WiFi connection question

[JackConrad]

     I decided to start a new thread rather than hijack Jim's thread.  Although we still use our air card through our CTR500 router, we are finding more places that have WiFi avaialble. The WiFi is usually faster, but sometimes we are on the very edge of the WiFi range. Our air card is connected to a roof mounted antenna and feeds through an amplifier to our air card. Here is my questioin, both out laptops have built in WiFi receivers. What can we add to increase the signal strength from the local WiFi router/antenna? Jack

[Dreamscape]

Jack, Here is something that might help http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/productlist.php?CatID=32&FamID=72&ProdID=187

It sure looks like it would work.

Paul

[JackConrad]

Paul,
  Unless I mis-understood what I read (happens frequently) that device attaches to the WiFi transmitter. I need something that would install on our coach, at the receiver end, if such a thing exist?  Jack

[luvrbus]

Jack, depending how old your computer is I have the wireless I think Dell calls a G card and have no need for a booster and will pickup signals better than the wife's card and a lot faster.A plus for me is it doesn't cost me 600 bucks a year like she pays check the new wifi cards out

good luck

[bobofthenorth]

We have struggled with how to extend a wifi signal too Jack.  I'm too cheap to buy one, but I believe that this type of an adapter will do what you want.  Personally I'm fond of coat hangers out the window (to get a wifi dongle above the roof line) and a very unique folding colander with a wifi dongle mounted in the middle of it such that the colander works as a reflector (in theory anyway).  Marilyn uses painter's tape and tapes hers to the middle of one of the windows.  None of these solutions work particularly well - occasionally they help a bit - usually after trying them for a while we decide we don't need wifi that badly anyway and go to bed with a good book.

[JackConrad]

Both our laptops, my Toshiba Satellite and Paula's Dell, have built in WiFi receivers and Windows XP. I am looking for something we can plug into our computers or better yet, into out wireless router and receive a stronger WiFi signal.  Jack

[luvrbus]

Jack, you will find that Windows 7 with the new G wifi cards will reach out pick the siganal up,my Toshiba Xp wifi card sucked so did the HP.The only thing I liked about Vista was the radar feature for the wifi  whats up with the letter G I see in the links those gadets use the letter G wifi.


good luck

[letz4wheel]

I believe Bobs gadget will work. This also will work as it can be set up in repeater mode.http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/productlist.php?CatID=32&FamID=113&ProdID=403

[sweeney153]

I have used this with great results
http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/productlist.php?CatID=32&FamID=60&ProdID=308

Actually mine is a few years older than this. I think I paid about $35.00

Kevin

[gumpy]

It thing this was hashed in this earlier thread...

http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=12178.0

I was looking for the photo of the collapsible colander, but can't find it.

[Ace]

Jack to be honest, I upgraded my verizon air card for the wireless wifi router they have that will let you have up to 5 different items running on it. It was free when I did an upgrade! It's pretty fast and very small. Smaller than a deck of cards. But on the other hand, I am almost ready to do away with my laptop completely. Just yesterday I went and upgraded my blackberry phone because someone dumped a bucket of water on me, and it, during our last outing and caused it to NOT work. Not going to mention any names but she had a cast on her hand if you know who I mean. I went with the NEW "HTC EVO" phone from sprint. It came out on the 4th to the public and It does the same thing as the verizon router and since yesterday I haven't been able to put it down. I think it does everything but go to the bathroom for you and it might even do that. I just haven't found it yet!

The video recorder is awesome and it has 2 camera's that has top notch resolution. It even let's you edit pics and video's!

It has soo many FREE apps that will do almost anything. I really like the weather. It comes up at any location INSTANTLY which might come in handy while on the road!

It has a GPS as good if not better than my Garmin and it has a 3g and 4g capability. 4g is not in Florida yet, but man the 3g is very fast. Can't imagine what the 4g speeds will be like!

So what I'm saying is, give these new phones a good look. The screen is 4 inches by about 2.5 and you can turn it by simply rotating it in your hand to achieve landscape or portrait!

[luvrbus]

For you Wal/Mart campers I found out last week they are hoping to have free Wifi by years end at the supercenters where ever the local government will allow it as some towns have a wifi system for the town pretty common in Texas for a small town to have it's own wifi


good luck

[Dreamscape]

Jack, Yip you're right, sorry I guess I didn't read it thoroughly, happens a lot!

[bobofthenorth]

I was looking for the photo of the collapsible colander, but can't find it.

This one?

[stevet903]

The problem is that the metal shell of the bus blocks the wifi signal from outside, and in many places, the signal is not great to start with.  You may need to get your laptop closer to a window, use an external antenna, or use a repeater. I don't think you'll find anything to plug into your current router.  

Here are some suggestions.  If you are a computer geek, you can set up a wireless repeater - Instructions are here:  http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Universal_Wireless_Repeater   I used an older Linksys wireless router that had detachable antennas.  I left one on for inside the bus and bought a magnet mount antenna.  Most times I am able to connect by just putting the magnet mount antenna in the window, but sometimes it needs to go outside.  I was considering putting in a permanent external antenna, but really haven't needed it yet.  This is fairly inexpensive and works well.  I have seen some of these on Ebay already configured.  Once it is set up, both laptops can connect, and the signal inside the bus is enough to be used from front to back.

There are some commercial implementations of this - not sure how well they work or if they have a detachable antenna to enable you to move the antenna outside if you need it.

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F5D7132-Wireless-G-Universal-Extender/dp/B000FTLOL0
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DMEYCY
http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-Linksys-Wireless-G-Range-Expander-WRE54G/dp/B00021XIJW

Another way you can go is to get a USB wireless adapter.  It puts out more power than the built in laptop adapter and it has an external antenna that you could locate in the window.  However, it requires one for each computer and you are tethered to the adapter with a USB cable.  I't's not weatherproof so it can't go outside, but you can attach a cable and an antenna to get outside.  Here's one:

http://www.amazon.com/AWUS036H-Wireless-Adapter-Network-Antenna/dp/B000QYGNKQ

Steve