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Pescador
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I just happen to have an antenna and all the equipment needed to do this in San Lucas which is south of Santa Rosalia. I was going to use this system
to broadcast a wireless signal to the trailer park but found that it took more electricity to run than I was producing with a single solar panel.
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MrBillM
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Another Rambling Thought
The person who is installing the Hughes/Direcway system, Linksys Router, Antenna, etc. is contemplating buying a Mac for the use. It appears that
Macs are compatible from what I've read, BUT I have ZERO experience working with Macs so I'm wondering if there are any issues involved when the Mac
is the "Administrator" on the system. ??
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Russ
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I have had three Mac work with Hughs The old clam shell iBook, G4 iBook And now and iMac intel. They all work fine with Huges. Have fun!
The new Macs will run Windows XP. It is interesting but the Mac OS is Superior! What did I Start? Sorry off subject.
[Edited on 2-13-2007 by Russ]
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psmith
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"Also remember that the OS should be XP not some earlier version."
W2000 works fine here.
best, paul
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losfrailes
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| Quote: | Originally posted by psmith
"Also remember that the OS should be XP not some earlier version."
W2000 works fine here.
best, paul |
Where is 'here'.
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MrBillM
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XP
The DW6000 will support W98SE. I'm not sure about the Router. My Netgear 802.11G supports 98SE. However, there are so many problems with continuing
to use it, that I finally gave up, although I loved my IBM T22 Laptop. The perfect size notebook. I replaced it with a Dell that's twice as heavy,
bulkier and has (like most new ones) the Wide-Screen display which I HATE. XP auto-detects and operates devices that 98 has to have
drivers downloaded for.
Unfortunately, if you're buying New off the shelf, the choices are very limited in other than the latest POS "Vista". A frriend
asked me how soon he should buy his Laptop. My answer "Last Month" before Vista came out. Tough Luck now.
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BCSTech
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| Quote: | | The DW6000 will support W98SE. I'm not sure about the Router. |
Routers (and DW6/7000 modems) are pretty
much "agnostic." They don't really care what you connect to them on the LAN ports. It's not a case of them supporting anything other than just simple
Ethernet, and any OS or network device that can use Ethernet can work.
OS was/is an issue with the old DW4000s because, to work at all, they need software and drivers installed in the connected computer and DirecWay
originally only supplied Windows-compatible software. DW6000s and 7000s are self hosted modems and don't even require a computer to be connected or
turned on in order to operate.
It's just more of a hassle using 98 (or any older OS) with any kind of networking because it's network support is more kludgy and complicated to
manage. Wireless is really a hassle and almost always requires some kind of Third-party wireless networking management tool to make any sense out of
it.
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Bob and Susan
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"It's just more of a hassle using 98 (or any older OS) with any kind of networking because it's network support is more kludgy and complicated to
manage. Wireless is really a hassle and almost always requires some kind of Third-party wireless networking management tool to make any sense out of
it."
WOW!!!
Could you explain this in more REDNECK words???
What's "kludgy"???
we have wireless on our 7000direcway...no problems using it
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BCSTech
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Sorry, didn't know kludgy wasn't a "redneck" word? 
Comes from the word "kludge"
I meant that Windows 98 was developed before home wireless networking became really popular and cheap. Windows XP has it's own Wireless Network
Manager built in. Windows 98 does not, and isn't really "wireless ready."
If you're using 98, you most likely have some kind of wireless network manager application from Linksys, D-Link or Netgear that's able to detect your
wireless network and connect your computer to it. Windows 98 can't do it without some help.
Has nothing to do with your DW7000/wireless gear and everything to do with windows 98, y'all. 
[Edited on 2-26-2007 by BCSTech]
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BajaJim
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I appreciate your diagram for setting up multiple homes on a single internet system.
Question???
Is it possible to have the external antenna connect to the 802.11 (receiving home) via a local wireless access point?
So in other words, instead of hooking directly to a computer hook the external antenna to a device that will re-distribute the signal to my local
laptops etc?
