Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » WIFI antennas from Hawking
| WIFI antennas from Hawking [message #74160] |
Wed, 17 February 2010 14:10  |
Larry
Messages: 2875
Registered: January 2004
Location: Menomonie, WI
Karma: 10
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Has anyone used any of Hawking's WIFI extenders with you Mac or PC?
What do you think?...do they work? What would you recommend for the person looking for a WIFI signal at different locations?
Larry 
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
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| Re: WIFI antennas from Hawking [message #74178 is a reply to message #74160] |
Wed, 17 February 2010 17:41  |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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| Larry wrote on Wed, 17 February 2010 12:10 |
Has anyone used any of Hawking's WIFI extenders with you Mac or PC?
What do you think?...do they work? What would you recommend for the person looking for a WIFI signal at different locations?
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Larry: The other day I looked at this one in Frys electronics along with the Hawking's line of antennas. I was impressed with their products and prices, although not inexpensive, were fair, I thought. I think this one would have a long range, can be used with external antennas, and can be set up with both PC's and Mac's. This one has a very easy setup, and even can be used in a wifi equipped campground to extend their service.
http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/productlist.php?CatID=32&FamID=113&ProdID=292
I have the smaller version which I got for virtually nothing at Goodwill (and it was new) but I don't need it here at my Phoenix place, so have not set it up. I will be doing that when I return to Idaho for the summer.
So, no first hand experience yet, but I have one...lol.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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| 2 watt Alfa booster/antenna [message #74206 is a reply to message #74168] |
Wed, 17 February 2010 21:10 |
bukzin
Messages: 840
Registered: April 2004
Location: North California
Karma: 0
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Wow, thats a great deal on Amazon.
I have the older version which works well.
(now need to figure out how to set it up
with my MacBook Pro!)
Bukzin
1977 Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] WIFI antennas from Hawking [message #74207 is a reply to message #74161] |
Wed, 17 February 2010 21:30 |
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Larry,
I'm going to ask an important question. Do you want to get better reception
on the Mac when using WiFi or do you want to boost a signal from an AirPort
Extreme Base Station?
If you want to take something with you so you get better signal connectivity
to/from an access point/base station at a campground, I'd recommend the USB
Wireless-G Dish Adapter. Not that many campgrounds are handling N. Besides,
you get greater distances the slower you go.
If you're talking about hooking something up at home, that's a different
story. The antenna that hooks into an AirPort Extreme Base Station is good.
Practically speaking, however, you seldom get the real performance they
publish because there are always extenuating circumstances (like brick
walls, aquariums, concrete and steel walls, etc).
If you don't have a router at home, then the MIMO router is ideal.
When asking a question about WiFi it's best to be more specific.
On a side note, six years ago I was the only house in my neighborhood with a
WiFi router. Today I see four networks with published SSID plus the other
two that I can sniff. Problem is, we're all bumping channels. There were
four installed between September and December by "installers" that didn't
know what they were doing. I have my network turned down so I just handle
within 75 feet of my base station. I wish the others had turned down their
devices as well. It would be a better world if we cooperated with the air
that's out there.
Byron Songer
1978 Royale by Coachmen
Louisville, KY
Personal - http://web.me.com/bnsonger
Eastern States - http://www.gmceast.com
Larry wrote:
>
>
> Larry wrote on Wed, 17 February 2010 14:10
>> Has anyone used any of Hawking's WIFI extenders with you Mac or PC?
>> What do you think?...do they work? What would you recommend for the person
>> looking for a WIFI signal at different locations?
>
>
> Oh yes here is an URL
>
> http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/index.php?CatID=35
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--
Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
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| Re: WIFI antennas from Hawking [message #74220 is a reply to message #74160] |
Wed, 17 February 2010 23:44 |
captjack
Messages: 271
Registered: February 2010
Location: Sebastopol, California
Karma: 1
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The price on The Alpha unit seems good. I was going to recommend a Ubiquity unit. I help run a wireless coop with about 50 members and we have gotten excellent results from Ubiquity units. The picostation comes in up to 1 watt versions w/ a rubber ducky antenna, but it's $89.
http://store.wisp-router.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=Pico2HP&eq=&Tp=
They have other radios like the NanoStationLoco which we've used up to around 2 miles. It's a directional unit w/ a built in antenna, so you'd have to point it toward the signal source. It's under $50.
