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Looking for a stronger wireless network USB adapter...

Just about anything with a Prism chipset can be bludeoned to work with OS/X. See:

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's a shopping list of MacOS and OS/X compatible hardware:
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Linux, see:
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Ignore the price tag initially, as there doesn't seem to be any connection between quality and price in the wireless hardware biz.

What do you mean by "great distances"? How many miles, furlongs[1], cubits, chains, or paces do you consider to one "great distance"?

The problem is probably not the USB radio. It's the antenna. The tiny USB PIFA PCB antennas are just too small to do anything useful at "great distances".

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left two photos are the antenna.

Basically, you need a bigger antenna or an add on reflector antenna. A different tiny USB radio is likely to have the same range. USB radios with 1/4 wave antennas (about 31mm long) work better than the tiny PIFA antennas.

Try a reflector first:

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a coffee can:
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a mini-USB can be mounted to a reflector, or put into a can.
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from a posting by Clarence A Dold.)

On the last URL, I'm not sure that bashing a hole in the side of the coffee can is the right way to do this. Methinks it might block too much reflected RF from the bottom of the can. Instead, I suggest you bash a hole in the bottom of the can, dead center, and adjust the distance between the end of the USB radio, and the bottom of the can to about 31mm. I'm not sure this will work any better, but it will only cost you a coffee can to find out.

External high gain antennas for Apple Powerbooks are available:

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(and a bunch more...)

Good, fast, cheap. Pick two.

If you really want a universal wireless contraption, forget about USB. All operating systems will talk to ethernet. Get a box that can play wireless client with an ethernet port. WAP54G, DWL-900AP+, etc. There's nothing unique in the operating system. No drivers, configs, or installs. There's also no 16ft USB cable limitation. Put it on your roof if you feel the urge. You can also get ethernet radios with a built in antenna:

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[1] One furlong is equal to 220 yards and is commonly used in horse racing to confuse everyone.
Reply to
Jeff Liebermann
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Hi.

I am looking for a stronger wireless network USB adapter since my current old D-Link AirPlus DWL-120+ USB Adapter is not strong enough and not compatible with MacOS X 10.2.8 and Linux (Debian; Kernel 2.6.8; I know there is a third party EXPERIMENTAL driver). It works OK in Windows XP and 2000 SP4.

What's the best powerful and not so expensive network USB Adapter to connect to WAPs at great distances? This D-Link one likes to disconnects and sometimes cannot pick up a lot of WAPs. I am planning to use the new one for my old 15" PowerBook G4 1 Ghz (its Airport is very weak), desktop machines, etc. so I will be switching between computers often and taking it with me. Linux and MacOS X drivers are important and must be easy to set up with little compilation and configuration.

Are there any after Christmas sales? I live in Los Angeles county and I would like to buy from a retail store like Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Fry's Electronics, Office Depot, Staples, PC Club, Nexcom, etc.

Thank you in advance and happy holidays! :)

Reply to
ANTant

Wowser! Thanks for the informative links!

It seems like there are a lot of lack of drivers and support on non-Windows platforms, especially on MacOS X. How disappoointing. Since you say the prices are not important, I will ignore that just to get the OS support.

Based on

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(12/27/2004):

Linksys WUSB54G = $39.99 [Best Buy] = 3rd party Linux driver and no MacOS X driver

DLink WL 54G USB = $39.99 = can't find on D-Link's site Linksys WL 11b USB = $29.99/$39.99 = can't find on Linksys' site Linksys WL 108G USB = $59.99 = can't find on Linksys' site Linksys WL 54 USB = $59.99 = can't find on Linksys' site Netgear WG111 NA = $29.99 = No drivers for both MacOS X and Linux

Having a reflector is a bit overboard. I don't want have to carry something that big and I don't really like modify hardwares (not a tool guy). :)

Is the limited USB radio the same thing in laptops/notebooks that come with wireless networking?

Jeff Liebermann wrote:

Reply to
ANTant

Agreed. Most of the RF comes off from the direction of the top of the DWL-122 (side with name and flashing LED's). However, it's anything but directional. When I tinkered with mine in "free space", I found very little difference in signal level pointing inline with the dongle, than at the alleged maximum RF point. There was a rather large drop towards the bottom of the unit, which would be expected from the shielding of the circuit board. Basically, as the antenna shrinks in size, it starts to act more like a point source (isotropic) radiator. My guess(tm) is that the pattern is more like a sphere, with a big dent in the direction of the bottom and in the direction of the cable. If I feed ambitious, I'll see if I can concoct a PIFA NEC2 model and play with the results.

As I said, I'm not sure it will work any better coming in from the bottom. 10% is about 1dB which is probably not worth worrying about. However, the height above the base reflector is important and does make a difference in both pattern and gain. The ability to adjust this height is much easier with a hole in the bottom, than one in the side. In any case, it will only cost one coffee can to find out.

Reply to
Jeff Liebermann

Learn by Destroying perhaps? The reflector can be quite portable. A pair of hinged flat plate reflectors in the shape of a book is quite portable. When deployed, it acts like a corner reflector. I wouldn't use one in a crowded coffee shop, but it's idea for sitting under a tree and connecting to a distant access point.

I don't understand the question. Looks like you left out a few key words.

Also, you never did answer my question. How far is your "great distance"? It may not be possible if it's too far.

Reply to
Jeff Liebermann

The pattern from the DWL-122 is off the face of the assembled unit. Pointing it in from the bottom of the can wouldn't be helpful. Blocking 1/10th of the surface area of the reflector on the backside of the usb dongle probably doesn't make much difference.

Reply to
dold

No, there's nothing in the laptop that would limit the performance of either built in or external radios. The major limitations on performance are (in order): 1. Antenna 2. Receiver sensitivity 3. Transmitter output 4. Firmware and drivers There is also a tradeoff between speed and range. Higher speeds causes more data errors. The radios will reduce the speed to keep the bit error rate (BER) down to a tolerable level. I don't wanna go into detail, but problems with any of the 4 items will reduce range and/or performance. The problem with most USB dongle size radios is the tiny antenna. The rx sensitivity and tx power are also somewhat limited by the power source. With a proper antenna, they'll do as well as any client radio.

About 100ft if you have line of sight without much difficulty. 300ft max with a bit of antenna gain.

Reply to
Jeff Liebermann

I think it is quite directional. I had some signal off the point, very little off the back. Most off the face. I didn't check the cable end. I had mine stuck on the end of a wooden dowel, holding it above my head, rotating, and then pointing toward the WAP.

The fixed height of the dongle attached the way that I have it is immutable. But changing the diameter of the can has the apparent effect of moving it more or less off center in the can. If it is more waveguide than reflector, this is useful.

I tried a little slide screen for repositioning my side mount at different distances from the bottom, and didn't find much variation. I thought it was better at over two inches, instead of the calulated 1.7", but later review of the Netstumbler log showed some fluctuations that I hadn't noticed the first time. I think sloppy angling inside the can has as much deleterious effect as bad distance from the reflective bottom.

Sticking the USB connector of the dongle through the can and using the cable attachment as a clamp of sorts is so easy. A solid mount at some point along the body would be more difficult.

Reply to
dold

I don't like breaking expensive stuff. :) Maybe when I don't care about the hardwares!

I meant to say if the wireless network devices in laptops have limited USB radio or are they strong in distance reach and stability?

Sorry, far enough that it can go. I don't know how far my D-Link goes. I cannot find the distance specifications for D-Link AirPlus DWL-120+ USB adapter. PowerBook G4's Airport is definitely too weak.

Reply to
ANTant

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