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Old 09-18-2004   #1 (permalink)
scuzzo
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How do I increase my range?
Im new here, and I have a laptop and a 802.11b proxim rangelan wifi card and dstumbler for freebsd. I ran dstumbler and picked up some APs around me but the signal stregnth is low. I was wondering how I could get a better signal stregnth, I see this little hole thingy on my card, can I plug something into here like an antenna or something to increase my range?

What key terms should I google or search for on this forum to answer my question? Thanks!
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Old 09-18-2004   #2 (permalink)
wrzwaldo
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scuzzo
Im new here, and I have a laptop and a 802.11b proxim rangelan wifi card and dstumbler for freebsd. I ran dstumbler and picked up some APs around me but the signal stregnth is low. I was wondering how I could get a better signal stregnth, I see this little hole thingy on my card, can I plug something into here like an antenna or something to increase my range?

What key terms should I google or search for on this forum to answer my question? Thanks!

First let me say that these are the Netstumbler forums. And what do you mean the signal strength is low? Were you able to detect the AP's? What else do you need?
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Old 09-18-2004   #3 (permalink)
scuzzo
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wrzwaldo
First let me say that these are the Netstumbler forums. And what do you mean the signal strength is low? Were you able to detect the AP's? What else do you need?
Whats with the attitude? What did I say that made it seem that I dont know that this is the netstumbler forum?

Yes I did detect the APs. About the signal stregnth, say you have a AP in the next room, you get a good connection, the signal is good, but say the AP gets farther and farther, the connection/signal isnt as good. These AP's I am picking up are kind of far, but Im still picking them up. I want to know if there is a way that I can get a better connection to these AP's or be able to pick up AP's that are farther out in my area by some modification (antenna?)?
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Old 09-18-2004   #4 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scuzzo
Im new here, and I have a laptop and a 802.11b proxim rangelan wifi card and dstumbler for freebsd. I ran dstumbler and picked up some APs around me but the signal stregnth is low. I was wondering how I could get a better signal stregnth, I see this little hole thingy on my card, can I plug something into here like an antenna or something to increase my range?

What key terms should I google or search for on this forum to answer my question? Thanks!
Yes, that is an antenna jack. Almost any 2.4GHz-rated antenna will work, but what is critical is the connector. Most 2.4GHz antennae and cables are terminated a Type N-Male connector, so you need a "pigtail" cable that will convert between a N-Female connector and the card's connector.

Google for the following keywords: antenna connector pigtail 802.11b proxim rangelan

You may also search these forums (using the same keywords) for additional information on these cards and their connectors.
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Old 09-18-2004   #5 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scuzzo
... I want to know if there is a way that I can get a better connection to these AP's ...
Do you realize that connecting to an AP that is not your's or that you do not have permission to use is illegal.
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Old 09-18-2004   #6 (permalink)
wrzwaldo
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scuzzo
Whats with the attitude? What did I say that made it seem that I dont know that this is the netstumbler forum?

Yes I did detect the APs. About the signal stregnth, say you have a AP in the next room, you get a good connection, the signal is good, but say the AP gets farther and farther, the connection/signal isnt as good. These AP's I am picking up are kind of far, but Im still picking them up. I want to know if there is a way that I can get a better connection to these AP's or be able to pick up AP's that are farther out in my area by some modification (antenna?)?
Quote:
I ran dstumbler...
Guess it would have been that!

As for the "far" AP's I'm sure you have permission to use them?
Last edited by wrzwaldo : 09-18-2004 at 02:32 PM.
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Old 09-18-2004   #7 (permalink)
scuzzo
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thorn
Yes, that is an antenna jack. Almost any 2.4GHz-rated antenna will work, but what is critical is the connector. Most 2.4GHz antennae and cables are terminated a Type N-Male connector, so you need a "pigtail" cable that will convert between a N-Female connector and the card's connector.

Google for the following keywords: antenna connector pigtail 802.11b proxim rangelan

You may also search these forums (using the same keywords) for additional information on these cards and their connectors.
Thank you Thorn. Ok so is this right --> I need a pigtail that is, on the left end is the N-male end, which plugs into my wifi card, and then the other end is whatever end , a specific end that matches up with a matching antenna end.
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Old 09-18-2004   #8 (permalink)
scuzzo
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thorn
Do you realize that connecting to an AP that is not your's or that you do not have permission to use is illegal.

yes I know this.
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Old 09-18-2004   #9 (permalink)
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I have never seen a WiFi card with an N style connector on it. What model # is it?
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Old 09-18-2004   #10 (permalink)
scuzzo
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wrzwaldo
Guess it would have been that!

As for the "far" AP's I'm sure you have permission to use them?
1. It says I can post Wifi questions in here, and I have seen countless freebsd, dstumbler , osx posts on this forum.