All these units will work on 12 volts.
Jack Christensen K6ROW
The Silver Bullet
76 Glenbrook/Classco
Jack Christensen - K6ROW,
'76 Glenbrook/Clasco - "The Silver Bullet",
Sebastopol, CA
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| Re: [GMCnet] WIFI antennas from Hawking [message #74234 is a reply to message #74228] |
Thu, 18 February 2010 09:16 |
bukzin
Messages: 840
Registered: April 2004
Location: North California
Karma: 0
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[quote title=Byron Songer wrote on Thu, 18 February 2010 05:49]Folks,
It would be helpful to the less experienced if you'd state whether you're
talking access point or client radio. Not everyone knows the difference.
Byron
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
OK, I'll bite!
What is the functional advantage (for our type of usage)
of a 'access point' and the 'client radio'.
Which type is the Alfa 2 watt unit?
Thanks!
Bukzin
1977 Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] WIFI antennas from Hawking [message #74238 is a reply to message #74234] |
Thu, 18 February 2010 09:33 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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What is nice about these USB units, being USB, you can use a USB extension cable to place the actual WiFi device where you want it.
Since the signal down the data cable is just data (and power), you do not begin to have RF losses, until your USB WiFi actually hits the antenna. WiFi extension coax cables should be limited in length, due to RF losses down the cable. That's why pre-made cables are only 2 meters in length. I don't know the maximum design length of a USB cable, but 100 foot length is very doable.
Because they all have an external WiFi antenna connector (RF-SMA), there is a large selection of antennas available for your usage. You might consider getting 2 antennas; one an Omni directional design (whip)(generally is included with the unit, and a more directional antenna. One I like is made by MFJ and it is a 15 db gain Yagi. Cost is $30. A little long, and requires an antenna mount (attach to roof rack) but will do the job. There are many other antenna designs. You can even make a very acceptable antenna (Google "Pringles WiFi Antenna, (6,380 hits on Google)).
Tom Phipps,
WiFi to 40 meters, name your poison KA4CSG
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: [GMCnet] WIFI antennas from Hawking [message #74249 is a reply to message #74225] |
Thu, 18 February 2010 12:11 |
Gary Berry
Messages: 1002
Registered: May 2005
Karma: -1
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Hey Steve;
Since I'm up here at CurtisUnlimited amongst all of the trees, I
can't use my MotoSat, but I put in the Hawkins unit that I got from
you, pointed it at the house next door (number of trees in the way)
and I'm locked on clandestinely with two bars. I've had good results
with this unit with my XP system. However, this 2W Alpha sure looks
tempting. The problem is that I have had two other Alpha units and
they have both failed within 6 months, but others have had good luck.
On Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 5:33 AM, Steven Ferguson <botiemad11@gmail.com> wrote:
> Larry,
> I went from the Hawking unit to the one Gene references. The Alpha
> unit works better. The Hawking unit I had would not work with Vista.
> Haven't tried it with Windows 7 yet.
>
> --
> Steve Ferguson
--
Gary and PoohBear
73 CL Stretch in Ca
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| Re: [GMCnet] WIFI antennas from Hawking [message #74284 is a reply to message #74234] |
Thu, 18 February 2010 19:05 |
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Thanks you, biter.
An access point (Apple calls it a base station) is what plugs into an
internet connection through a cable modem or DSL modem. Also, access points
can be plugged into an Ethernet cable which is part of a structured LAN
(that means, the local area network has a connection to the internet through
some other type of router). In biter speak, an access point is what allows
you to get a computer on "the internet" wirelessly.
A client radio is, actually, the wireless interface built into many laptops.
