WiFi signal boost at RV park

[Danny]

I am now in AZ at a really nice RV park.  However, to get any signal at all, I have to have my laptop on the back of the couch next to the window.  I need a booster....  Any ideas?

Thanks,
Danny

[gumpy]

Do a search here. There was a thread last spring about the same issue, including a photo of a home made directional antenna made from a collapsible metal colander. Very innovative.

[white-eagle]

gumpy,
i'm goin to hijack this thread for a personal moment since i see you are online.

coming down to jack's, bringing fudge?
it will be warmer!

[robertglines1]

 Go to Wilson Electronics home page . I have the cheap auto kit that Velcro to your phone or air card and it goes from no bars to 4 bars when I attach it. Have just upgraded to the small area home system that doesn't require a physical connection and will supply all the phones and air cards within 40 ft...First is around 200 dollars,available at truck stops...The no connect type is around 400 dollars...The last one is what they use in high end prevost..In both cases you have a outside (magnetic) antenna a booster,and the connection to your phone or air card(inside antenna)..One of the few things I can recommend with good conscience.

[gumpy]

gumpy,
i'm goin to hijack this thread for a personal moment since i see you are online.

coming down to jack's, bringing fudge?
it will be warmer!

Interesting that you're more interested in seeing my fudge than  you are in seeing me 

Not this year. Planning on next year when the kids are in college and we have more time. Teri's Aunt wants us to have Christmas at her place
in Tarpon Springs.

Wasn't planning on making a lot of fudge this year. Maybe I'll see if I can figure out a way to contribute to your annual habit.....

[Sean]

Go to Wilson Electronics home page ... One of the few things I can recommend with good conscience.

And a fine recommendation it would be, had he asked about cellular.  He asked about WiFi, which is a different technology altogether, and not what Wilson makes.

To answer the OP's question, you have several choices, and I agree with Craig that there is lots of good info in this earlier thread:
http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=12178.0

It boils down, really, to two choices.  One is to turn off your built-in WiFi card, which has limited range due to the limitations of the built-in antenna, and use an external adapter, either PC-Card or USB, that has a jack for an external antenna.  Then you will have a choice of many external antennas that will get you extra range.  A related idea, and what I do when I need to, is to use a USB dongle and a long USB extension cord, available up to 15', which will let you put the dongle in a place where the signal is stronger while still putting the laptop on, uhh, your lap.  I have a roof hatch above my chair, and just sticking the dongle above the roof usually does the trick.

The other is to get or make a WiFi "repeater."  Plenty of choices on the open market, or roll your own.  The advantages to this method are that you can more easily make a "permanent" installation using a very high-gain roof-mount antenna, and it will support multiple computers simultaneously.  This solution, however, does require you to pay attention to channel assignments.

Here are some resources for both:
http://www.radiolabs.com/products/wireless/wireless-marine-antenna.php
http://www.greatboatgear.com/index.php/marine-wifi

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[robertglines1]

Wilson guy again I really don't know all the wifi lingo we have verizon wireless with a device that plugs into our computer.The wilson system works great for it ..

[robertglines1]

I just looked up WiFi on line and it referred to the wand system we have from verizon and I guarantee it works..

[robertglines1]

I feel dumb correcting my own post but I misspelled wwan.

[gumpy]

Wilson guy again I really don't know all the wifi lingo we have verizon wireless with a device that plugs into our computer.The wilson system works great for it ..

Right, that's not WiFi. That's cellular. Your device is actually making a cell phone call to connect to Verizon.

He's asking about connecting to a campground provided wireless internet signal provided by the campground's wireless router usually located in the office
and you're sitting out in the back 40. Or, also, connecting to a hotel signal across the street when you're sitting in the Walmart parking lot overnight.

[Dreamscape]

This is what we use on our desktop.

http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/productlist.php?CatID=32&FamID=60&ProdID=379

For your laptop you might look at this

http://www.gadgetell.com/tech/comment/buffalo-wireless-booster-for-your-laptops-wifi/

I have not used it, but it looks pretty good.

More information to digest.

http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=78644

Paul