't help with your problem, however the sig is amusing. You
should be aware that all sigs should be preceded by a sig marker,
with is a line with exactly "-- " (note final blank) on it.

--
"If you want to post a followup via groups.google.com, don't use
the broken "Reply" link at the bottom of the article. Click on
"show options" at the top of the article, then click on the
"Reply" at the bottom of the article headers." - Keith Thompson
More details at: <http://cfaj.freeshell.org/google/>

If you are in the same building with your buddy, you might be able to solve
the problem using a powerline carrier repeater solution. I believe Netgear
sells a kit solve your exact problem.

Mike Schumann

"Skip Gundlach" <skipgundlach at gmail dotcom> wrote in message
news:8583f$43ce7645$a227fd53$(E-Mail Removed)...
> So, I'm a starving college student, living in an AP rich environment.
>
> However, my laptop antenna, including amps like the Hawking 54G desktop,
> can't get out of my concrete cellar apartment.
>
> Several folks have offered to share their connection on wifi, but I can't
> see them (from downstairs). I can't afford my own ISP broadband (or any
> other, for that matter) subscription, relying on the school or my
> neighbors for access (thus the gmail address). Having to go out is a
> nuisance, but I can't see them at home, so that's currently the solution.
> Makes study/homework and research a nuisance at best.
>
> Is there a way (what equipment needed??) to set up a piece, or pieces, of
> gear so that my laptop antenna could see said equipment, and said
> equipment could see those APs, such that I could select from them, and
> wifi surf, as I can when I'm out of the basement? I'm assuming I'd need
> some omni antenna(s?) and amplification for distance to overcome my
> bunker.
>
> Assume for the moment that I can set this up somewhere with power
> available but it needs to stand alone, otherwise. No connection to my or
> the other computers or my benefactors' hardware.
>
> Can it be done? Is anyone now doing it? What gear do I need?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Skip
>
> The Society for the Preservation of Tithesis commends your ebriated
> and scrutible use of delible and defatigable, which are gainly, sipid
> and couth. We are gruntled and consolate that you have the ertia and
> eptitude to choose such putably pensible tithesis, which we parage.
>
>>>Stamp out Sesquipedalianism<<
>
>

"Mike Schumann" <mike-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:FKyzf.9635$(E-Mail Removed) ink.net...
> If you are in the same building with your buddy, you might be able to
> solve the problem using a powerline carrier repeater solution. I believe
> Netgear sells a kit solve your exact problem.
>
> Mike Schumann
>

Nope - no connection, RFI/Carrier included possible. Gotta be airwaves...

Actually, there's several volunteers - which is why I need a dhcp type
solution, and can select among them.

Back when I was involved in the security alarm installation field, that
(carrier signal on 110VAC) was a popular means of getting around tough
situations in a lousy environment for wiring - but I don't have that luxury.

Gots to be standalone, other than the power supply (though I suppose I could
rig some sort of UPS-type power - it can't take much, can it? A car battery
could power a 12V unit a long time, right?)...

Thanks

Skip

--
--
Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
http://tinyurl.com/384p2 The vessel as Tehamana, as we bought her

The Society for the Preservation of Tithesis commends your ebriated
and scrutible use of delible and defatigable, which are gainly, sipid
and couth. We are gruntled and consolate that you have the ertia and
eptitude to choose such putably pensible tithesis, which we parage.

On Wed, 18 Jan 2006 19:21:06 -0500, "Skip Gundlach"
<skipgundlach at gmail dotcom> wrote:

>Actually, there's several volunteers - which is why I need a dhcp type
>solution, and can select among them.

DHCP is not a problem, providing their (router, usually) is
set up to provide it as is usually the case.


>
>Back when I was involved in the security alarm installation field, that
>(carrier signal on 110VAC) was a popular means of getting around tough
>situations in a lousy environment for wiring - but I don't have that luxury.
>
>Gots to be standalone, other than the power supply (though I suppose I could
>rig some sort of UPS-type power - it can't take much, can it? A car battery
>could power a 12V unit a long time, right?)...

A car battery would probably be overkill, shouldn't be
charged inside, and you'd be better off with a deep-cycle
style battery since the last thing you'll need is high
instantaneous current from it. Roughly guesstimating it'd
take 12V and 200mA, all you need is enough battery reserve
to last you until your neighbors' routers go down from the
power outtage... it'll do you little good to have 200 hours
runtime remaining if everything else is dead. Typical 7AH
sealed lead-acid cell like used in many UPS should be
plenty.