Apple guys refer to it as an AirPort Extreme card. Of course, it is possible
to purchase a USB 2 device and do the same. As mentioned, some USB devices
have antennas and some have sockets for antennas. They can help with
reception.
The truth is, both the access point and the computer interface have radios
for transmitting and receiving data packets.
There are some limitations to using WiFi products. There are the limitations
imposed by FCC - so you don't bleed over or bump someone else off the edge
of the cyberspace. There are physical limitations or issues - If setting
across a lake, you can get a good signal. At the bottom of the lake the
signal is lousy. For most consumer uses, the four wall system works. The
wireless signal degrades going through four walls, especially where there's
lots of plumbing, etc. or a stack of newspapers. Another problem is a
microwave sitting near the access point. It takes longer to make retries to
get the data through.
The four wall rule explains why some rooms in a hotel have good coverage and
others don't. Sit at the desk and it can be weak. Move to the doorway and
you'll get great reception.
For outdoor purposes, there are other standards that the FCC would like you
to follow. Some guys on the list, however, choose to overcome that speedbump
on the infobahn.
All of this stuff is using just so many channels of the frequency in this
country. In general, we like to use 1, 6, and 11 so that the channels in
between carry the bleed over.
Now that you've bitten, you know more than you did, I hope.
Finally, however, the access point can be set to a reduced power level or a
maximum power level. Using an antenna helps with reception within the given
constraints. Of course, wireless signals are "line of sight". Dirt is one of
those barriers that stops the line.
Byron
Richard wrote:
>
>
> [quote title=Byron Songer wrote on Thu, 18 February 2010 05:49]Folks,
>
> It would be helpful to the less experienced if you'd state whether you're
> talking access point or client radio. Not everyone knows the difference.
>
> Byron
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> OK, I'll bite!
>
>
> What is the functional advantage (for our type of usage)
> of a 'access point' and the 'client radio'.
>
> Which type is the Alfa 2 watt unit?
>
>
> Thanks!
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
--
Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
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| Re: [GMCnet] WIFI antennas from Hawking [message #74291 is a reply to message #74241] |
Thu, 18 February 2010 19:52 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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I think you guys are confused. WiFi (802.11b/g) is more of a master slave relations ship. The master is the Access Point and the slaves are the clients. In a basic system the is one master which is hooked to the Internet via a router or Internet modem. Then the slaves all talk to and through the Access Point (AP) to get to the Internet (or private network). An AP in it's basic configuration is nothing more the a bridge between a wired connection and a wireless network.
Yes, you can have multiple APs in a network but you only talk to one at a time. If the network is designed correctly you can automatically jump from one AP to another. I find that most locations with mutlple APs (like hotels) are not designed correctly so you do not get this automatic roaming.
There are a couple of exceptions to the above but I choose not to discuss them so as not to confuse the issue.
Basically your PC is a client or slave.
If you want to discuss exceptions let's do it in a different topic so a s not to confuse people.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] WIFI antennas from Hawking [message #74298 is a reply to message #74207] |
Thu, 18 February 2010 20:53 |
Larry
Messages: 2875
Registered: January 2004
Location: Menomonie, WI
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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| Byron Songer wrote on Wed, 17 February 2010 21:30 |
Larry,
I'm going to ask an important question. Do you want to get better reception
on the Mac when using WiFi or do you want to boost a signal from an AirPort
Extreme Base Station?
Byron Songer
1978 Royale by Coachmen
|
Brian, I'm really just interested in getting better reception on my Mac when using WIFI. For instance, right now I'm in an RV park with WIFI that has a single access point/base station. I' at the outer fringes of the park and about as far away from the access point as yo can be...within the park. Signal varies from 1-3 bars out of 4. So, sometimes it is very slow, then it will be quite normal. I've found myself in this situation several times now, and just want to point an antenna at the source to stabilize the signal or get a useable distant signal.
I did do a Google and found this at an RV site,,,,seems interesting:
http://www.radiolabs.com/products/wireless/captifi-wifi-antenna.php
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
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