Capture and redistribute Wireless?

I have three WEP encrypted wireless networks that are available to me. I
have the keys for all of them and was wondering what is the easiest way to
capture the strongest signal and redistribute it for 4 other computers? Can
I use a single PC with a High Gain Antenna? But then how do I redistribute?

HotRod wrote:
> I have three WEP encrypted wireless networks that are available to me. I
> have the keys for all of them and was wondering what is the easiest way to
> capture the strongest signal and redistribute it for 4 other computers? Can
> I use a single PC with a High Gain Antenna? But then how do I redistribute?

Good question... i'm looking for the answer too.... i got several
access points open to public .. wen i use my notebook i got weak signal
n often disconnected... so i bought a new wireless router n the signal
strong enough to reach my uncle's house... but i dunno how to make the
connection works(router to router n share internet access) ... to run
200m LAN cable sounds so silly.. any1?

On 12 Oct 2006 09:35:11 -0700, "Linux" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed) .com>:

>HotRod wrote:
>> I have three WEP encrypted wireless networks that are available to me. I
>> have the keys for all of them and was wondering what is the easiest way to
>> capture the strongest signal and redistribute it for 4 other computers? Can
>> I use a single PC with a High Gain Antenna? But then how do I redistribute?
>
>Good question... i'm looking for the answer too.... i got several
>access points open to public .. wen i use my notebook i got weak signal
>n often disconnected... so i bought a new wireless router n the signal
>strong enough to reach my uncle's house... but i dunno how to make the
>connection works(router to router n share internet access) ... to run
>200m LAN cable sounds so silly.. any1?

Wireless client bridge (possibly with high-gain antenna) for the remote
connection, cabled to a local wireless access point (also a bridge),
ideally on different minimally-overlapping channels.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

> Wireless client bridge (possibly with high-gain antenna) for the remote
> connection, cabled to a local wireless access point (also a bridge),
> ideally on different minimally-overlapping channels.

Would this allow me to change connections as my signal strength changed or
would I need to set-up a typical client bridge (Make sure the SSIDs are the
same etc.) I'm looking for a solution that just tells me what connections
are available their strength and then prompts me for the WEP key or
whatever. But I need to be able to share the connection with other
computers. I was starting to look at setting up a signal PC with wireless
card because it would allow me to sue software to monitor the connections
instead of needing to log into the client router. Are there any client
routers that allow monitoring "locally"?

On Thu, 12 Oct 2006 13:31:54 -0400, "HotRod" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote in <(E-Mail Removed)>:

>> Wireless client bridge (possibly with high-gain antenna) for the remote
>> connection, cabled to a local wireless access point (also a bridge),
>> ideally on different minimally-overlapping channels.
>
>Would this allow me to change connections as my signal strength changed or

Why would signal strength change? That's usually pretty stable.

>would I need to set-up a typical client bridge (Make sure the SSIDs are the
>same etc.) I'm looking for a solution that just tells me what connections
>are available their strength and then prompts me for the WEP key or
>whatever. But I need to be able to share the connection with other
>computers. I was starting to look at setting up a signal PC with wireless
>card because it would allow me to sue software to monitor the connections
>instead of needing to log into the client router. Are there any client
>routers that allow monitoring "locally"?

You typically use a web interface in the wireless client bridge to
configure connections.

To use a computer (with Internet Connection Sharing or bridging), you
would need both a wireless adapter for the remote connection, and either
a second wireless adapter for a local ad hoc network, or a wired
connection to a separate wireless access point for a local
infrastructure network. You'd probably then be doing Double NAT, which
can be problematic.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

I have no idea why the signal strength changes? BUT it does, some days my
notebook will connect to any of the signals and then other days I need to
hunt for a connection. IF I setup a PC with a PCI wireless card and high
gain antenna and then hardwire the same PC into a wireless router would that
work for sharing? I have lots of extra wireless routers around.



