I apologize for my lack of geeky-ness, but what is this device and
where do I get one? We've used directional and non-directional wi-fi
antennas in the past, and while they seem to improve our reception over
just using the antenna in our laptop, it's not an order-of-magnitude
improvement -- and it sounds as if your improvement is way more than
that!

I thought a bridge was for working the other way, from hardwired bb
connection to wi-fi. But from what you say, it's like having an
incredibly sensitive antenna for your wi-fi connection. This is
something I want to have!

Thanks,

Rob
S/V Akka
Lanzarote, Canary Islands

Cap'n Ric wrote:
I've got a 250 ma client bridge connected to a WIFI antenna mounted on my
radar arch, about 11 feet above the waterline. The client bridge is in a
stern lazarette connected just eight cable feet from the antenna. An
Ethernet cable connects it back to the nav table in the main salon. Since
the client bridge had a 120 VAC to 12 VDC power supply I just power it
directly from the ship's battery power.

I spent the summer in Maine and the reception was absolutely remarkable.
Several times like in Smith Cove, Castine, Maine I had hi-speed data and
VoIP in the middle of nowhere. I still cannot figure out where I was
receiving it from. I could see The Maine Maritime Academy's WIFI network
from Smith Cove and their closest transmitter was two miles away.. Even in
Tenants Harbor, ME we had uninterrupted internet and VOIP. Many times in
larger cities I had to look for a "Free" WIFI site since BEACON WIFI and
several other commercial ventures had the strongest signals. It is pretty
quick to get a selective SSID so working around the commercial folks was
pretty easy.

I also have KVH DirecTV/Hughes satellite on board.

Take care.

Cap'n Ric
S/V Sezaneh
2003 Beneteau 473