Wi Fi Booster

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rawidman

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I believe there was a thread on this topic a while back but I can't find it.

At my marina I am able to connect to an unsecured access point but with a very weak and unreliable signal. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

The thread I mentioned recommended a "booster" but when I went to my local Staples and Best Buy stores, Staples sent me to Radio Shack (ugh) and the guy at Best Buy said there was no such thing.

So - anyone who has been able to add something to a laptop to make a better connection to a weak signal, I would appreciate knowing what you bought and how well it works.
 
there were 3 or 4 threads on that in the past few months, with a lot of good info.

search "wave rogue wifi" in the serach box at the bottom of the page and that will come up.

in short, after a lot of research i installed a wifi booster on the 70 footer i captain and it made a huge difference.. I chose the Rogue, made by Wave systems, and sold to my billylll. great system and easy to install (outside antenna, short cable to the booster, then a cat 5 network cable directly to a laptop (network cable) or better to a router so that you can move aroudn the boat and also use it with i-phone/pads.

very pleased with the system, it really works and got us wifi where we shoudlnt' have been able to.
 
I hear nothing but good things about the Wave Rogue. The only negative is that I believe it's a few hundred dollars, and it's really designed for larger vessels who have the need to connect a number of devices. If that's what you're looking to do, that's probably your best option. However, if you're just looking to connect one laptop, you can start at around $27 with an Alpha Networks USB card with built in 1watt amp ($27.15 w/ free shipping from Amazon - search for "1000mW 1W 802.11g/n High Gain USB"). There's a very good chance the rubber ducky antenna that comes with it will make all the difference you need. But if it doesn't, you haven't wasted any money as you can also add an external antenna for about the same price again (plus cable). And heck, if it doesn't work, return it to Amazon.
 
Case in point. As I type this I am anchored off the beach in Bimini at a dive site called the Atlantis Road. I'm perhaps 200' from the beach and 1/2 mile or so from Bimini Big Game Club and I'm linked to their wifi.

Rogue, don't leave home without it.

Bob
 
Exactly, or a similar system with a 1 watt amp and a good external antenna. The question comes in to play for the OP (Ron) if he wants to supply the received signal to other devices or just to one device. And where he'll be using it. If mainly at marinas in the US, then the card I mentioned with a rubber ducky antenna may very well suffice. It's just a matter of how much he wants to spend. I find that the majority of time I'm using my Verizon PDA to create my own wifi hotspot inside of the boat for my wife and I (yes, even in the Bahamas). The real trick with range on any of this stuff is a quality external antenna.
 
What I'm hoping to find is something between the Wave Rogue at $300 + and the $27 Alpha Networks USB card which apparently requires disabling the built in WiFi device on the laptop. There is only one computer to be used..

I found a couple "repeaters" for $60 or so that in theory pick up a weak signal, amplify it, and rebroadcast it. I haven't been able to determine if they can operate from 12 volts DC or need 120 volts. I can use my inverter if it comes to that but it would be simpler to just turn it on and use it.

As for intended use, as I posted, my main use would be to amplify a weak unsecured access point about 1/4 mile from my marina. Secondary would be while cruising, either at marinas or on the hook. My marina, in theory, provides an access point, but since the antenna is inside a metal building, the signal doesn't reach the docks. I have to go to the office to use it.

I have no compelling need to be on the Internet while on the boat, but it would be nice at times.
 
Ron,

If you add an external antenna to the Alpha card, you're going to get about the same range as the Rogue. My suggestion is to get the card and try it with the included antenna to see if it works for you. Regardless, even if you add the external antenna you'll be well under $100.

As for disabling the built in adapter, you shouldn't have to. I've used an older Alpha card with both XP and Windows 7 and don't have to disable the built in adapter. The Alpha, once plugged in, just shows up with more hot spots as options (although disabling the adapter is about a 5 second process in Windows).
 
I purchased the Wave RVMarine Model # WAVRVMAR for $170, plus their 16' USB extension cable, and have been very pleased with the results. I see a dozen or more unsecured opportunities. BTW, I use Optimum Cable for my office (NY/NJ area) and they offer free wifi to customers, if you are in range, we see at least 3-4 Optimum signals in range of the marina.
 
