New to Wifi need help

Jonny Rep · 11-17-2004

My local uni have wireless access to the uni network. Problem is I live just over 2 miles away from the campus.

My lecturer said that if I had an old pringles can I could buy a wifi card and build an "Cantenna" to boost the signal to get onto the network.

I'm not an engineer and don't fancy building one of these things, I've had a look on the web and have seen a number of US companies that sell "ready-made" Cantenna's but none here in the UK.

Being a student I fancy doing as cheap as I can but the pringles can is too daunting for me.

Can anyone advise me on this?

Thorn · 11-17-2004

Sorry to disappoint you, but it is extremely unlikely you will get two mile range from a cantenna (Pringles or manufactured). You will most likely need a more powerful antenna. In addition, you need RF (not visual) Line of Sight.

Tell your lecturer to stop smoking crack, and actually open an RF engineering book.

Jonny Rep · 11-17-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thorn

Sorry to disappoint you, but it is extremely unlikely you will get two mile range from a cantenna (Pringles or manufactured). You will most likely need a more powerful antenna. In addition, you need RF (not visual) Line of Sight.

Tell your lecturer to stop smoking crack, and actually open an RF engineering book.

More powerful is that something like a satellite dish type thing?

Also Line of Sight I understand, RF I don't know is it Radio Frequency?

Do you have any suggestions?

Getting onto the Uni network would save me a long walk as parking is virtualy impossible near the uni.

wrzwaldo · 11-17-2004

http://www.ydi.com/calculation/fresnel-zone.php

http://www.netstumbler.org/forumdisplay.php?f=23

Don't be afraid to read and search.

Thorn · 11-17-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonny Rep

More powerful is that something like a satellite dish type thing?

Something like this: http://www.superpass.com/SPFPG15.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonny Rep

Also Line of Sight I understand, RF I don't know is it Radio Frequency?

RF is Radio Frequency. The Fresnel Zone for RF LOS for a two mile run is about 20 ft. Essentially that means that the antennae on both ends have to be 20' above any intervening structures, tree, etc. So unless you can see the university's antenna and both your's and it are 20' above other structures, it won't work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonny Rep

Do you have any suggestions?

Getting onto the Uni network would save me a long walk as parking is virtualy impossible near the uni.

Get a dial up account or broadband.

Jonny Rep · 11-18-2004

Thanks Thorn,

Looks like this is out for me!

Thanks for the RF explanation as the link from wrzwaldo was a bit too technical for me, although I understand it now.

Dialup defeats the purpose for me as I'd be quicker working at the uni as I don't have broadband in my Area as Scotland has been neglected badly and only 40% can recieve broadband compared to an average of over 70% in England.

Thanks again for your help

Cheers

Jonny

11-17-2004	#1 (permalink)
Jonny Rep Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3	New to Wifi need help My local uni have wireless access to the uni network. Problem is I live just over 2 miles away from the campus. My lecturer said that if I had an old pringles can I could buy a wifi card and build an "Cantenna" to boost the signal to get onto the network. I'm not an engineer and don't fancy building one of these things, I've had a look on the web and have seen a number of US companies that sell "ready-made" Cantenna's but none here in the UK. Being a student I fancy doing as cheap as I can but the pringles can is too daunting for me. Can anyone advise me on this?

11-17-2004	#2 (permalink)
Thorn Did you do the math? Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Villa Straylight Posts: 10,084	Sorry to disappoint you, but it is extremely unlikely you will get two mile range from a cantenna (Pringles or manufactured). You will most likely need a more powerful antenna. In addition, you need RF (not visual) Line of Sight. Tell your lecturer to stop smoking crack, and actually open an RF engineering book. __________________ Thorn "I'm The Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I am from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old and I am the man who is going to save your lives and all 6 billion people on the planet below... You got a problem with that?"

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11-17-2004	#4 (permalink)
wrzwaldo I amuse you? Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 9,127	http://www.ydi.com/calculation/fresnel-zone.php http://www.netstumbler.org/forumdisplay.php?f=23 Don't be afraid to read and search.

11-18-2004	#6 (permalink)
Jonny Rep Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3	Thanks Thorn, Looks like this is out for me! Thanks for the RF explanation as the link from wrzwaldo was a bit too technical for me, although I understand it now. Dialup defeats the purpose for me as I'd be quicker working at the uni as I don't have broadband in my Area as Scotland has been neglected badly and only 40% can recieve broadband compared to an average of over 70% in England. Thanks again for your help Cheers Jonny