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General discussion

ANYONE KNOW A GOOD WAY TO BOOST YOUR WIRELESS SIGNAL???

Jul 30, 2004 8:02PM PDT

Hey all,
I have a linksys g wireless dsl network set up in my house and the 2 computers upstairs away from the wireless base and is blocked by a ceiling and a wall. however upstairs we still get connection and the internet is ok. average but a little slow at times. i also have a linksys wireless gaming router for my xbox and ps2. i want the signal upstairs as strong as possible. i was thinking about getting the cantenna network antenna.which you can see here at: http://www.cantenna.com/ does anyone know anything about this cantenna??? is there any other solutions. i know there is a linksys signal booster antenna but i dont feel like dropping close to $200.00 bucks for it. someone please help... oh and just to let you know im not skilled enough nor will i buy anything home made. im looking for proffessional signal boosters. someone please help. opinion, comments and suggestions with solutions would be great....
thank you everyone.
FallenMonk

Discussion is locked

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How about $60.00. . .
Jul 30, 2004 11:30PM PDT
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Not 200 bucks. Try 39.99
Jul 30, 2004 11:32PM PDT
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How about nearly 0 $?
Aug 2, 2004 4:13AM PDT

I saw on tech tv the hosts devise a setup like the link Bob linked you to. They used a a Pringles can and aluminum foil I think; or a coffee can. I can't remember exactly how it was done, but it was really simple. I think the used a coat hanger to somehow mount the thing. But the basic idea was placing the can in front of the access point and moving it around until they found the sweet spot for a boosted signal. TechTV doens't have their old show notes, but I bet if you googled "making a wireless signal booster", you'd get some hits.

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Re: ANYONE KNOW A GOOD WAY TO BOOST YOUR WIRELESS SIGNAL???
Aug 5, 2004 12:27AM PDT

The title of your post says "ANYONE KNOW A GOOD WAY TO BOOST YOUR WIRELESS SIGNAL???" The answer is sure. Get a wired router, some CAT5 cabling, drill a few holes, run your cable, connect the computers to the router, and you have a network. And, I might add, a MORE SECURE network than ANYBODY using a WiFi network. Airwaves are for broadcasts, not for signals you don't want everyone to have. That's why you don't see businesses knocking each other over trying to purchase wireless routers. They are not secure, period. They only give some a false sense of security, thinking this or that feature makes it safer. But even encryption isn't enough. A VPN is safer than wireless, but a corporation will only do even that if it's absolutely necessary. Wireless stinks, no matter what you do. Take any wireless network, convert it to wired, and the security level goes up a minimum of 25%. Take a college course in networking that is CompTia certified and you will be taught all this and more. I am a tech (A+, N+, Windows 2000 Professional, and 2000 Advanced Server certs) with a college degree in Computer Science. Listen to me, or listen to them. It's your choice, and your network.

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(NT)How does hardwiring your network boost a WIRELESS signal
Aug 5, 2004 3:30AM PDT

.

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Re: (NT)How does hardwiring your network boost a WIRELESS si
Aug 6, 2004 12:43AM PDT

I think it's rather self-explanatory. Unless there is a big issue of RFI (electromagnetic interference)or EMI (electromagnetic interference), cabling will have no connectivity issues. Thus, a better connection not to mention more secure. Read "Surprised to find network at home: what to do?" and you'll understand what I mean. People in this forum are talking as though WiFi is as good as it gets, or something. They don't understand how vulnerable they are making themselves. The more BOOST he gives his signal, the further away intruders can be and access his network. I will not give advice that goes against good judgement.

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Not the point of this thread
Aug 6, 2004 1:33PM PDT

Was nice of you to point out the vulnerabilities of wireless, however, that wasn't the question at hand.

Your post was totally unresponsive to the question. As you know, no network is totally secure. This guy wants wireless, that's what some of us are helping him to accomplish; his choice. Simple as that.

PS: I always thought that RFI stood for radio frequency identification.

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RFI is ... in my world...
Aug 6, 2004 1:39PM PDT

Radio Frequency Interference. RFID is identification, but may be more accepted as those RFID tags.

As to intent and questions, wide leeway here is a good thing. Imagine if the user had asked how to install Kazaa. I'd be just as bad in not helping them jump into that pit.

Bob

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(NT) (NT) Heard RFI used both ways. Leeway is good! ;-)
Aug 6, 2004 2:30PM PDT