Re: extending wireless coverage

Sean Lazar <[email protected]> Thu, 29 Sep 2005 21:28:28 -0800
Newsgroups gmane.network.wireless.bay-area
Message-ID <[email protected]>
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Hi Hilary,<br>
<br>
>From a district technician to a fellow education techie, my sympathies
to you. <br>
<br>
I started to overengineer a solution but since this will only be for
three months, it makes sense to go cheaply. Higher dbi means more
signal focusing thus a stronger signal. You should try to get the
highest rated antenna possible. What Linksys router do you have? The
Linksys WRT54G has RP-TNC style connectors. Your antenna must have that
type of connector. The Hawking HA16SIP (6dbi) seems to come with a
rp-smc to rp-tnc adapter so that would at least connect and boost your
signal a bit, but I would try to go with a stronger antenna. Also,
going outdoors (or put it in a window) will remove obstructions and
give you better signal.<br>
<br>
**Directional antennas will put the signal in a given direction. You
could look at using a directional antenna to focus your signal toward
your clients.**<br>
<br>
Can you give the model numbers for the other antennas?<br>
What model repeater is the netgear? WGE101? If it is the WGE101 I am
seeing that you should update the firmware to the latest... it will
help make it faster. Also directional antennas on the netgear, pointed
at your access point will help. The netgear has a RP-SMA connector.<br>
<br>
I am not sure if the D-Link DWL-800AP would work with your linksys
4-port wireless-G router. Does anyone have experience making these work
with a linksys? See this:<a
 href="http://support.dlink.com/faq/view.asp?prod_id=1136&amp;question=DWL-800AP+">
http://support.dlink.com/faq/view.asp?prod_id=1136&amp;question=DWL-800AP+<br>
</a><br>
But maybe you could get a few DWL-800AP+ and put one up as your access
point and then have a couple of repeaters.<br>
*Repeater mode will reduce your wireless throughput in half, thus
resulting in lower transfer rates and reduced speed. <br>
*Ethernet connection does not work when in repeater mode<br>
*The DWL-800AP+ Ethernet Port Is for only configuration only while in
repeater mode. Keeping the Ethernet connection on the DWL-800AP+ is
optional while in repeater mode.<br>
<br>
Repeating is generally yucky and should be avoided if possible. I would
focus on getting antennas.<br>
<br>
Hope this helps, please ask more questions if you are unsure or need
clarification.<br>
<br>
Sean<br>
Pajaro Valley Unified School District<br>
Watsonville, CA<br>
<br>
saxon wrote:
<blockquote cite="[email protected]"
 type="cite">Hi everyone,
  <br>
  <br>
I need some advice about the best means of extending wireless access
across the playground of the elementary school where I am part-time
tech support. This has to be a very cheap temporary solution because we
will be back in the main building in January. At the moment all
classrooms, administrative and support staff are in portables arranged
in a U-shape around the playground. There are 6 portables along each
arm of the U, and 3 across the bottom. There is an Internet connection
only in the administrative portable at the top of one side of the U.
(The district somehow "forgot" that the classrooms would also need to
be networked. Let's not go there!) I have set up a linksys 4-port
wireless-G router in the admin portable. The signal reaches the next 2
portables, and I have used a netgear wireless ethernet bridge to
network the LAN in each.
  <br>
  <br>
I want to know the optimal device to extend the signal to the bottom of
the U. There are too many choices! I am considering an omni-directional
antenna, such as the Hawking HA16SIP (6dbi), selling on eBay for about
$15. But there are also 9 and 15dbi models - how do I know how much I
need? Alternatively, a "repeater" or "extender" (terms that do not seem
to have exact definitions) such as the D-Link DWL-800AP, also on eBay
for under $20, might work as well.
  <br>
  <br>
I would much appreciate the wisdom of this group!
  <br>
  <br>
thanks
  <br>
Hilary
  <br>
p.s. I haven't measured, but I estimate the length of the U is 250' and
width 80'
  <br>
  <br>
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