Muni WiFi

Question for all. My sister lives in san francisco and accesses the Internet
thru the cit provided wif broadband, but she says she has poor reception in
her apartment and that she needs to use her laptop next to a window for
reception and its a tad flakey there, but that's free, why gripe?

Anyway. Since it obviously uses the same frequency as laptops use for the
wifi connection I was wondering if it is possible to use a wireless repeater
in her home and rebroadcast so she can actually use the Muni WiFi

I have seen Airlink with a wireless repeater but I noticed on the
connections for the back that it appears you need to plug ethernet into it,
which isnt a possibility since she doesn't have any cable coming in to the
building


Any thoughts? Other than cable or dsl?

Rich Lehman wrote:

> Question for all. My sister lives in san francisco and accesses the Internet
> thru the cit provided wif broadband, but she says she has poor reception in
> her apartment and that she needs to use her laptop next to a window for
> reception and its a tad flakey there, but that's free, why gripe?
>
> Anyway. Since it obviously uses the same frequency as laptops use for the
> wifi connection I was wondering if it is possible to use a wireless repeater
> in her home and rebroadcast so she can actually use the Muni WiFi
>
> I have seen Airlink with a wireless repeater but I noticed on the
> connections for the back that it appears you need to plug ethernet into it,
> which isnt a possibility since she doesn't have any cable coming in to the
> building
>
> Any thoughts? Other than cable or dsl?

She might have better results with a high gain antenna. This may not be easy if
her laptop has built-in wireless rather than a wireless PCMCIA card.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=wifi+high+gain

WiFi repeaters can be used, but cut the bandwidth in half. This is an old
article, but is, I think, still valid.
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials...le.php/1571601 Also see
http://www.ezlan.net/Distance.html
In addition, the City of SF might have something to say about rebroadcasting its
signal, and might in fact shut down the repeater.


--
p

Hi,

I have the AirLink AP311W Universal Wireless Repeater.

You may be able to use this device like you wish.

In Silicon Valley "MetroFI-Free" offers free internet using 802.11b.

In San Francisco also.

The AP311W is NOT recommended!

It is a low power device. You will have better service with a high power
device. A stronger antenna may also be necessary.

When you install the AP311W you are adding another node to their network
that ANYONE can use.

The only control you have over the AP311W is the power switch. If when you
turn power on and your laptop is the closest and most powerful wireless
signal you may be able to use it if you are the first.

A firmware upgrade may be possible to allow only your self to use it. I do
not know if AirLink is working on this. I will need this within a month
myself.

The Ethernet connection is for configuration only.

That is really not needed as there is another way to configure the AP311W
using IE.
--------------------------------------------

Other devices may allow more control.

The streetlight pole type of ISP service is so new that manufactures have
not yet designed devices to use with it.

The devices that MetroFI-Free is suggesting currently do not include any
bridge type devices.

http://www.metrofi.com/faq_adapter.html

For some of the fun I have had and are having see this thread:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,15462813

--
Stephen H. Fischer

Rich Lehman wrote:
> Question for all. My sister lives in san francisco and accesses the
> Internet thru the cit provided wif broadband, but she says she has poor
> reception in her apartment and that she needs to use her laptop next to a
> window for reception and its a tad flakey there, but that's free, why
> gripe?
>
> Anyway. Since it obviously uses the same frequency as laptops use for the
> wifi connection I was wondering if it is possible to use a wireless
> repeater in her home and rebroadcast so she can actually use the Muni WiFi
>
> I have seen Airlink with a wireless repeater but I noticed on the
> connections for the back that it appears you need to plug ethernet into
> it, which isnt a possibility since she doesn't have any cable coming in
> to the building
>
>
> Any thoughts? Other than cable or dsl?

Apple's Airport Express can be configured as a wireless repeater. It's
small and simply plugs into an outlet. It could even be plugged into an
extesion cord and moved around for best results -- even suspended from a
broom handle out the window! Works with PCs as well as Macs.

"Rich Lehman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:C04E2DCD.28BA%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Question for all. My sister lives in san francisco and accesses the
> Internet
> thru the cit provided wif broadband, but she says she has poor reception
> in
> her apartment and that she needs to use her laptop next to a window for
> reception and its a tad flakey there, but that's free, why gripe?
>
> Anyway. Since it obviously uses the same frequency as laptops use for the
> wifi connection I was wondering if it is possible to use a wireless
> repeater
> in her home and rebroadcast so she can actually use the Muni WiFi
>
> I have seen Airlink with a wireless repeater but I noticed on the
> connections for the back that it appears you need to plug ethernet into
> it,
> which isnt a possibility since she doesn't have any cable coming in to the
> building
>
>
> Any thoughts? Other than cable or dsl?
>