Wireless Networking

Specification & Product Discussions Computers, the Internet and Networking
1

I am going to post this here, but maybe Colin needs to create a new discussion area related to our office networks - or specifier’s working environments or some such. I am sure we have all had questions we would like to post from time to time about our computers, our networks, and other odds and ends.

My own question concerns my personal wireless ethernet system (known by the lovely name, 802.11b). I have this so that I have no network wiring anywhere in my house - yet I can wander anywhere and be online with my laptop whether I am out on my deck or sitting at my desk…or watching tv. Very nice. I have a cable modem, so I am online anywhere in the house at very high speed.

However, its very sensitive to metal blocking the signal, and ductwork seems to fall into this category. So, I have a few inconvenient dead zones in the house. Move a few feet, no problem, but, that also makes it inconvenient - who wants to rearrange the furniture.

I could buy additional base stations and link them together for roaming, but thats expensive.

I wandered into a discussion group where someone was talking about very small (1/4 inch square) passive radio signal repeater mini-antennas that a group he works with in a large development installing 802.11b all over the place is using. Very cheap (a bag of 20 or so for $30.00). Unfortunately, he is not a technical type, and he does not work directly with the group. So, he does not know product names.

He mentioned a couple manufacturers, one being Levitron (spelled like that) as a Taiwanese company known for radio tubes. He said that Radio Shack sometimes carries them in some stores, but not all, and not all the time, and they are not in their online catalog.

He even mentioned that Corning has a tape that they are using that you cut and tape up outside.

Its apparently old technology, not new, but its also hard to find anyone that knows anything about it.

I have looked in all kinds of discussion groups and information related to wireless networking, no one talks about this. I am not interested in making my own Pringels can antennas, thats not what I am looking for - these things are very small, thus easily concealed, no wiring connections of any kind needed at all.

Potentially useful in large companies going wireless as well as small residential home networks.

Anyone seen anything like this?

William

2

William,

We use in both our office in Toronto and Charlotte and at homes as well Wireless Access Point Router with 4-Port Switch - Version 2 with Instant Wireless Network Adapter - Version 3.0 (see http://www.linksys.com). In the office we have a lot of exposed ductwork and don’t seem to have dead zones. Range is about 350 feet regardless what they advertise. I’ve seen both parts at many online sources for less than $150.00 (w/rebates).

3

Mike,

I think we are talking about 2 different things here. These are passive (no power, no wiriging, no connection of any kind) signal repeaters.

Very small, less than 1 inch square, some as small as 1/4 inch by 1/4 inch.

Come in a bag of 20 or so for $30.00.

Its not a product that any of the wireless groups are providing that I know of - I have asked most all of them. They would rather sell you a $150 to $300 solution.

These you find through radio electronics parts or some such. My dialog has been with a person that works with a group installing wireless internet networking connection large residential complexes and they just stick these up and paint over them.

My signal problems of low signal strength are compounded because I have to have the base station on the lowest level and I have 3 stories. Its a townhouse, so I also get a lot of metal ductwork crammed into some spaces. I can be at one location and be dead, but move 10 inches to either side and have great signal strength. Orientation of the base station makes no difference. But what is between me and it is ductowork. I think there is also one steel beam in the house as well, not sure.

William

4

William,

I use my solution as well in a condo way out in the country. Can’t get a cellular signal but my wireless internet works flawless even when I want to go down to the pool of dock with my laptop. No disrespect, but my time is too valuable to experiment with unproven solutions. At $150.00, I’m so happy I’d pay even more for it. Great communicating with you.

Mike

5

I use a PNA network in my home. This uses the phone wires rather than an ethernet loop. In my office there is an 100 Mbps ethernet loop, and my wife has a PNA connection 2 floors away. The connection is reliably a 10 Mbps connection, the same as wireless at its best.

PNA is not as sexy as wireless, but very stable and modest cost. I use 2Wire and recommend them.
http://www/2wire.com/

You could put a wireless system at the end of a PNA node near where you are working.

6

Colin, thanks for creating a separate area - might come in handy.

I am going to stay away from PNA simply because the lines are definitely not clean, and I would have to install some expensive systems to make it work effectively. I had experimented as a hobby over a couple years with automated home control using the power lines - and it is always missing the signals. So I gave up on anything using the power lines, I know it will end up with problems.

The wireless is great, and I don’t have very many void spaces to cover, just a couple that happen at inconvenient locations.

Mike, interestingly, this is not an unproven solution. Its as old as radio is old, literally. Its just that its so low tech that many on the high tech end of things never thought about it…or as one might say, which would you rather do, sell a couple units for $150, or sell a handful of these thing for $1 apiece.

I could easily solve ths with roaming set up on mulitiple base stations. However, being a hobbiest in networking commnications, I want to see how this goes.

Eventually, I will find the right person who knows something about it. Supposedly, a number of the Starbucks are using some of these, at least in the NYC area. And rather than install a bunch of roaming base stations, hotels that use the wireless system also use these.

William

7

PNA is over phone lines not power lines. There is a substantial difference.

8

Colin,

Thanks, I have heard of that too, but like the flexibility of my wireless.

I think I discovered the real problem. My house is 3 stories tall, my node is in the basement.

Orient the unit one way, gets to some areas but very weak, orient it the other way, the areas basically swap out.

I wireless base station is Apple’s oldest unit. Has worked flawlessly for both Mac and PC sharing it for a couple years now. But, it has its limitations. So with apple having now released their new 802.11g base station (both a and b compatibility) they have one model with a connector for an external antenna…nice, it automatically senses whether the antenna is connected and turns off the internal anteanna. And there is a very well know company making an omni directional (as well as a directional) external antenna. So I have sent away for that. The external antenna may be located several feet away from the unit itself and boost the signal strength quite a bit as well.

I think that will solve all my problems.

William