extend range from one window

Hi:
I live in an odd apartment and get wireless internet off the many available
hotspots around here (in nyc with pc laptop with DLINK-DW650). The problem
is I have only one window in the apt and I must be in position within 2 feet
of the window to get any signal. How can I extend this range such that I
can actually be DEEPER inside my apartment and get the same signal. Im
guessing some antennea config but am unsure. Do i need to hack open my
dlink?,

much appeciative.
jimmy

by the way i get a 40% signal strength right by the window -- bring the
laptop 3 feet into the apartment and nothing.

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:_jDYb.51311$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi:
> I live in an odd apartment and get wireless internet off the many
available
> hotspots around here (in nyc with pc laptop with DLINK-DW650). The problem
> is I have only one window in the apt and I must be in position within 2
feet
> of the window to get any signal. How can I extend this range such that I
> can actually be DEEPER inside my apartment and get the same signal. Im
> guessing some antennea config but am unsure. Do i need to hack open my
> dlink?,
>
> much appeciative.
> jimmy
>
>

On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 06:17:23 GMT, "Jimmy Laz" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>by the way i get a 40% signal strength right by the window -- bring the
>laptop 3 feet into the apartment and nothing.
>
><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:_jDYb.51311$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hi:
>> I live in an odd apartment and get wireless internet off the many
>available
>> hotspots around here (in nyc with pc laptop with DLINK-DW650). The problem
>> is I have only one window in the apt and I must be in position within 2
>feet
>> of the window to get any signal. How can I extend this range such that I
>> can actually be DEEPER inside my apartment and get the same signal. Im
>> guessing some antennea config but am unsure. Do i need to hack open my
>> dlink?,
>>
>> much appeciative.
>> jimmy
>>
>>
>

Just for grins you might try placing a reflector of foil on one side
of the window to reflect signal inwards. Might be fun, and certainly
cheap to try.


Mike Patterson
Please remove the spamtrap to email me.

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> Hi:
> I live in an odd apartment and get wireless internet off the many available
> hotspots around here (in nyc with pc laptop with DLINK-DW650). The problem
> is I have only one window in the apt and I must be in position within 2 feet
> of the window to get any signal. How can I extend this range such that I
> can actually be DEEPER inside my apartment and get the same signal. Im
> guessing some antennea config but am unsure. Do i need to hack open my
> dlink?,

Easiest way (if the foil does not work) is probably a USB antenna.
Up to 5m USB cable is simple.

Mike Patterson <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Just for grins you might try placing a reflector of foil on one side
> of the window to reflect signal inwards. Might be fun, and certainly
> cheap to try.

You should get close to each wall, and see which wall sees the best
signal. Put up a reflector on that wall. A mirror might work, depending
on what the reflective material is. You can test by seeing if the signal
passes through the mirror. Foil will work, but isn't aesthetically
pleasing. My daughter-in-law thinks my foil reflectors look silly, but
they add the extra range that I need.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5

A friend recommended I get an Orinco card and directional antennae which
pops the budget up quite a bit but will it work? And how long a cable can I
run from the ant. to the laptop (am i restricted to a certain feet , ie. is
15 feet too much?)

thanks
jimmy

"Ian Stirling" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:AUJYb.7573$Y%(E-Mail Removed)...
> (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> > Hi:
> > I live in an odd apartment and get wireless internet off the many
available
> > hotspots around here (in nyc with pc laptop with DLINK-DW650). The
problem
> > is I have only one window in the apt and I must be in position within 2
feet
> > of the window to get any signal. How can I extend this range such that
I
> > can actually be DEEPER inside my apartment and get the same signal. Im
> > guessing some antennea config but am unsure. Do i need to hack open my
> > dlink?,
>
> Easiest way (if the foil does not work) is probably a USB antenna.
> Up to 5m USB cable is simple.

Jimmy Laz <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> A friend recommended I get an Orinco card and directional antennae which
> pops the budget up quite a bit but will it work? And how long a cable can I
> run from the ant. to the laptop (am i restricted to a certain feet , ie. is
> 15 feet too much?)

A USB wireless adaptor is probably the easiest.
If you can get a signal in that place, then a 5m USB cable can simply be
plugged between it and the laptop.
This will probably work out cheapest.
An antenna and cable to a PCMCIA card will probably also work, but
will work out more expensive, especially as 5m cables will probably
need to be custom.

If 5m (around 15 feet) is adequate, then USB is almost certainly easier
and cheaper.

i googled usb antenna and the result was
http://store.ydi.com/catalog/product...na_80211b.html at $299.00
which is quite an investment.

It does sound like it would work though as the desc. says "up to 25 feet".
Since it's USB does it forgoe my exisiting wireless card?

thanks
jimmy

"Ian Stirling" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:HbNYb.7638$Y%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Jimmy Laz <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> > A friend recommended I get an Orinco card and directional antennae which
> > pops the budget up quite a bit but will it work? And how long a cable
can I
> > run from the ant. to the laptop (am i restricted to a certain feet , ie.
is
> > 15 feet too much?)
>
> A USB wireless adaptor is probably the easiest.
> If you can get a signal in that place, then a 5m USB cable can simply be
> plugged between it and the laptop.
> This will probably work out cheapest.
> An antenna and cable to a PCMCIA card will probably also work, but
> will work out more expensive, especially as 5m cables will probably
> need to be custom.
>
> If 5m (around 15 feet) is adequate, then USB is almost certainly easier
> and cheaper.

Jimmy Laz <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> i googled usb antenna and the result was
> http://store.ydi.com/catalog/product...na_80211b.html at $299.00
> which is quite an investment.
>
> It does sound like it would work though as the desc. says "up to 25 feet".
> Since it's USB does it forgoe my exisiting wireless card?

Wrong thing.
You'r looking for USB adaptors, from $30 or so up.

http://www.ebuyer.com/
Look under networking wireless devices/wireless USB adaptors.

They totally replace the existing card.

found it...apparantly these adapters are all over the place and do range
from $30-80.

So in theory, I can probably get one of the $30 ones and run a USB cable
across the apt, right? Are the ranges similar to the actual cards, ie 100
mw-200 mw?


"Ian Stirling" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:fGNYb.7649$Y%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Jimmy Laz <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> > i googled usb antenna and the result was
> > http://store.ydi.com/catalog/product...na_80211b.html at
$299.00
> > which is quite an investment.
> >
> > It does sound like it would work though as the desc. says "up to 25
feet".
> > Since it's USB does it forgoe my exisiting wireless card?
>
> Wrong thing.
> You'r looking for USB adaptors, from $30 or so up.
>
> http://www.ebuyer.com/
> Look under networking wireless devices/wireless USB adaptors.
>
> They totally replace the existing card.