There is no easier WiFi connection manager than the ROGUE or Wave unit's in my opinion. I use the Geo SatSolutions Wave WiFi EC/HP/RP with an external 10db Omni as my primary WiFi bridge/router and a ROGUE as a back up. I seem to be limited to 2 to 3 miles over water with the ROGUE. I typically get 6-8 miles (over water) but the signal & speed drop to 802.11B mode when connected to my carrier grade high power access points with my high power unit. I don't like using USB modems for many reasons. I have recently been playing with the Ubiquity Rocket M2 (MIMO TDMA 2X2) WiFi AP's using cross polarized 120 degree sector panels as Access Points managing the AP's sectors with the "Red Box" controller by Wave/GeoSat.
I'm also working on some 5GHz or dual radio 2.4/5GHz sectorized access point installations. When in range nothing beats the 5GHz N standard for speed, the limit is always the backhaul to the internet.
Bill
 
Kurt I hate to break it to you but a USB port can not support a true 1 watt unit. Careful many unit's claim 1 watt but they are including the antenna gain so in reality a 200mw unit with a 7dbd Omni could be called a 1 watt system. Also hooking up an external amplifier that is not software power controlled can actually slow your speeds down when the amplifier is driven into compression (1db comp point) once you get non linear and trust me you can't purchase wholesale a real 30dbm bi-directional WiFi amplifier for under a few hundred bucks you will slow your performance down. In my testing I have seen where you are retransmitting packets and have jitter. You are usually better off without the cheaper amplifiers just using a the Bridge/router and external antenna alone.
Bill
 
I bet that $1,900 EC/HP/RP is darn nice too! :-)

I know the Wave units are better. I just thought Ron might find that a $30 solution works for him. I've been using an Alpha card for years along with an L-Com 1w amp and 9dB external antenna. That system works great for me. But I also find that I can sometimes just use the card with a rubber antenna in the cabin and I'm good too. Anything is better than the built-in wifi antennas on a laptop.
 
quote:
Originally posted by mixman

I bet that $1,900 EC/HP/RP is darn nice too! :-)

I know the Wave units are better. I just thought Ron might find that a $30 solution works for him. I've been using an Alpha card for years along with an L-Com 1w amp and 9dB external antenna. That system works great for me. But I also find that I can sometimes just use the card with a rubber antenna in the cabin and I'm good too. Anything is better than the built-in wifi antennas on a laptop.

Click to expand...

You are right about the lack of performance of built in WiFi cards in laptops.
 
I'd love to post a picture of the built in antenna patches and 1/16th of an inch lossy cables they use in laptops. Then the placement is a compromise at best.
Bill
 
I can't remember which magazine it was (Passage Maker perhaps), but they had a great article about wifi on boats a couple of years ago (I think I scanned it and kept it). They went into great detail, but the bottom line was something like: Anyone who thinks they're going to get a decent signal with a built-in wifi card/antenna while below decks in a cabin needs to get a clue.

So true. So true.
 
I have the Hyperlink Technologies Kit (from L-com)Complete System in a kit $165, Antenna $115 for a total of $280. It has worked flawlessly for the last 3 years. You have to be careful to comply with FCC rules on allowed gain (antenna plus amplifier).
 
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. I now have information to make a decision.
 
So is there a simple (and medium cheap) plug-n-play solution or are we either paying hundreds or building a Heathkit to get wi-fi?
 
Start with the Alpha card for $27. If that's not enough, add an external antenna. We're talking $100 or less worst-case using this method. Or, plop out the $350 or so for the Rogue Wave, which is proven to work.
 
quote:
Originally posted by mixman

Start with the Alpha card for $27. If that's not enough, add an external antenna. We're talking $100 or less worst-case using this method. Or, plop out the $350 or so for the Rogue Wave, which is proven to work.

Click to expand...


Alfa card ordered.

We'll see where this takes us.
 
If your comfortable with GUI's (Graphic User Interfaces) then look at the Ubiquity NANO station. I'm on one now I find the GUI connection manager a PIA compared to the Wave WiFi units. Just an FYI in the near future look for dual 2.4 & 5GHz access points to start showing up at Marinas that have the backhaul (pipeline) to the internet. 5GHz will be used for higher speed connections and the 2.4GHz sectors will be used when you are out on the hook or for I Phone, Droids and Skype applications.
Bill
 
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