Dummy's guide to wireless internet?

by **Trevoke** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 11:44 am

Alright. This is really not working for me, so.. Before I go and say that my bioelectrical energy is disrupting the waves, I want to make sure that I'm just clueless...

Does anyone have a link or the patience to write one of those quick guides to make sure it's all working, or what can hinder the signal?

Material : cable modem connected to a router with wireless antenna.
Router is up on the second floor of the house in a wooden shelf (6 feet up or so).
My computer is down in the basement, the wireless card is plugged in, it is set to the proper network ID, there's no WEP, and there is room behind the computer just in case signals don't squeeze well in tight spaces...

Additional Info : I have successfully gotten the wireless card to connect, hence the SSID is correct, the WEP settings are correct...
Additional Info : My father's computer is set on a wireless as well and works fine. Granted - it's in the same room, but...
I have set up that router before (I've already asked questions about this actually I believe).... it's set up fine.

When the card connects to the network, I usually get a signal strength of 100%, but the link quality .. Well.. is usually highly unstable. I have been connected to the network and not the internet, although that may be because I can't get a stable connection to the network for more than 10 seconds or so.

by **netphreak** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 11:52 am

Do you have a cordless phone nearby? This could disrupt the signal. Also, If the router is on the seond story and you're in the basement, you definately won't get a good signal. No other ideas than that...

by **NoUse** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:46 pm

Yea wireless phones can mess up the signal but the phone usually has to be in use. Have you thought about getting an external antenna?

by **Tech_Junkie** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:48 pm

If it was me I'd try to get the router on the 1st floor between the two machines. But if it's not an option I'd try making a parabolic reflector to help aim the wifi waves toward the basement.

by **GhostHawk** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:49 pm

That probably is that your in the basement and the router is on the 2nd floor. 2.4ghz doesnt travel through items all that well. But there could be something else wrong. I would take your computer up to the first or second floor and give it a try. If it doent work than you have a different problem. If it does work you have a few options .

You could buy an external wireless antenna and plug it into your Wireless card.

You could try going 900mhz (Which is sweet BTW)

Maybe a wireless bridge between the 1st and second floor.

Run some Cat5

All of my options require spending more money, because thats what I'm used to doing. I setup Wireless Networks all day, if I can't get a signal i go buy more powerful equipment. :-)

Hope this helped.

-Ghost Hawk

by **GhostHawk** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 1:35 pm

Just thought you guys might like this pic.

The one on the left has a range of about 8 miles LOS and the one on the right is about 12 miles LOS. Those are what I use at home. Forget WarDriving or WarWalking, I like to do WarSitting.

-Ghost Hawk

http://www.project-hack.org/antennas.jpg

by **Trevoke** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:34 pm

How do I go 900Mhz?
I am looking for a wireless system that will allow me to wire all the computers in my house (my family) wireless, because wires all over the place are just driving us insane...
And that does mean I need it to go through objects well enough... Walls, plumbing, wood, whatever..

by **GhostHawk** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 6:01 pm

You would have to get 900mhz equipment :-)

I'm not even sure if they make that shit for home use, could be wrong though.

-Ghost Hawk

by **Trevoke** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 11:02 pm

Well - any easy way to know besides scouting around well-known sites like pricewatch or asking CompUSA?

I do need a solution that will work for every computer in the house.. Virtually all computers have the same problem, and some of them are on the same floor as the router.

by **GhostHawk** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 11:28 pm

Ok heres what you need to do. I know some people would disagree but for what you want to do, home wireless equipment just isn't good enough yet. But I would cable your house, Run Cat5 through the attic for the top floors and you can run it outside for the first floor and the basement, I known this sounds like a big hassle but it really is super easy. I build wireless and wired networks everyday. I have the pleasure of using $5000 access points and $600 dollar wireless antennas. But regular off the shelf wireless equipment is crap. Clean up your wires, organize. At this point in time, I wouldnt reccomend a wireless network for your house. Probably not the answer you wanted, but this advice is coming from experience. You you have any questions about wiring your house you can reply here, e-mail me, pm me . or Yahoo! ICQ, AIM , IRC, Whatever. If anyone else has a conflicting point of view please post.

-Ghost Hawk

by **Tech_Junkie** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 11:42 pm

I'm just curious about the running the cat5 outside the house part. When I was looking for solutions to a problem all the info I found was opposed to running cat5 outdoors because of lightning strikes. (even with arrestors) I have had a cable running outside of my residence for a few years now without any problems but I declined doing it for a business because I didn't want to be liable for equipment damage. I just wondered what your view was on this.

by **GhostHawk** » Sat Jun 26, 2004 12:19 am

You dont have to worry about Cat5 runs outside getting hit by lighting unless you have some sort of antenna on the roof using that Cat5. If you dont have an antenna on the roof with cat5 running on it its a 1 in a billion shot that it's gonna get hit. And if you do have an antenna on the roof it doesnt matter if the Cat5 is outside or inside, unless there is a ground rod the electical cuurent will travel in the the switch and beyond, Just in the last 3 weeks ive replaced about 20 switches (4 of them being mine, costing me almost 1,000 dollars) around town because of lightning. But i have Cat5 lines running outside in about 15 locations that have never had a problem due to lightning. And run it in 1\" coduit if you want it to look nice.

-Ghost Hawk

by **Tech_Junkie** » Sat Jun 26, 2004 12:53 am

thanks for the input

by **GhostHawk** » Sat Jun 26, 2004 1:26 am

np.. I Had a case abvout 2 months ago where a rival company was doing wireless internet in a town i dont offer, and they mounted an antenna on a roof of a hostpital they a do the phone system for and they put it on a metal tripod without a ground rod and a lightning strike hit it than it travled down the cat 5 into their network, and jumped over to the phone system. It caused over a half milion dollars in damage.

-Ghost Hawk

by **Tech_Junkie** » Sat Jun 26, 2004 1:36 am

sounds like they better have good insurance or you'll have one less rival .... :lol:

by **Trevoke** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:49 am

Any way to get some 900mhz equipment through you? 8-)

by **GhostHawk** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 5:49 pm

Probably but you wouldnt like the prices :-)

-Ghost Hawk

by **Trevoke** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 9:54 am

Well alright then.
Can you recommend a good brand for wireless cards / routers?

(and what's bluetooth exactly? Is it just a USB wireless antenna?)

Dummy's guide to wireless internet?

Dummy's guide to wireless internet?

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