Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] WIFI Alfa
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| Re: [GMCnet] WIFI Alfa [message #71165 is a reply to message #71161] |
Mon, 18 January 2010 22:04   |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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| Trey Shannon wrote on Mon, 18 January 2010 19:18 |
Looks like a good deal for a single user - but it is USB - Sooooo..
It will difficult to put on a seperate wireless router for more than one
user..
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Plug it into something that already has wireless capabilities. Set that wireless up for peer-to-peer. Then set it up to share your Internet connection.
Should work, I just haven't tried it.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] WIFI Alfa [message #71225 is a reply to message #71161] |
Tue, 19 January 2010 16:55 |
Rick Denney
Messages: 430
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 0
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Trey Shannon writes...
> Looks like a good deal for a single user - but it is USB - Sooooo..
> It will difficult to put on a seperate wireless router for more than one
> user..
I use a Cradlepoint router that includes a wi-fi access point, network
switch, DHCP host, firewall, router, and a USB interface for a 3G
cellular data device. I use it with a Verizon Wireless Broadband USB
modem for my network at home, and get pretty decent broadband access
throughout my network.
This one has really good management features, but I've seen completely
usable routers that accept USB 3G cellular data modems for as little
as about $100. I would prefer one of these to a Mi-Fi because the
Mi-Fi can only be accessed through WiFi, and most others include some
wired network connections.
And, yes, as an iPhone user I can confirm that AT&T's wireless 3G
network stinks. Verizon has much wider coverage, and when both work,
Verizon is faster (2.5 mb/s download versus 1.8 for AT&T, by my
tests). And the radios in the USB devices are better, too. My iPhone
will get reasonable service over the 3G network when an AT&T USB
modem, using the same data service, remains absolutely deaf.
Rick "preferring the portability of a USB device" Denney
'73 230 Ex-Glacier "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
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'73 Glacier 230 "Jaws"
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| Re: [GMCnet] WIFI Alfa [message #71262 is a reply to message #71232] |
Wed, 20 January 2010 09:42 |
George Beckman
Messages: 1085
Registered: October 2008
Location: Colfax, CA
Karma: 11
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| WD0AFQ wrote on Tue, 19 January 2010 15:55 |
Rick,
We have been using the Cradle Point for 2 years now. Had the 350 but got rid of it and grabbed a 500. The 500 serves us better. I am providing wifi to our neighbors now with the unit. Sure beats sticking something into the laptop usb port.
Dan
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Cradle Point with Verizon USB is what we use, also. My sweetie can find cheap gas, look for antiques, and we are rarely not connected when we stop for the night. We live in the country where there is no DSL or Cable so the unit is on all the time.
Dan, when you have a minute, maybe you could say something about your booster antennae? I wonder if you have tested much with or without?
'74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
Best Wishes,
George
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| Re: [GMCnet] WIFI Alfa [message #71270 is a reply to message #71262] |
Wed, 20 January 2010 11:02 |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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| George Beckman wrote on Wed, 20 January 2010 07:42 |
| WD0AFQ wrote on Tue, 19 January 2010 15:55 |
Rick,
We have been using the Cradle Point for 2 years now. Had the 350 but got rid of it and grabbed a 500. The 500 serves us better. I am providing wifi to our neighbors now with the unit. Sure beats sticking something into the laptop usb port.
Dan
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Cradle Point with Verizon USB is what we use, also. My sweetie can find cheap gas, look for antiques, and we are rarely not connected when we stop for the night. We live in the country where there is no DSL or Cable so the unit is on all the time.
Dan, when you have a minute, maybe you could say something about your booster antennae? I wonder if you have tested much with or without?
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Not Dan here, but I have the same Verizon USB 720 he has, and a slightly different Cradlepoint router (the 1000). Although in the winter I live in Phoenix where there is a reasonable Verizon broadband signal, at times it got erratic. This, especially in the evenings when there is lots of use of the cell towers for voice, text and broadband services.
I measured the signal in the house (hover over the lower signal strength symbol on the Verizon access manager) and got about -90 dbm. Then I did the same thing with a small Wilson magnetic antenna attached to the 720. In the living room, with a metallic ground plane I then got a -87 dbm signal, and things got better, but I still had some dropout issues. I searched the property outside with the small antenna, and found a -80 dbm signal. Then I was able to locate a place inside, with the antenna in a window, that gave me that same -80 dbm signal. That both improved the reliability and the download/upload speed of the system to the point that it has given me no dropouts in over a month. BTW, Verizon says that -80 dbm or lower is optimal for best service. However, I have used it with far less signal than that.
Dan and Teri were here recently, and Dan had a surplus Wilson Super Trucker external antenna that I bought from him. I have done some experimenting with it, and it gives me a whopping improvement to -70dbm. However, I have not installed it yet. I have to borrow a ladder and drill some holes....
So, the Verizon service with just the little USB plug in to the computer works remarkably well, but it is undoubtably improved with an external antenna, both in reliability and speed. The small Wilson magnetic base antenna is good, the larger Super Trucker is better, and the shorter Wilson Trucker/RV antenna should be the same as the Super. When I return home to Idaho and do some traveling around there, I will be able to give you some more reports with actual numbers in very rural areas.
Bottom line, the Verizon USB net service, although not inexpensive ($60 a month) works very well, and can even be improved with an external antenna for service in difficult areas.
The Cradlepoint 1000 n router works very well, and gives me very long range coverage. I had a 350 which also worked just fine, with slightly less range.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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| USB 720 [message #71275 is a reply to message #71270] |
Wed, 20 January 2010 12:00 |
bukzin
Messages: 840
Registered: April 2004
Location: North California
Karma: 0
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Rob,
So your USB 720 has a input jack for a ext. antenna?
Thanks!
Bukzin
1977 Palm Beach
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| Re: USB 720 [message #71287 is a reply to message #71275] |
Wed, 20 January 2010 13:37 |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| bukzin wrote on Wed, 20 January 2010 10:00 |
Rob,
So your USB 720 has a input jack for a ext. antenna?
Thanks!
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Yep, as Dan says, the 720 has an external antenna jack, and I am almost positive that all Verizon USB air cards have them. However, I do know that the MyFi that combines the cell net with a wifi output does NOT have an antenna input. So, if you want an antenna, like Dan and I have, you must get a USB system. From there you can use a Cradlepoint router to get a conventional wifi signal if you want to use multiple computers or just work wireless, like Dan, Teri and I do.
The other night, when Dan and Teri were here, we sat in my living room, each on our own computers, they were on Dan's system in his motorhome parked outside, and I was on my own system here at the place. I think I even emailed Dan a URL to something, rather than saying it to him, 8 feet away. Bunch of geeks!
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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| Re: USB 720 [message #71315 is a reply to message #71287] |
Wed, 20 January 2010 16:55 |
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WD0AFQ
Messages: 7111
Registered: November 2004
Location: Dexter, Mo.
Karma: 207
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Teri and I have lots of fun visiting Rob. His identicle setup was faster than mine. Only difference he was using a Mac laptop.
Dan
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