Thanks in advance
| Quote: | Originally posted by losfrailes
Bill,
reading your initial post on this thread you point out that you would be needing ' DSL Router feeding an omni-directional external antenna ', please
remember tht the Linksys WRT54G is NOT a DSL router and probably would not work.
Also remember that the OS should be XP not some earlier version. This was pointed out to me by Mexibob, who found tons of trouble trying to get ME
to work with the router. It was no joy! |
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BCSTech
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Hi BajaJim,
You can use a wireless access point like the Linksys WAP54G with two antennas, and set it for "repeater" mode. You may need to place the unit by a
window with line of sight to the distribution point, or put one antenna outside with a cable to connect it to one of the antenna ports on the access
point. The connecting coax cable must be kept as short as possible, within 20' or less. The other antenna on the access point serves as your inside
distribution point.
The tough part is getting the right connectors and coax, and attaching them properly. But you can order pre made cable sets with connectors for this
sort of thing from the sources listed.
BTW, to get better range and less dropped connections, configure everything to run in wireless "B" mode. You don't need "G" mode for wireless internet
access because the satellite or DSL modem is always the smallest "pipe" in the system and limits the maximum speed to much less than B mode allows.
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wornout
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If your end users of the system are having signal problems, such as they might if they are using a laptop with a built in antenna, then suggest they
get a USB antenna. That way they can place the antenna near a window and don't have to rearrange you house in order to get a signal. I did that very
thing last summer in the RV Park where I stayed because the signal dropped out before it reached my laptop. The USB Wi-Fi antennas were less than 10
bucks on eBay and I used a 6' extension with the 6' cable that came with the device.
This Space Available, E-Mail Me If Interested.
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wornout
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One other thing, need more distance? Here is a site that tells you how to build a Wi-Fi antenna out of a DirecTV antenna for range extension of up to
8 miles!
With just a handful of cheap parts, a salvaged DirecTV dish and a little soldering, we were able to detect access points from over 8 miles away. Using
consumer WiFi gear we picked up over 18 APs in an area with only 1 house per square mile.
Got a 10' antenna? Then you can push the distance out to over 100 miles. I don't always believe everything I read but this was fun reading.
http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/15/how-to-build-a-wifi-biqua...
This Space Available, E-Mail Me If Interested.
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BCSTech
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Wireless B Speed
| Quote: | | Quote: | Quote:
Originally posted by BCSTech
BTW, to get better range and less dropped connections, configure everything to run in wireless "B" mode. |
How interesting! I've never compared-- why is that?
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A broadband modem (satellite or cable) operates at only 0.1 to 2.0 Mbps peak for up or downloads. No matter how fast your wired or wireless network
may claim to be, your network speed can be no faster than the broadband modem it's connected to.
Wireless B is rated for up to 11 Mbps but most B networks typically run at only 2-3 Mbps. This is still faster than the satellite modem can handle.
Wireless G can only provide some boost over B if you're moving files between local computers. The rest of it is just marketing hype. Wireless B is
less demanding and more stable than wireless G, so it's easier to maintain a good connection over distance using B.
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BCSTech
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We've installed systems running default Wireless G and noticed fewer dropped connections when we switched to B but nothing I can give you hard numbers
on.
Wireless G uses the same standard (DSSS) as wireless B for speeds up to 11 Mbps and then switches to another standard (OFDM) at higher speeds. That's
why Wireless G is backward compatible with wireless B networks. At speeds below 11 Mbps, both wireless G and Wireless B are more or less identical.
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MrBillM
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Buy Those "b"s NOT "g"s
During my many years working in Tech fields, I have always been the guy who counseled customers to stay well behind the leading edge. I am always
fond of saying that being out on the leading edge just leaves you bloodied and short of funds.
There is still a bountiful amount of 802.11b gear out there if you look around the many discount and clearance operations. For awhile, I thought it
had dried up, but I just bought a number of Linxsys USB Wireless "b" adapters for $9.95 and $12.95 (new). Last year, I bought an 802.11b Router, USB
Adaptor and PC card Adapter for $19.95 complete. There is NO reason at this time for any DSL or SAT Broadband customer to be using other than "b".
