Cantenna help

[jcazes]

I would like to purchase a cantenna sometime in the near future, but can't seem to find any specific information about the set up. Each of my sources says to "plug the pigtail cable into the wireless device."

I have a laptop with integrated wireless, so I'm not sure how to plug in the cantenna. I don't even know how to plug it in with a wireless card. I have a netgear 802.11G wireless router (if that helps). I'm not trying to increase the range of my router, rather the receptivity of my laptop.

Suggestions? Thanks

Jason

 

[WhiteKnight]

Only certain wireless cards have the correct connectors (like the Orinocos). There are hardware hacks for some other cards, but I've never heard of one for an internal card.

 

[Garion]

Yup, with an internal card, you're limited to the onboard antenna. If you need to extend your range, you'll probably need to go with another WIFI card (USB or PCMCIA).

You might be interested in this read about

 

[JackMDS]

Welcome to the Network Forum.

Tells us a little about the envioroment.

If it is indoor you are much better off spending the money on a second Wireless Router, AP, or a Repeater. Directional Antenna is not the solution of choice indoor.

Link to: Extending the Distance of Entry Level Wireless Network.

Link to: Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point

What is Pigtail?
Third part add-on Antennae are produced with standard coax plug/jack.

However manufactures of Wireless hardware use a variety of jacks on the devices.
Pigtail is a short coax cable that has a standard plug that connects to the Antenna on one side, and a plug on the other side that fit the specific Wireless device. I.e. it is an Adaptor Cable.

Cantenna site has a list of all Wireless devices that they sell pigtails for. If your device is not there ion the list it probably means it does not have an External Antenna jack.

Link to: Cantenna pigtailfinde.

:sun:

 

[jcazes]

Thanks for all the info guys.

A new question - if I put another wireless card in one of my slots, would it increase my receptivity or is this just a myth? It seems like it'd just transfer wireless reception from the internal chip to the new card, but I'm not sure

the environment is an outdoor ranch (ie far away from the router 😛)

Garion - I'm not sure if you intended to put a link in with the words "this read about," but thanks for the info anyway.

Jason

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: jcazes
Thanks for all the info guys.

A new question - if I put another wireless card in one of my slots, would it increase my receptivity or is this just a myth? It seems like it'd just transfer wireless reception from the internal chip to the new card, but I'm not sure

the environment is an outdoor ranch (ie far away from the router 😛)

Garion - I'm not sure if you intended to put a link in with the words "this read about," but thanks for the info anyway.

Jason

It a myth. Only one of the cards will work at one time.

However some of the PCMCIA cards can accept an External Antenna. If you are only missing few feet an Antenna might help.

:sun:

 

[Garion]

Whoopst. Not sure how that happened. You might want to read about an alternate to the cantenna, a Spider Strainer antenna. Best part is that you can use a USB adapter without having to worry about an external cable.

- G

 

[jcazes]

holy crap! that's an awesome idea Garion! Much easier than the whole cantenna idea (given the USB concept)

Thanks to both of you guys!

 

[Garion]

You know, before you go tearing into any innocent cookware, get a USB wifi card and a USB extension cable and try moving it around a bit. You'd be surprised at how much difference just a few feet can make, especially when it comes to a situation where range is constrained due to something in the way (i.e., refrigerator blocks signal to your desk - Move the wifi antenna a few feet over and it's outside the "shadow" of the refrigerator and has better reception)

- G

 

[jcazes]

all right. I'll probably get an extension off of eBay. Thanks again