Better WiFi Connections - Montana Owners Club

timandsusan · 10-08-2007, 04:48 AM

After 135 days on the road and staying at alot of RV Parks that said they had WiFi--But it only works in the laundry room. I was wondering if there is a way to setup with a better antenna/router for use in my Monty and then connect that to a separate WiFi in my Monty. I feel that the WiFi signals in many parks are weak and maybe a better antenna in my Monty would help since my laptop antenna is inside the laptop and can't be changed. I am not ready to go to the satelite route due to cost. Looking for any suggestions.

rldriver · 10-08-2007, 06:46 AM

Tim, take a look at this site, http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/ I have not tried any of these but will some day. Let us know how you solve the problem.

Good luck,
Dick

ols1932 · 10-08-2007, 07:22 AM

We run into the same situation many times. My wife's laptop will pick up weaker signals than my external USB WiFi antenna. There is no way for the consumer of making the signal from the source stronger. The only way a stronger signal can be had is if the source has a range extender connected.

Orv

boylanag · 10-08-2007, 07:43 AM

We settled the problem by getting a Verizon air card. Works almost anywhere. We also use it in our home when not traveling.

Chuck and Carol · 10-08-2007, 08:22 AM

Jim and Carol ---- what's that buggy thing? Thought something was on my screen.

SlickWillie · 10-08-2007, 10:44 AM

I have a panel similar to these http://www.radiolabs.com/products/an...flat-panel.php. Just scanning available access points, there is no comparison to the SMC card in a laptop. I use it hard wired (plugged in) to the laptop. I don't want to start a pissing match with anyone, but if the signal is weak, a higher gain antenna, especially directional, will boost the signal. I wanted to hook up a wireless router here in the RV, as I also have a desktop PC, but the Linksys I had went out and I have never purchased another.

ols1932 · 10-08-2007, 11:28 AM

Slick Willie,
No one will argue, because no one is certain of what can be done. It is quite a guessing game. We intend to talk to the Starband experts in Yuma in December just to see what can be done to obtain more gain.

Orv

SlickWillie · 10-08-2007, 01:44 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by ols1932

Slick Willie,
No one will argue, because no one is certain of what can be done. It is quite a guessing game. We intend to talk to the Starband experts in Yuma in December just to see what can be done to obtain more gain.

Orv

Orv,

I have compared the wireless card (SMC) to the flat panel. There is no comparison. Prior to that comparison, I had tried a couple other cards, and the SMC was way better than they Linksys and Orinoco cards. With the flat panel, I can pick up motels that are 3/4 mile away. (With merely the wireless card you might have trouble with reception in the motel.) I didn't try to log on to their internet, but the signal is there. Some of them, I can pick up without rotating the antenna. I caught some flame on the last thread about this issue, and that is why I said what I did about the pissing match. My intent is to only provide info on the testing I have done. Hopefully I can help someone. We've stopped in too many parks that say that "we have wifi, but you have to be close to the office to get it". If free wifi is offered, I sure don't want to pay fifty or sixty bucks for something else.

As far as Starband, I don't know about it. I seem to recall it is KU band, and from what I know, all of that is subject to weather conditions. Larger dish should help, but we can't carry a 12' dish on a fifth wheel.

lwcdg · 10-08-2007, 02:26 PM

Orv please do talk with Starband. Hopefully they can help you understand what is available in the wireless market.

SW, I understand exactly what you've done. I had this done in my own house and business by a friend 5 years ago. My business sits a quarter mile away from my home. I have an exact point to point wireless connection that feeds highspeed internet to my business from my home. Before anyone jumps up let me finish. After we were positive it would continue to work we changed from the res. to com. package. Commercial package gave us static ip addresses and some other things that were ok. The price did go up from about 40 a month to 80 a month. Still reasonable. I've friends that pay 120 to 160 in my area. I've been very pleased with this setup for these years and still have other businesses in my area that can not reach the speed and thru put that we can. It pays to have a person in the field do your work. Enjoy the pursuit of knowledge.
Chuck
ps I only understand some of the things so if you have questions I'll try to answer but I can assure you it works. Using the wrong words here the the net effect is it seems as if the antennas are "boosting" the signal.

8.1al · 10-10-2007, 01:32 PM

try this site
http://www.binarywolf.com/249/

ols1932 · 10-10-2007, 02:30 PM

Using a desktop computer, it's hard to find use for a wireless wi-fi card. However, my wife's laptop with it's built-in card works pretty good. My desktop has a pretty good directional antenna but in most cases, in RV parks with a minimal strength signal unless I'm parked really close to the wi-fi antenna, I have a difficult time using it.

The Starband antenna is only 24" X 39" so it is easily transported by putting it on the kitchen floor or on the bed when we travel. I don't know where someone got the idea that it was 12 ft long. I've done quite a bit of research and for the money and to accommodate my wife's website construction and graphic arts business, we need the much higher speed and more reliable uploads and downloads. That's why I'm going to spend some time speaking to the experts in Yuma in January.

Orv

SlickWillie · 10-11-2007, 02:50 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by ols1932

Using a desktop computer, it's hard to find use for a wireless wi-fi card. However, my wife's laptop with it's built-in card works pretty good. My desktop has a pretty good directional antenna but in most cases, in RV parks with a minimal strength signal unless I'm parked really close to the wi-fi antenna, I have a difficult time using it.

The Starband antenna is only 24" X 39" so it is easily transported by putting it on the kitchen floor or on the bed when we travel. I don't know where someone got the idea that it was 12 ft long. I've done quite a bit of research and for the money and to accommodate my wife's website construction and graphic arts business, we need the much higher speed and more reliable uploads and downloads. That's why I'm going to spend some time speaking to the experts in Yuma in January.

Orv

I assumed you were having reception difficulties due to weather conditions. I had one of the initial satellite internet set ups; DirecPC. It experienced rain fade just like the dish tv systems. I was jokingly referring to a 12' dish, as a larger dish is the only thing I have ever seen that will help rain fade. I actually have a couple dishes in storage at home that are about twice the size of the normal Dishnet dish, but you have to use two dishes, so they would be a little awkward for traveling.

Hopefully Starband can help with the signal. My apologies if I said something that was offensive.

sreigle · 10-13-2007, 09:53 AM

We have had many parks with really good wifi and many with not so good. After three consecutive months of bad wifi this past spring we broke down and bought the Verizon aircard/express card with router, booster, and antenna. We couldn't be more pleased. I'm using it right now with broadband speed. They are rapidly upgrading to broadband around the country. Some areas are still slower but even then are several times faster than dialup.

Verizon also announced recently that even those without a verizon phone (which includes us) will get the same price as those with a phone , for the monthly service. $59.99.

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