Certainly not "n draft".
One clarification, though, regarding the DirecWay and Win98SE. During the time I was using W98, I experienced NO difficulties related to its
interface with DirecWay. It performed satisfactorily in that regard. My final move away from the O.S. related to it's incompatibility with other,
newer software, Java being a prominent one. Additionally, many providers are no longer providing W98 drivers or support. McAfee's 2007 version
doesn't support it at all.
Concerning the current Sat Wireless Net that I'm putting together, I have supplied the WRT54G Router with an 11.5db omni-directional external antenna
for the host side and an 8.5db directional panel antenna for the first wireless customer feeding into a USB 802.11b adaptor. Since it hasn't yet been
assembled, I'm not yet aware of any conditions which may have to be addressed, but I imagine there will be a few, most likely involving Router
settings.
Because one of the customers wanted to go to a New Laptop, I was forced to order one with Windows Vista, breaking my rule to stay away from a new Win
O.S. in the first year. The upside was that I've gotten a whole lot of "Vista" knowledge in the last two weeks.
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elfbrewery
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There is a Hughes 7000 modem on-site in our gringo community. It was connected to two external antennas, but neither one seem to perform better than
the internal antenna on the Linksys router. We would like to get more people using the wireless internet setup, but we don't know whether it would be
better to buy an XR router or to add an amplifier to the antenna.
Hope someone can help. Thanks!
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Bajabus
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The only thing I would add to this thread is to invest $10 more and go for the WRT54GL version of that Linksys router indicating that it is using
linux open source firmware. Then you can search Through a multitude of after market firmwares for the router that greatly enhance it's functionality.
For instance one that turns it into a hot spot (tomato is popular) so members can pay monthly on their own for the service, and institute QS so that
no one customer hogs all the bandwidth. Other firmware that increases power and allows you to select one antenna or the other as the primary
(Thibor). Lots of good stuff out there.
BTW I love Fab, great wireless stuff
"Preventive war was an invention of Hitler. Frankly I would not even listen to anyone seriously that came and talked of such a thing."
Dwight David Eisenhower
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MrBillM
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External Antenna
Discussing the system that I put together using the Linksys WRT54G (which DID use Linux firmware at that time), Replacing one of the "stock" antennas
on the router with an external 16db omni-directional antenna resulted in a dramatic increase in range.
I noted on another thread awhile back that the preferred router NOW should be the "L" (denoting Linux) model. The available programs to enhance its
performance (including increasing the transmit power) make it worth the purchase. The output capability of the unit is higher than the limitations
set by FCC regs.
[Edited on 12-20-2007 by MrBillM]
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BCSTech
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| Quote: | | Originally posted by elfbreweryWe would like to get more people using the wireless internet setup, but we don't know whether it would be
better to buy an XR router or to add an amplifier to the antenna. Hope someone can help. Thanks! |
Not knowing the layout and distances, it's difficult to say what you should do. Generally, we install an omni directional antenna at the distribution
point, sometimes with an amplifier if users are spread out at a distance.
But that's only half of it. The distant users need to not only receive the wireless network, they need to have a radio strong enough to transmit to it
as well. This usually means some kind of external directional antenna aimed at the distribution point, and cabled down to the PC or laptop. We
sometimes will put a wireless client inside the house to redistribute the signal.
Also, how many users do you have? There are many installations where there are too many users trying to share a single HughesNet or Starband system
and everyone is unhappy. The basic HughesNet services levels, Home, Pro, and ProPlus, are really designed for only one or two users at most. All you
need is a couple of users downloading some large files or updates, and you quickly hit the FAP (Fair Access Policy) limit. Then the service slows to a
crawl at about the speed of a dial-up modem.
To get any higher service levels to support more users, you need a larger HughesNet dish and a 2 watt transmitter.
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