Newbie needs some help please

mightymouse · 01-08-2003

Hey everyone,

I'm starting medical school in August and my school (Nova Southeastern) provides wireless access throughout their entire campus! Now this is great, while you're ON campus, but I'm planning on living in one of the nearby apartment complexes (1 or 2 miles) off campus.

I haven't bought my laptop, or wireless card or anything yet, so what do I need to get access at home?

Any clue on how fast the internet connection will be?

the URL for info about the service is found here:
http://wireless.nova.edu/

Thanks in advance

db8tr · 01-08-2003

You would have to have line of sight (as in you can literally see) one of the antennas for an access point on campus. In other words, unless you can see buildings on campus from where you live, you are probably out of luck. If you can see buildings, the next thing is to find out where the antennas are the buildings that you see. Talk to your network administrator for that info. From there, figure out if you have line of site to an antenna. If you do, then search the forums for information on how to set up a long distance link. Sounds like a wet11 would do well with a yagi antenna. You could then uplink that into your home network.

peekitty · 01-08-2003

There's a pretty good chance of getting access, NSU's signal from their medical facility is really noticable on University drive. I've seen dozens of APs around their campus. I'd be willing to lend a hand for your project if you need help.
Congrats on the med school!

mightymouse · 01-09-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by peekitty
There's a pretty good chance of getting access, NSU's signal from their medical facility is really noticable on University drive. I've seen dozens of APs around their campus. I'd be willing to lend a hand for your project if you need help.
Congrats on the med school!

Thanks a lot! I'm not heading down there until August, but if I get stuck, now I know who to bug

I guess my next question is, should I just build a cantenna or you think the netstumbler kit would work?

peekitty · 01-09-2003

You'll probably need something more directional than the netstumbler kit's omni. For a daily-use setup, my instinct is to go with a more robust connector than the Lucent card offers, maybe an Engenius cards or Cisco. You'll be less likely to snap an MMCX connector. You won't know for sure until you get here, you may not need an external antenna at all!

mightymouse · 01-11-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by peekitty
You'll probably need something more directional than the netstumbler kit's omni. For a daily-use setup, my instinct is to go with a more robust connector than the Lucent card offers, maybe an Engenius cards or Cisco. You'll be less likely to snap an MMCX connector. You won't know for sure until you get here, you may not need an external antenna at all!

Well, I'm looking at cards to get right now, and from what I understood, an orinoco gold or silver card would be the best for using netstumbler and easily attaching an external antenna. What card do you suggest? The various rebadged orinoco cards are all going for $40+ but I've found some engenius cards on eBay for a lot cheaper. Check out this eBay Link

Then there are also these super-cheap Symphony cards with an external antenna on eBay but I don't know if they'll work with NS.

thanks for your help

db8tr · 01-11-2003

fyi... a google search on those proxim cards shows that they are FHSS (frequency hopping spread spectrum) as opposed to the 802.11b standard of DSSS (direct sequence spread spectrum). In short, this proxim card will not work with your univerity's system.

mightymouse · 01-11-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by db8tr
fyi... a google search on those proxim cards shows that they are FHSS (frequency hopping spread spectrum) as opposed to the 802.11b standard of DSSS (direct sequence spread spectrum). In short, this proxim card will not work with your univerity's system.

Actually, I just found that out and came on here to post that to the forum... dang it, can't get anything past you guys

Thanks a lot

db8tr · 01-11-2003

Well, I knew there was something fishy since the price was so low... If it was a dsss card I was going to buy a couple just to experiment with. Oh well.

mightymouse · 01-11-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by db8tr
Well, I knew there was something fishy since the price was so low... If it was a dsss card I was going to buy a couple just to experiment with. Oh well.

So what card do YOU recommend?

db8tr · 01-11-2003

Well, I would say it depends on your setup. Are you going to have a LAN setup in your apartment? If so then I would suggest forgoing the card and using a linksys wet11 to connect to the AP on campus and then connect it through an uplink port on a router. Using NAT you would give all the computers on the network access. If you want to connect just one computer, then you have a couple of different options. You could get a card... say an orinoco, plus a pigtail and external antenna and be on your way. However, this would require you to always stay close to your antenna. There is no real way of knowing what kind of setup you will need untill you get there. It all depends on the signal strength at your apartment. Like peekitty said, there is a chance you don't need an external antenna at all. That being said, buying a card with an external antenna connector (like the orinoco) will allow you to have your bases covered.

peekitty · 01-13-2003

The main reason I suggest something other than Orinoco is this: If you're going to be plugging in an antenna when you get home every day, you're going to wear out the connector and/or pigtail eventually. On the other hand, they're not terribly expensive, and if you have to replace it once a year, no big deal. Otherwise, I can't say anything negative about the Orinoco, and it would be simplify things to use the same rig on and off campus.
My revised recommendation: Just get a gold card, and worry about an antenna later.

db8tr · 01-13-2003

While I have heard of people breaking the mc connector on the orinoco pigtails, I have never had that problem. I have been using the same 12 inch pigtail from fabcorp for 8 months. I probably plug and unplug it at least 3 times a week. I am careful with it though... always put it straight on and pull straight off. Any side to side motion coild bend or break the center pin.

gmiller220 · 01-13-2003

Something that hasn't been mentioned here (unless I missed it) is that your university might not allow this type of connection. Some system admins are anal about this so check and make sure you can connect THEN decide what equipment you need.

peekitty · 01-13-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by db8tr
While I have heard of people breaking the mc connector on the orinoco pigtails, I have never had that problem. I have been using the same 12 inch pigtail from fabcorp for 8 months. I probably plug and unplug it at least 3 times a week. I am careful with it though... always put it straight on and pull straight off. Any side to side motion coild bend or break the center pin.

