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Just wondering

Being an avid newsgroup reader, I decided to see if there was a group dedicated to wireless - and I found you guys.

Just a quick question. I've read numerous articles concerning building your own cantenna and really don't want to go through the trouble if this commercial product is any good.

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There are lots of these on eBay which would indicate one of 2 things:

1) They work real good and there's a large market for them.

2) They don't work worth a crap and the dealers are trying to unload their stock on eBay.

Any thoughts?

My purpose is to extend my wireless access from my commercial metal building to approx. 250 feet to my daughter's house. She wants to take some online classes. I'm reasonably sure I would have to mount the antenna outside. The current AP works well in the building (only

1 wall - rest of building is open), but the signal quickly dies outside the building.

There is a road between the house and the building, thereby preventing pulling Cat5. I have extended my access to my home by running cable from the building to the barn where I installed a "switch" (which boosts the signal) and then from the barn to my house to another "switch". From the switch in my house I have several systems hard wired plus an AP for roaming the house with my laptop.

Thanks Lee

Reply to
Lee Peedin
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It's very expensive for a tin can that you can get anywhere.

You could go to

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and pay in some cases half that price and in many other cases less for a proper 2.4GHz designed antenna with published figures. Some including wall mounting brackets for less than the price of the cantenna.

David.

Reply to
David Taylor

One point he miss is perhaps they do work well and the people on ebay are making a few bucks making them for people that can't or just don't want to make on.

P.S. I have one and they do work very well.

Reply to
YouCanToo

But you'll get better for cheaper from the source I cited.

David.

Reply to
David Taylor

You might try as well to build a USB adapter antenna. Very simple to build and use.

link :

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A standard 12 inch concave kitchen mixing bowl seems to work quite well.

The only problem seems to be that the common utlities such as Netstumbler do not seem to function well with these antennas. Link strength is very low with a very high functional link quality. These utilities seem to function on a power threshold rather than a link quality one. You can use the utility bundled with the adapter which often can be had relatively cheaply. Another advantage to this type of antenna is that you can run a length of wire as the usb connection without signal strength loss along the antenna wire leading to the computer from the remote adapter.

Reply to
frankdowling1

I just built an new one but I did not use a usb stick. I figure it cost about $14.00 at the most.

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Reply to
YouCanToo

I have bought from them before.

Reply to
YouCanToo

Thanks for the response will look into this.

Lee

Reply to
Lee Peedin

Hi,

Lee, around here we use 'JULIE' to locate anything in the way underground. You didn't say what type of roadway. If it is just paved without curb and you have easement rights. Then snaking a line under the roadway would be possible.

You could use a simple water pipe to flush through to the other side. These pipes are nothing more than a pipe with spike nose with a few holes in them to spray a stream. Rotate the pipe at least 1/2 turns back and forth. This will maximize the spray to open the hole. I've dug a small ditch/trench on both sides to allow access. Use the water pipe to flush as you move the pipe in and out of the hole. Sometimes I have to go to the other trench(opposite side) and flush to meet the other. This is crude but works. Works for sidewalks too!

Make sure you have easement rights and all utilities are located. If you damage anything in the process of crossing under the road, it will be your responsibility (costs). A dedicated line will be much faster and secure than a wireless.

Reply to
gary

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