2. Yes
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Old 09-18-2004   #11 (permalink)
scuzzo
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wrzwaldo
I have never seen a WiFi card with an N style connector on it.
Im getting confused on this pigtail connector issue, and I dont know what type I need, or even exactly what parts I need in all.

What are all the parts I need? As far as , antenna, pigtail, wifi card..

I have a proxim rangeland-ds 802.11b card.


RangeLAN-DS products communicate with any 802.11 device, so you can build your wireless network with Proxim RangeLAN-DS or add RangeLAN-DS products to your existing 802.11b infrastructure. RangeLAN-DS's RC4 encryption keeps your network secure. And all RangeLAN-DS products come with straightforward configuration and management tools to keep network maintenance simple.

Features & Specifications: Radio Data Rate: 11, 5.5, 2 and 1 Mbps per channel, Auto Fall-Back. Range(in open environment): 11 Mbps - 460 feet (140m); 5.5 Mbps - 655 feet (200m); 2 Mbps - 885 feet (270m); 1 Mbps - 1300 feet (400m). Channels: 11 for North America; 14 Japan; 13 Europe (ETSI); 2 Spain; 4 France. Power: TX power consumpt. < 350mA; RX power consumpt. < 250mA. Frequency Band: 2.4 GHz frequency band. Actual frequencies in use vary by country: 2.412 - 2.462 GHz (North America); 2.412 - 2.484 GHz (Japan); 2.412 - 2.472 GHz (Europe ETSI); 2.457 - 2.462 GHz (Spain); 2.457 - 2.472 GHz (France). Radio Type: Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS). Modulation: CCK (11 Mbps, 5.5 Mbps), DQPSK (2 Mbps), DBPSK (1 Mbps). Radio Output Power: 13 dBm. Voltage: 3.3 V. Antenna Types: Integrated antenna with built-in diveristy or snap-on antenna with built-in diversity available. Sensitivity: @PER < 0.08; 11 Mbps < -83 dBm; 5.5 Mbps < -86 dBm; 2 Mbps < -89 dBm; 1 Mbps < -91dBm. Form Factor: PCMCIA, Type II PC Card; Card and Socket Services 2.1 compliant. Dimensions: 4.8" L x 2.1" W x 0.3" D(124mm x 54mm x 8.5mm).

Networking Requirements: Network Architecture: Supports ad-hoc peer-to-peer networks and infrastructure communication to wired Ethernet networks via Access Points. Drivers: Windows 95/98/2000/NT. Roaming: Seamless roaming (standard IEEE 802.11b comp-liant). Security: Wired Equivalency Protection (WEP)40-bit data encryption. 128-bit Encryption available soon. Consult Proxim. Installation - Diagnostics: Site Survey tool included. Surveys other wireless units, reports signal strength and quality. Desktop icon continuously reports connection status.
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Old 09-18-2004   #12 (permalink)
wrzwaldo
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scuzzo
1. It says I can post Wifi questions in here, and I have seen countless freebsd, dstumbler , osx posts on this forum.

2. Yes
1. Being that you posted in the loung I wanted to make sure you knew where you were.


2. We have heard this many times that is why I asked.
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Old 09-18-2004   #13 (permalink)
wrzwaldo
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The card end is most likely an MC connector (Proxim/Orinoco) you should verify before you order. You are correct about the antenna end. Most antennas have N-Female so you would need an N-Male.
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Old 09-18-2004   #14 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scuzzo
Thank you Thorn. Ok so is this right --> I need a pigtail that is, on the left end is the N-male end, which plugs into my wifi card, and then the other end is whatever end , a specific end that matches up with a matching antenna end.
Actually that's bass-ackwards.

Time for a little ASCII art:

Code:
   
Antenna----------N_Male   N_Female----------Card_Plug  Card_Jack(Laptop)
                                       ^^
                                     Pigtail
where ----- is the actual coax cable.
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Old 09-18-2004   #15 (permalink)
scuzzo
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So is this what I need, this pigtail and an antenna and im set?

http://www.cantenna.com/catalogue/PG03.html


Pigtail PG03


Connector: N-Male to MC Card
Cable length/type: 18" LMR 100

This RF cable fits the following devices:


Buffalo: WLI-CB-G54A AirStation PCMCIA Card, WLI-PCM-L11GP Airstation PCMCIA Card, WHR3-G54, WLA-G54, WLA-G54C, WBR2-B11, WLA-L11G, WLI-PCI-G54, WLI-TX1-G54, WRB-G54K, WLM2-G54
Dell: Truemobile 1150 PCMCIA Card
Enterasys Roamabout Cabletron: Most Enterasys devices; Enterasys Filotex
IBM: IBM Wireless PC Card; IBM Wireless AP500
PROXIM-ORINOCO: PC Card Gold (8470-FC/8470-WD/8420-WD), PC Card Silver (8471-WD)
Toshiba: Toshiba AP
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