I've noticed that the force required to insert/remove the pigtail on my Avaya card has lessened over the last 6 months that I've had it. I use the external antenna a few times per week, and figured that it was wearing out prematurely.
Update: I just Googled up the mechanical specs for the MC-Card plug and it shows my concerns were unfounded: it's rated at 5000 insertion/removal cycles, it would take about 13 years of daily use to wear it out! It's a pretty safe bet that 802.11b will be a vague memory in 13 years.

01-08-2003	#1 (permalink)
mightymouse Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 19	Newbie needs some help please Hey everyone, I'm starting medical school in August and my school (Nova Southeastern) provides wireless access throughout their entire campus! Now this is great, while you're ON campus, but I'm planning on living in one of the nearby apartment complexes (1 or 2 miles) off campus. I haven't bought my laptop, or wireless card or anything yet, so what do I need to get access at home? Any clue on how fast the internet connection will be? the URL for info about the service is found here: http://wireless.nova.edu/ Thanks in advance

01-08-2003	#2 (permalink)
db8tr Wireless Widget Whacker Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 145	You would have to have line of sight (as in you can literally see) one of the antennas for an access point on campus. In other words, unless you can see buildings on campus from where you live, you are probably out of luck. If you can see buildings, the next thing is to find out where the antennas are the buildings that you see. Talk to your network administrator for that info. From there, figure out if you have line of site to an antenna. If you do, then search the forums for information on how to set up a long distance link. Sounds like a wet11 would do well with a yagi antenna. You could then uplink that into your home network. __________________ -Db8tr

01-11-2003	#7 (permalink)
db8tr Wireless Widget Whacker Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 145	fyi... a google search on those proxim cards shows that they are FHSS (frequency hopping spread spectrum) as opposed to the 802.11b standard of DSSS (direct sequence spread spectrum). In short, this proxim card will not work with your univerity's system. __________________ -Db8tr

01-11-2003	#9 (permalink)
db8tr Wireless Widget Whacker Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 145	Well, I knew there was something fishy since the price was so low... If it was a dsss card I was going to buy a couple just to experiment with. Oh well. __________________ -Db8tr

01-11-2003	#11 (permalink)
db8tr Wireless Widget Whacker Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 145	Well, I would say it depends on your setup. Are you going to have a LAN setup in your apartment? If so then I would suggest forgoing the card and using a linksys wet11 to connect to the AP on campus and then connect it through an uplink port on a router. Using NAT you would give all the computers on the network access. If you want to connect just one computer, then you have a couple of different options. You could get a card... say an orinoco, plus a pigtail and external antenna and be on your way. However, this would require you to always stay close to your antenna. There is no real way of knowing what kind of setup you will need untill you get there. It all depends on the signal strength at your apartment. Like peekitty said, there is a chance you don't need an external antenna at all. That being said, buying a card with an external antenna connector (like the orinoco) will allow you to have your bases covered. __________________ -Db8tr

01-08-2003	#3 (permalink)
peekitty Macaca Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S. Florida Posts: 1,056	There's a pretty good chance of getting access, NSU's signal from their medical facility is really noticable on University drive. I've seen dozens of APs around their campus. I'd be willing to lend a hand for your project if you need help. Congrats on the med school!

01-09-2003	#5 (permalink)
peekitty Macaca Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S. Florida Posts: 1,056	You'll probably need something more directional than the netstumbler kit's omni. For a daily-use setup, my instinct is to go with a more robust connector than the Lucent card offers, maybe an Engenius cards or Cisco. You'll be less likely to snap an MMCX connector. You won't know for sure until you get here, you may not need an external antenna at all!

01-13-2003	#12 (permalink)
peekitty Macaca Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S. Florida Posts: 1,056	The main reason I suggest something other than Orinoco is this: If you're going to be plugging in an antenna when you get home every day, you're going to wear out the connector and/or pigtail eventually. On the other hand, they're not terribly expensive, and if you have to replace it once a year, no big deal. Otherwise, I can't say anything negative about the Orinoco, and it would be simplify things to use the same rig on and off campus. My revised recommendation: Just get a gold card, and worry about an antenna later.

01-13-2003	#13 (permalink)
db8tr Wireless Widget Whacker Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 145	While I have heard of people breaking the mc connector on the orinoco pigtails, I have never had that problem. I have been using the same 12 inch pigtail from fabcorp for 8 months. I probably plug and unplug it at least 3 times a week. I am careful with it though... always put it straight on and pull straight off. Any side to side motion coild bend or break the center pin. __________________ -Db8tr

01-13-2003	#14 (permalink)
gmiller220 People are dumb Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 466	Something that hasn't been mentioned here (unless I missed it) is that your university might not allow this type of connection. Some system admins are anal about this so check and make sure you can connect THEN decide what equipment you need.

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