Help with wireless

[yenuwine]

Hi, I just moved into a new apartment very close to my school campus and realized I could sometimes get a connection with my wireless card on my laptop. This connection only works within a small area of my apartment (the card must be within an area of about 6 inches by 6 inches, right next to a window). I was wondering if anyone could tell me if its possible to improve this connection? I am currently using a gigafast laptop wireless card. Is it possible that if I get a higher quality card I can have more area in which to work in? Also, is it possible to use an access point even though the school network would need a username and password to connect? It would be really awesome if I didn't have to pay for a dsl line and could just use the campus network. Thanks for any feedback!

 

[JackMDS]

Three Long Shot Options.

Option 1. Try to Find an Orinoco Card. Tthey are slightly better than most other Client Card and can fit with an external Antenna. Could be that it will provide a solid connetion.

Option 2. Get an Access point that can be configured as a Client. If it works you can plug it to a Switch and connect locally through Wire.

Option 3. Get an Access Point that can be configured as a Repeater. The ?Speed? will be cut by 2, but if it works you will have Wireless connection to your Laptop using the current card as is.

First step in any of the option you will have to buy one piece of hardware for about $50-$70 and then if necessary add an External Antenna for $20-$50.

I would venture with option 3.

No guarantee that any of them work if you try get returnable hardware.

Link: Wireless Network - Configuration Modes.

:sun:

 

[SpeedDemonAaron]

Instead of getting an access point that can be configured as a repeater, make your own repeater. Access points generally can only be configured as a repeater if you are using all the same brand. There is no way to really know what brand your school is using and plus it's just not as good of a solution. So this is what you should do, get a Linksys WET11 wireless bridge ($90) and a Linksys WAP11 802.11b Access point ($60). The WET11 will pick up the signal, and then the WAP11 will boost it throughout your apartment so that you can get it anywhere.

If the WET11 has any problem picking up the signal, you could get a directional antenna, like this one from Hawking: http://www.buy.com/retail/computers/product.asp?sku=10348648&loc=18925. They go for about $50, and work great! That whole setup would run you $200, but would for sure give you a great solid connection if you can pick up the wifi right now with just a normal PC Card.