Desperate to make wireless connection work.

I live on the 30th floor of a building and would like to connect to
the internet using the one of the verizon wi-fi signals my laptop
detects. The problem is the signals are only coming in at 15-20
percent. I can 'connect' but the signal broadcasting from my laptop
must not be strong enough to reach back to the hotspot. Does anyone
know of a signal booster that would help? I was already planning on
getting a wireless access point to set up a network in my appartment,
would that device (especially if it had two antennas) be strong enough
to make a difference? I appreciate any help I can get. I don't have
any option for DSL, satelite or cable access. It's either make this
work or stick with dial-up. Thanks in advance.

Do you know where the Verizon hot spot is and have LOS? Do you know if
you can use it? e.g. that it is a public hot spot?

If so, then an AP (bridge really) with a directional antenna should
do the trick. Your setup would look something like this:

Verizon hot spot
|
Your WiFi bridge /w high gain ant.
|
Your AP with normal ant. (connected to the bridge via CAT5 cable)
|
1...n wireless clients (e.g. your laptop)

Your AP would get a DHCP address from the Verizon hot spot (after
passing the signal through the bridge) and serve up IP addresses to
your internal network. Just make sure that your AP is setup to use
different SID, WEP, and Ch# than hot spot uses. You get a strong
signal to the hot spot, a strong signal in your apartment, and a NAT
firewall to boot.

You would be looking at something like $100-$200 for the bridge and
antenna depending of model and the quality of the ant. you need.

-D

(E-Mail Removed) (Chuck Daniels) wrote in message news:<(E-Mail Removed) om>...
> I live on the 30th floor of a building and would like to connect to
> the internet using the one of the verizon wi-fi signals my laptop
> detects. The problem is the signals are only coming in at 15-20
> percent. I can 'connect' but the signal broadcasting from my laptop
> must not be strong enough to reach back to the hotspot. Does anyone
> know of a signal booster that would help? I was already planning on
> getting a wireless access point to set up a network in my appartment,
> would that device (especially if it had two antennas) be strong enough
> to make a difference? I appreciate any help I can get. I don't have
> any option for DSL, satelite or cable access. It's either make this
> work or stick with dial-up. Thanks in advance.

Great news! Thanks for the info.

I have line of sight to two hot spots, they aren't free, but if this
works I would happily pay the $22.95 a month for access.

Do you have any recommendations on specific products for the equipment
you've listed below?

(E-Mail Removed) (dep_blueman) wrote in message news:<(E-Mail Removed). com>...
> Do you know where the Verizon hot spot is and have LOS? Do you know if
> you can use it? e.g. that it is a public hot spot?
>
> If so, then an AP (bridge really) with a directional antenna should
> do the trick. Your setup would look something like this:
>
> Verizon hot spot
> |
> Your WiFi bridge /w high gain ant.
> |
> Your AP with normal ant. (connected to the bridge via CAT5 cable)
> |
> 1...n wireless clients (e.g. your laptop)
>
> Your AP would get a DHCP address from the Verizon hot spot (after
> passing the signal through the bridge) and serve up IP addresses to
> your internal network. Just make sure that your AP is setup to use
> different SID, WEP, and Ch# than hot spot uses. You get a strong
> signal to the hot spot, a strong signal in your apartment, and a NAT
> firewall to boot.
>
> You would be looking at something like $100-$200 for the bridge and
> antenna depending of model and the quality of the ant. you need.
>
> -D
>
> (E-Mail Removed) (Chuck Daniels) wrote in message news:<(E-Mail Removed) om>...
> > I live on the 30th floor of a building and would like to connect to
> > the internet using the one of the verizon wi-fi signals my laptop
> > detects. The problem is the signals are only coming in at 15-20
> > percent. I can 'connect' but the signal broadcasting from my laptop
> > must not be strong enough to reach back to the hotspot. Does anyone
> > know of a signal booster that would help? I was already planning on
> > getting a wireless access point to set up a network in my appartment,
> > would that device (especially if it had two antennas) be strong enough
> > to make a difference? I appreciate any help I can get. I don't have
> > any option for DSL, satelite or cable access. It's either make this
> > work or stick with dial-up. Thanks in advance.

I am also wondering if anyone has a good suggestion for a high gain
antenna. I have seen the 5.5db rubber antenna for sale for $15. Will
that do the trick or do I need something more powerful?

I guess that depends on how far and how weak the signal is now. I
boght the set for my D-Link 614+ and the signal at the 3 wireless
cards is better. Does it now reach the neighbors house , NOT a
chance!

On 17 Jan 2004 08:10:14 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) (Chuck Daniels)
wrote:

>I am also wondering if anyone has a good suggestion for a high gain
>antenna. I have seen the 5.5db rubber antenna for sale for $15. Will
>that do the trick or do I need something more powerful?