Picking up distant wifi network

Hello!

I live in Central Manchester (UK) and desperately need to get
broadband. Unfortunately we are still arguing to get a phone line and
in the short term need to start using external wifi networks so we have
net access.

Within range of our router and wireless cards there are no networks
that are unsecure or we can use. The phone boxes around town are all
wifi enabled by the cloud (thecloud.net) who Skype use under their
Skypezones. I want to be able to connect to one of these but can't
pick up a signal.

I reckon the closest one can't be more than 300 metres away in any
direction. We have a large window (second floor) with clear line of
site over the city but no line of sight directly to a known wifi point
we want to connect to.

Whats the best options for boosting the router to try and pick up these
signals? Will this work or is an antenna only good for making your
signal go further??

the router is this :
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=106490&tab=3.

We also have 3com wireless cards.

if anyone can advise on products that will work and links if
poss.......If we can't connect to a phone box network, we are right in
the city centre so I'm sure if we can boost the number of networks we
can see we can get an option from one of them.

Thanks.

[POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <(E-Mail Removed) .com> on 5 Apr 2006
08:00:01 -0700, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>I live in Central Manchester (UK) and desperately need to get
>broadband. Unfortunately we are still arguing to get a phone line and
>in the short term need to start using external wifi networks so we have
>net access.
>
>Within range of our router and wireless cards there are no networks
>that are unsecure or we can use. The phone boxes around town are all
>wifi enabled by the cloud (thecloud.net) who Skype use under their
>Skypezones. I want to be able to connect to one of these but can't
>pick up a signal.
>
>I reckon the closest one can't be more than 300 metres away in any
>direction. We have a large window (second floor) with clear line of
>site over the city but no line of sight directly to a known wifi point
>we want to connect to.

Wi-Fi is line of sight. Intervening buildings will block the signal.

>Whats the best options for boosting the router to try and pick up these
>signals? Will this work or is an antenna only good for making your
>signal go further??

A high-gain antenna will help with weak signal on both sending and receiving,
but it won't help if the signal is being blocked.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR ALT.INTERNET.WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FAQ_for_alt.internet.wireless>

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> Hello!
>
> I live in Central Manchester (UK) and desperately need to get
> broadband. Unfortunately we are still arguing to get a phone line and
> in the short term need to start using external wifi networks so we have
> net access.
>
> Within range of our router and wireless cards there are no networks
> that are unsecure or we can use. The phone boxes around town are all
> wifi enabled by the cloud (thecloud.net) who Skype use under their
> Skypezones. I want to be able to connect to one of these but can't
> pick up a signal.
>
> I reckon the closest one can't be more than 300 metres away in any
> direction. We have a large window (second floor) with clear line of
> site over the city but no line of sight directly to a known wifi point
> we want to connect to.
>
> Whats the best options for boosting the router to try and pick up these
> signals? Will this work or is an antenna only good for making your
> signal go further??
>
> the router is this :
> http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=106490&tab=3.
>
> We also have 3com wireless cards.
>
> if anyone can advise on products that will work and links if
> poss.......If we can't connect to a phone box network, we are right in
> the city centre so I'm sure if we can boost the number of networks we
> can see we can get an option from one of them.
>
> Thanks.
>

I don't know if this of any help at all, just food for thought...

I tested a 14 dbi rootenna with a senao cb3, set as bridge with proper ssid, in my car. I had a good solid, 3.05 mile, link back to my house. I started dl xpsp2 and it stabilized out at 120 KB/Sec, that's about as good as it gets on my dsl! I've also established a link (acquired address and browsed) at 8.5 miles with same setup, to an air matrix with a 7.4 dbi omni sitting on my bedroom window sill. I've not tested the dl speed on that link. There are 2 air matrix with 7.4 dbi omni on my sill awaiting deployment. They can connect to a third one at 0.9 miles, NON line of sight.

ya never know unless ya try...

c'Ya