"John Navas" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Thu, 12 Oct 2006 13:31:54 -0400, "HotRod" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote in <(E-Mail Removed)>:
>
>>> Wireless client bridge (possibly with high-gain antenna) for the remote
>>> connection, cabled to a local wireless access point (also a bridge),
>>> ideally on different minimally-overlapping channels.
>>
>>Would this allow me to change connections as my signal strength changed or
>
> Why would signal strength change? That's usually pretty stable.
>
>>would I need to set-up a typical client bridge (Make sure the SSIDs are
>>the
>>same etc.) I'm looking for a solution that just tells me what connections
>>are available their strength and then prompts me for the WEP key or
>>whatever. But I need to be able to share the connection with other
>>computers. I was starting to look at setting up a signal PC with wireless
>>card because it would allow me to sue software to monitor the connections
>>instead of needing to log into the client router. Are there any client
>>routers that allow monitoring "locally"?
>
> You typically use a web interface in the wireless client bridge to
> configure connections.
>
> To use a computer (with Internet Connection Sharing or bridging), you
> would need both a wireless adapter for the remote connection, and either
> a second wireless adapter for a local ad hoc network, or a wired
> connection to a separate wireless access point for a local
> infrastructure network. You'd probably then be doing Double NAT, which
> can be problematic.
>
> --
> Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
> John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
> Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
> Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

Please don't switch posting styles (top vs bottom) in mid-thread -- it's
confusing.

On Thu, 12 Oct 2006 14:22:17 -0400, "HotRod" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote in <(E-Mail Removed)>:

>I have no idea why the signal strength changes? BUT it does, some days my
>notebook will connect to any of the signals and then other days I need to
>hunt for a connection. IF I setup a PC with a PCI wireless card and high
>gain antenna and then hardwire the same PC into a wireless router would that
>work for sharing? I have lots of extra wireless routers around.

A high gain antenna might well eliminate any need to connect to
different access points, making a wireless client bridge convenient,
thus avoiding Double NAT.

You want a wireless access point for the local network, not a wireless
router, so set up your wireless router as a wireless access point.
(Instructions in the Wi-Fi wiki below.)

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

>> To use a computer (with Internet Connection Sharing or bridging), you
>> would need both a wireless adapter for the remote connection, and either
>> a second wireless adapter for a local ad hoc network, or a wired
>> connection to a separate wireless access point for a local
>> infrastructure network. You'd probably then be doing Double NAT, which
>> can be problematic.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

I'll have a look at the suggested sites. Sorry for switching posting styles.
I prefer when people Top post so that I don't need to scroll to the
bottombut I'd gotten lots of slack from other newsgroups that prefer bottom
posting. It's hard to keep straight.

One of main objectives is to make a sytem that allows me to switch
connections easily and also be able to monitor signal strength, this should
also help with the initial setup.

On Thu, 12 Oct 2006 15:20:41 -0400, "HotRod" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote in <(E-Mail Removed)>:

>I'll have a look at the suggested sites. Sorry for switching posting styles.
>I prefer when people Top post so that I don't need to scroll to the
>bottombut I'd gotten lots of slack from other newsgroups that prefer bottom
>posting. It's hard to keep straight.
>
>One of main objectives is to make a sytem that allows me to switch
>connections easily and also be able to monitor signal strength, this should
>also help with the initial setup.

Assuming you're not in a cat and mouse game of stealing access (no
offense intended), then (and with all due respect) I think you're trying
to solve the wrong problem -- with a proper antenna there should be no
need to switch host access points in a fixed location. (I need to do
that on a boat when switching marinas, but that's a different issue --
once in a given marina, I almost always stay on the same access point.)

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

> Assuming you're not in a cat and mouse game of stealing access (no
> offense intended), then (and with all due respect) I think you're trying
> to solve the wrong problem -- with a proper antenna there should be no
> need to switch host access points in a fixed location. (I need to do
> that on a boat when switching marinas, but that's a different issue --
> once in a given marina, I almost always stay on the same access point.)

I'm starting to wonder if my problems have more to do with the machines
around my computers than the antenna's and routers I'm trying to use.
DEpending on the day I may have as many as all three connections or just 1,
but always a different one and even then a constant connection is rare. I'm
currently using outdoor omni and unidirectional Hawking antennas.