How to extend wireless range on a laptop?

Yuriman · Jan 11, 2005

My friend's next door neighbor has a wireless network, and his friend gave the OK to connect through it. The problem is, his laptop doesnt have the required range. He also does not know much about wireless networking. Should I install netstumbler on his pc to help him with finding a wireless network? And about the range....being a laptop, you cannot really add an external antenna to a CF card. What can I do to increase his range? Perhaps an external box and a cantenna?

CrashOveride · Jan 11, 2005

There are some wireless cards that you can add some sort of external antenna to...
There are range extenders too.

Yuriman · Jan 12, 2005

Ok....links would be nice. I dont know where to look for laptop parts.

CrashOveride · Jan 12, 2005

I have no idea. I've just seen wardriving and long range wireless stuff on TV, and they use laptops.
Google would be a great start as usua, but you might also check out the NetStumbler forums and other wifi specific/wardriving forums.

The range exteners are for all wireless networks and can be found at newegg. I'm not sure exactly what type of setup they need though.

samuraisam · Jan 13, 2005

http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448 Here you go man.

I've done it, it works.

-Sam

Daewood · Jan 13, 2005

also check out the sticky under the alternative modding then modded and sticky subforum called wireless cantanna i belive that that will get you more of a gain than the pringles can but either on can do it cheap and easy

Softgod · Jan 13, 2005

I would not use an "Cantanna" just because they look pretty ghetto. After a quick Ebay search for "wireless antenna: I cam up with this as the first one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=86720&item=5742908471&rd=1

That was totally random by the way and I do not know that guy or company.

I use a 1200 dollar 3com 8750 AP at home that does A/B/G and a specific 3com antenna but they are all pretty much the same on the inside. I use to have one outside but I took it down, how many times do I really mess with it 4 miles away? Anyhow it works great. I would stick with the 3com stuff but then again I am a 3com nut with thousands of dollars in there equipment (fiber gigabit all over the house).

samuraisam · Jan 13, 2005

Ghetto??? That's called leet (1337) my friend, get used to it!

-Sam

Softgod · Jan 13, 2005

Lol, yes it is 1337 but I prefer to just buy my wireless toys. It does do the same thing if you know what you are doing. No disrespect intended.

samuraisam · Jan 14, 2005

Haha! Yes. My friend and I shared a DSL connection over several miles with an old used up 7 foot dish.

Two actually.

EDIT: This was a while ago.

It was fun to set up, but our parents both got mad about these rather large dish's we had inconviently in our yards.

-Sam

Fightingpiper · Jan 14, 2005

From what I recall you should look for an orinoco pcmcia card as they usually have the connector for a wireless antenna. or My favorite is what hey560 did in THIS thread. I got one of these little USB wireless card and am gonna try it this weekend........

cooter · Jan 15, 2005

go for an access point that will broaden the range of the network.

How to extend wireless range on a laptop?

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