Do external Wifi antennas work a lot better than internal?

[2500express]

First off, no discussions on the legality mumbo jumbo of using unencrypted wireless signals.

Okay, so I have a toughbook CF-T2 and it has an internal 54mbps wireless card, which does okay picking up stray signals. I think there are a couple guys here that use a pcmcia card that hooks up to an antenna which is mounted on top of the truck.

My question: is it worth the money to get a setup like that? Will the signal strength improve noticeably with an omnidirectional antenna? I just need to know if i'm going to be spinning my wheels here....

One interesting use that I have for it is making free phone calls from an access point using voipbuster, because roaming charges are expensive :mad:

[karsthuntr]

It works better than you can imagine. Payson has one in his truck, ask him about it.

[2500express]

Good call, hopefully he sees this message. Forgot there was no PMs >.<

[karsthuntr]

send me an e-mail

[jrbenny]

First off, no discussions on the legality mumbo jumbo of using unencrypted wireless signals.

Okay, so I have a toughbook CF-T2 and it has an internal 54mbps wireless card, which does okay picking up stray signals. I think there are a couple guys here that use a pcmcia card that hooks up to an antenna which is mounted on top of the truck.

My question: is it worth the money to get a setup like that? Will the signal strength improve noticeably with an omnidirectional antenna? I just need to know if i'm going to be spinning my wheels here....

One interesting use that I have for it is making free phone calls from an access point using voipbuster, because roaming charges are expensive :mad:
It's the way to go. You will be surprised just how many signals are out there for your use. ;)

[weber]

Never heard of one of these. What do they go for?

I Have looking at one of the cell phone company cards, but I feel the price is to high.

And I have a hard time finding a signal when I need one.

Anyone have a link?

[timebuilder]

I'm up for a link to this antenna as well.

[karsthuntr]

http://www.radiolabs.com/products/antennas/2.4gig/wireless-laptop-antenna.php

http://www.radiolabs.com/products/wireless/networking/long-range-mobile-wifi-kit.php

[2500express]

http://cgi.ebay.ca/802-11G-ORiNOCO-wireless-PCMCIA-Card-7dbi-antenna-B-G_W0QQitemZ110212086452QQihZ001QQcategoryZ40992QQs sPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That's the card that I'd like to get, but I was looking at this antenna to mount on my truck:

http://www.factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=AN8028

http://www.voipbuster.com/en/index.html

This is the program that I use, it makes free outgoing calls to landlines to north america and some international numbers as well. 60 minute trial, sometimes there is a slight 0.5 second delay, and they limit each call to 26 minutes, but registering for a new user is as easy as giving a username, password, and fake email address :D

[PaysonHVAC]

Yes I was using an extrnal OMNI-Directional ant for a few years.

It makes the difference form seeing maybe 1 or no signals, to SEVERAL showing up at a time in your typical neighborhoods.

When selecting one, make sure you get a OMNI Directional, which means equally sensitive in all directions, as you will be in a mobile vehicle.
They sell many DIRECTIONAL ones for people in fixed buildings wanting to FOCUS all of it's sensitivity in one direction, like when you are trying to send the signal acrossed a long office building. Those antenna's are strong only where you point them, and not much sensitivity in all OTHER directions. So finding a wifi would be hard when driving around. Although if you KNEW where one was, you could focus your signal that way.




I haven't bothered with the WiFi anymore. I have the internet plan with my Palm phone and it uses high speed cell tower EVDO which is almost everywhere.

So, now I'd like an external CELL phone antenna! :p
I saw some on the internet I may someday try out. There are a few places in Phoenix where the signal breaks up and causes my internet radio to cut out. :mad:

[2500express]

I'm usually able to see lots of AP's, but it always tells me that I have low or no connection. I know that each place is different, but should I expect a "Good" connection in most residential areas?

Also, in regards to the antenna connection type to the card, I believe it is an MC connector. Are most antennas out there equipped with that or an SMA connector? I'm having a hard time trying to find them.

[PaysonHVAC]

I've mostly used the antennas with a desktop PC and card. But I'm sure they have an adapter to work on whatever. But MOST laptop air cards do NOT have a jack to hook up an external antenna. So you need to look for one that does.



When I used an external antenna, it made a night and day difference on signals.
I'd drive around and it would connect when stopped at intersections.


Oh, sometimes you will find a WiFi that shows as NON SECURED but for some reason you get the "not conencted" icon when you connect to it.

Most likely they have thiers set up like I do mine. It's NOT using a WEP key or similar to secure it, but the ONLY network cards that can connect must have their MAC ID number set as allowed in the router settings! So at first glance you think it may be a WIDE OPEN unsecure WiFi router. But it's actually very secure.

[2500express]

MAC filtering, gotcha. Seen that a couple of times.

What type of antenna would be ideal, in terms of dbi gain? The one i was looking at is 8 dbi, but I don't know the wind rating on it. The thing is 25" long, but 6" of the tubing has nothing inside it, the actual antenna ends further down, would I be able to cut off the excess?

[PaysonHVAC]

MAC filtering, gotcha. Seen that a couple of times.

What type of antenna would be ideal, in terms of dbi gain? The one i was looking at is 8 dbi, but I don't know the wind rating on it. The thing is 25" long, but 6" of the tubing has nothing inside it, the actual antenna ends further down, would I be able to cut off the excess?


Well obviously the higher the gain, the better. However what ever is comperable vs. price is what you will go with. 8dB isn't bad. I forget what mine was. It was only 12" high or so.

25" is LONG based on typical. That would stick out like a sore thumb on your van. :p

I had my 12" hidden in between my ladders on the roof. Worked fine.