Hi-gain wireless network card

[Davey_Pitch]

Anyone have any experience of these? I'm trying to connect Lynne's mum's PC to my wireless network (her PC is in the house next door), but the signal strength is so low that half the time I can't even see our network, never mind connect to it. I'm thinking that a hi-gain wireless USB device, such as this one (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edimax-EW-7318USG-Wireless-Adapter-802-11b-g/dp/B000NNSY7K/ref=pd_sbs_ce_23) might be good enough to get through the 2 external walls with a decent enough signal strength to connect properly.

Any ideas/suggestions?

[leowyatt]

Would a powered ariel for yours be any good? or for her network card?

[Daz]

I'm not sure if the same thinking should apply to home wireless, but we run a few WLANs in different environments (office, factory, retail etc) and when it comes to range it's all about the aerials on the APs, rather than the client devices. The job I was doing last weekend was ripping and replacing a big factory network - we didnt replace all the AP's, but we did replace all the aerials, and the range increase was staggering.

I'll ask our wireless guy what he buys and how much they are. Not really my field, I was here rejigging lots of radius and certificate stuff in the backend :)

[Burble]

Yep, you need to look at boosting the output signal of the AP first. Whilst the company I work for sell a lot of wireless kit it's all long range (50Km or so) backhaul equipment rather than SoHo stuff but I'll see if there are any suitable antennas floating about.

What router/AP are you using? There might be some tweaks to increase the output power.

[Davey_Pitch]

So you're thinking a better antenna for my router might be the way to go? I'll do a bit of Googling and see what I can find for it :)

[Davey_Pitch]

Yep, you need to look at boosting the output signal of the AP first. Whilst the company I work for sell a lot of wireless kit it's all long range (50Km or so) backhaul equipment rather than SoHo stuff but I'll see if there are any suitable antennas floating about.

What router/AP are you using? There might be some tweaks to increase the output power.

It's the Sagem F@ST 2504 that Sky have provided for me :)

Edit 1: On thinking, I can't recall that router having an antenna. I'll check when I get home.

Edit 2: Just realised I put this in the wrong forum. Can it be moved to the computer forum please :)

[Mark]

I have that exact model wi-fi card here (it just happens to be one of the most Ubuntu-friendly USB cards out there, which is why I got it). If we can figure out postage etc., then I don't mind you borrowing it to see if it helps. I agree though that the AP is the prime target, and a Google image search suggests you're right about the Sagem not having an antenna. That would be my prime target.

[Burble]

It will have an antenna, but it'll be internal which makes upgrading the antenna a bit of a chore!

[Davey_Pitch]

It will have an antenna, but it'll be internal which makes upgrading the antenna a bit of a chore!

Screwdriver and voiding warranty job? Not a problem having a go if I can do it without leaving any evidence should I accidentily kill it :o

Mark, thanks very much for the offer, I may well take you up on it, and of course cover postage. I'll let you know :)

[Burble]

Screwdriver and possibly a soldering iron job of the existing antenna is soldered onto the board which considering it's internal wouldn't surprise me.

[Del Lardo]

Another alternative is the 5GHz AP that are hitting the market.

I'm working with a company called Celeno but I don't think their stuff is commercially available. Ruckus is another alternative.

[Dr. Z]

If you are prepared to pay a little bit for it, you can get an access point like the WRT-54GL which, with the right firmware will enable you to pump out 200mW of transmit power. More than enough for what you are after.

You can then upgrade the antennae with 11dBi (or more) gain replacements, which will make things even better.

Only after doing that would I consider buying something like a Ubiquiti 300mW wireless card to boost things at the client end. I have a 24dBi gain antenna here, its a dish 75cm across... but it lets me pick up access points 3 or 4 miles away.

[Burble]

WRT54GL with Tomato would have been my suggestion too.

[Mark]

Yup - I used to bump up the gain on my WRT54GS to achieve much the same. I also used a semi-directional antenna to send the signal where I wanted it. That struggled at getting through walls but just about made it to my main Draytek router. Oddly, since I've hardwired the link between the two routers and switched the wi-fi off on the Draytek, I've got much better signals out of the WRT54GS even on relatively low power.

[divine]

Just bear in mind on ADSL a WRT54 will need a seperate ethernet based ADSL modem, as it doesn't include one. Not that i've looked particularly hard but the only place I could find any recently was OcUK at like £30 a pop.

[LeperousDust]

Yeah i was also thinking of mentioning a WRT using tomato :) I love it very much, can do everything you want and more :)

And original version WRT54GS is the one you *really* want to look out for, but a GL does the job too i think, right guys?

[Burble]

I was (and I assume DRZ was) recommending using a WRT54GL as just an AP and leaving the current router doing the routing.

[Mark]

That would certainly seem like the logical option. Preferably turning off the wireless on the existing kit (if Sky's locked-down firmware allows that).

[divine]

Either way it'll need two boxes, rather than being an all in one replacement package, that's what I was aiming to point out.