"kony" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>Gots to be standalone, other than the power supply (though I suppose I
>>could
>>rig some sort of UPS-type power - it can't take much, can it? A car
>>battery
>>could power a 12V unit a long time, right?)...
>
> A car battery would probably be overkill, shouldn't be
> charged inside, and you'd be better off with a deep-cycle
> style battery since the last thing you'll need is high
> instantaneous current from it. Roughly guesstimating it'd
> take 12V and 200mA, all you need is enough battery reserve
> to last you until your neighbors' routers go down from the
> power outtage... it'll do you little good to have 200 hours
> runtime remaining if everything else is dead. Typical 7AH
> sealed lead-acid cell like used in many UPS should be
> plenty.

Right.

Now all I have to do is find the equipment which will let me do it.
Powering was a total aside. I need the hardware to accomplish the trick...

Thus:

"So, I'm a starving college student, living in an AP rich environment.

"However, my laptop antenna, including amps like the Hawking 54G desktop,
can't get out of my concrete cellar apartment.

"Several folks have offered to share their connection on wifi, but I can't
see them (from downstairs). I can't afford my own ISP broadband (or any
other, for that matter) subscription, relying on the school or my neighbors
for access (thus the gmail address - though you can also reach me at skip at
engr dot uga.edu). Having to go out is a nuisance, but I can't see them at
home, so that's currently the solution. Makes study/homework and research a
nuisance at best.

"Is there a way (what equipment needed??) to set up a piece, or pieces, of
gear so that my laptop antenna could see said equipment, and said equipment
could see those APs, such that I could select from them, and wifi surf, as I
can when I'm out of the basement? I'm assuming I'd need some omni
antenna(s?) and amplification for distance to overcome my bunker.

"Assume for the moment that I can set this up somewhere with power available
but it needs to stand alone, otherwise. No connection to my or the other
computers or my benefactors' hardware.

"Can it be done? Is anyone now doing it? What gear do I need?"


L8R

Skip


--
The Society for the Preservation of Tithesis commends your ebriated
and scrutible use of delible and defatigable, which are gainly, sipid
and couth. We are gruntled and consolate that you have the ertia and
eptitude to choose such putably pensible tithesis, which we parage.

>>Stamp out Sesquipedalianism<<

"kony" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...

> You need a "repeater", it plugs into an AC jack (wall-wart
> usually), picks up the wifi signal and as the name suggests,
> repeats it. A router "might" be able to function as one,
> but it'd need be listed in the specs as it's not manditory
> feature. Many access points can do it too but again, check
> the specs (features) for any product not marketed
> specifically as a repeater.

Got any url suggestions?

> It may have better pickup than your notebook when sitting
> right beside the notebook, but ideally it would be placed
> strategically closer to the wifi source.
>
> If your repeater has trouble picking up the signal too, then
> you'd look for a better antenna for it.

So, assume a high gain antenna omni - such as a Hyperlink 20" stick 8.5dBi
(http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/hg2409u.php) or the like, assuming a
pigtail can be done to mate with the repeater, therefore (presumed) easily
able to see the various APs. Will that (say it's high up - though anything
is higher than the bunker/basement apartment!) also transmit to me
effectively, or do I need some other antenna to be able to see the repeater,
too (the other one has a pretty flat donut pattern [see the bottom of the
url above], and, assume it's way above me)?

Thanks.

Skip
--

The Society for the Preservation of Tithesis commends your ebriated
and scrutible use of delible and defatigable, which are gainly, sipid
and couth. We are gruntled and consolate that you have the ertia and
eptitude to choose such putably pensible tithesis, which we parage.

>>Stamp out Sesquipedalianism<<

On Thu, 19 Jan 2006 15:20:12 -0500, "Skip Gundlach"
<skipgundlach at gmail dotcom> wrote:


>Right.
>
>Now all I have to do is find the equipment which will let me do it.
>Powering was a total aside. I need the hardware to accomplish the trick...
>
>Thus:
>
>"So, I'm a starving college student, living in an AP rich environment.
>
>"However, my laptop antenna, including amps like the Hawking 54G desktop,
>can't get out of my concrete cellar apartment.
>

I already posted the solution- a "repeater", with a better
antenna added if it can't be located strategically to cover
both areas. If even that is not enough, your next option is
either a 2nd repeater, or a bridge situated remotely nearer
the hotspot and a wired lead (ethernet cable) down to the
basement where there is an access point to regain the
wireless(ness).