Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (
More info?)
On Sat, 27 Aug 2005 20:11:36 GMT, "Tony Field"
<anthony.field@NOSPAMntlworld.com> wrote:
>Assuming for now that the original question came from a none expert, we
>could be a little kinder.
Nope. That would ruin my reputation as an evil, arrogant, obnoxious,
irritating, insulting, humiliating, tactless, and generally digusting
person. Besides, I usually charge extra for being nice. Actually, I
don't see where I was in any way unkind. I've worked with wireless
inside poured concrete buildings. 2.4GHz wireless is not going to go
through the concrete in any useable manner. My advice to get a 2nd
access point on the 2nd floor, or get a wireless->powerline->wireless
repeater, stands.
>When you say you cant get a connection upstairs, I preseme that this is with
>a laptop card? If so then a little wandering around may help you. Is it
>possible for you to walk around and see just what signal you have using the
>freeby software that comes with most cards?
Most signal strength software that comes with the typical wireless
card is rather crude and sluggish. Netstumbler works much better.
>We are not trying to see where
>the internet fails but to understand how much signal you have available.
>Often a laptop card will have an antenna of around 0.5dB gain.
The typical laptop etched PCB contorted dipole has a gain of about
-2dBi which includes the circuit board losses. The USB PIFA antennas
offer about the same or less.
>A repeater
>may have 2 or 5dB.
A repeater doesn't have any gain. However, the antenna plugged into
the repeater has some gain. The typical rubber ducky omni vertical
dipole is about 2dBi. Replacements are available with up to about
5dBi gain. Anything better will probably require a directional
antenna. (Note the "i" in dBi).
>If you get zero signal as soon as you start to move
>upstairs then the previous comments are probably correct. However if you
>have limited amounts of single available perhaps at the top of the stairs
>but not good enough to get the internet, a repeater with its buigger antenna
>may work.
Agreed. It's worth trying first. However, simply getting a signal
and getting a *RELIABLE* signal are two different things. Shooting
through walls and floors tend to create multipath and reflection
problems. It's possible to have a perfectly good signal and have it
disappear when something in the room moves. The result is usually
having to move the antenna around every few minutes to regain the
connection. I don't think it's possible to get a decent and reliable
connection through a concrete floor. It might be possible through a
stair well, but then he will probably be dealing with reflections,
unless the laptop is located at the top of the stairs.
>A repeater has to see some signal otherwise it has nothing to repeat.
>
>One last thing if you do decide to go for the repeater option. You should
>look at you main AP. Does it support WDS? if so then your scope for products
>is fairly wide. If not then you should not only buy from the same
>manufacturer as the AP but also from the same range. Repeating was not
>standardised and so even inside one manufacturers products not all work
>together.
The Linksys BEFW11S4v3 does not support WDS.
>Tony
>
--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831.336.2558 voice
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
#
http://802.11junk.com
# jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
# jeffl@cruzio.com AE6KS
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