Bruce In Bangkok wrote:
On Thu, 12 Mar 2009 07:58:54 -0400, wrote:
I currently have an old analog cell phone antenna at the top of my
mast on a trawler. Do not use the antenna any longer, and would like
to use the coax to mount a WiFi antenna to run to my onboard laptop.
My goal is better distances to AP. Anyone done something like this
successfully. My laptop has both PC Card slots and available USB 2.0
ports. I can find numerous claims on the internet, but would prefer to
find something that is a proven solution. Thanks
Pete
I currently use a USB WiFi amplified antenna hoisted on a flag halyard
about 20 ft. above the deck. It certainly gives me an improved signal
over the laptop's built in antenna located about 2 ft. above the
water..
I did, however, find that there is a practical limit to the length of
USB cable that can be used without some sort of amplifier in either
the line or the antenna.
Cheers,
Bruce
(bruceinbangkokatgmaildotcom)
Yes, the USB spec says 5m MAX. After that you need to go through a hub.
5m USB extender cables are basically a 5m lead with a single port hub
on the end. You can cascade up to 4 hubs if everything fully meets the
spec which limits you to an absolute max of 25 metres end to end.
Shorter *will* be better ;-)
Otherwise there are two part USB extenders that use Cat5 UTP cable for
the link and can go *much* further but they aren't cheap. Might be
worth it rather than the aggro Skip Gundlach had with his public wifi -
masthead access point -(ethernet)- local WiFi router lashup when he
was trying to avoid wires to the PC.
--
Ian Malcolm. London, ENGLAND. (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED)
ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk
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