If I put my Linksys WAP54G out of the window I can get a signal from
my remote site.

Obviously I can't leave it outside so what is the easiest/simplest way
of arranging it so I have an external antenna? 

I'm in the UK if I need to buy any kit.

Is thin-wire ethernet any use?

Many thanks

Tony Lewis wrote:
First of all, the antennas on that device are detachable and replaceable. On
the linksys website, they sell an as2tnc specifically for that, with 6 FT
extension cables
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=38&prid=646

(one of the many paragraphs in the description)
The Antenna Stand can be mounted up to 6 feet away from the wireless device.
It comes with mounting slots to attach it to the ceiling, high on a wall, or
it can just stand on a tall bookcase or shelf. Note that although the
Antenna Stand's cable and connectors cause some loss to the wireless signal,
effective placement of the antennas above signal obstacles can easily create
a net gain in wireless communications range and reliability.

Peter Pan wrote:

Show quoteHide quoteThat doesn't appear to be an outdoor antenna. If the OP gets a little
longer than normal pigtail to fit his Linksys, one that ends in N Male,
he can plug it into a normal outdoor type panel antenna mounted outside.

Pigtail: http://tinyurl.com/4poqk
Panel antenna: http://tinyurl.com/3t3t3

These links are just for instance, many other sources available. Be sure
to waterproof the connector that is outside, use a lot more quality
electrical tape over the connection than you'd think necessary.

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 09:31:15 -0800, "Peter Pan"
<Marcs1102NOSPAM@HotmailNOSPAM.com> wrote:

Show quoteHide quotewould be perfect if it could be located outside.

Tony Lewis wrote:
Show quoteHide quoteGuess I didn't state it too clearly.. Didn't know if you have to be outside
to go around the corner of the windows, or just wanted externals that can be
placed on the window sill.. (inside would be a lot cheaper and easier)

If the latter (straight out), they also make hi-gain antennas that screw
onto the antenna stand or the back of the router, however if you have to go
around the corner, the back of the router has standard tnc connectors, and
you can get outdoor antennas with cables and tnc connectors on the end.
I know where to get em here in the US, but have no clue which are sold in
the UK.

Whole point was to make sure you knew that the WAP could be left inside, the
antennas come off, and have standard TNC connectors.

Most antennas are sold for indoor use (and are rather cheap), as soon as you
go to weatherproof outdoor ones, you add on a few bucks.

Just out of curiosity, do you need the antenna to be outside and see a place
at a 90 degree angle from you? or are you just trying to increase the signal
strength by not going thru the glass and going straight out? If you can use
something like the high gain antennas on the indoor

Oh, almost forgot, I ran across a really strange situation... How old are
your windows? Some older builings have things like leaded glass that block a
significant part of the signal.. Drove me nuts until I found that out...

"Peter Pan" <
Also some modern windows have metalized tinting which also plays h*ll with
the signal path.

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 12:14:30 -0800, "Peter Pan"
<Marcs1102NOSPAM@HotmailNOSPAM.com> wrote:

Show quoteHide quoteI have line of sight from the window which is double glazed.  The
signal inside reduces too much.

My wife doesn't want dangly bits in the window so I was going to go
through an adjacent cupboard where I could hide the Access point and
just go through the brick to a simple outdoor antenna.

I presume double glazing also has a significant effect.

On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 11:35:52 GMT, intothe***@hotmail.com (Tony Lewis)
wrote:

From an Intersil data sheet I found in my pile of papers.
  Window Brick Wall                    2dB
  Metal Frame Glass Wall into Building 6dB
  Metal Door in Office                 6dB
  Cinder Block Wall                    4dB
  Metal Door in Brick Wall            12.4dB
  Brick Wall next to Metal Door        3dB

Note that 3dB is half your power, and 6dB loss cuts your range in
half.  Personally, methinks they are being rather optimistic with
their loss measurements.

From the Vivato installation guide at:
  http://www.vivato.net/download/VIV121_3.pdf

Low =  < 10dB   Medium = 10-20dB    High = > 20dB

Obstruction      Attenuation             Example
Open space           None             Courtyard
Wood                 Low              Inner wall, office
                                        partition, door, floor
Plaster              Low              Inner wall (old plaster
                                        lower than new plaster)
Synthetic materials  Low              Office partition
Cinder block         Low              Inner wall, outer wall
Asbestos             Low              Ceiling
Glass                Low              Non-tinted window
Wire mesh in glass   Medium           Door, partition
Metal tinted glass   Low              Tinted window
Human body           Medium           Large group of people
Water                Medium           Damp wood, aquarium, organic
                                        inventory
Bricks               Medium           Inner wall, outer wall, floor
Marble               Medium           Inner wall, outer wall, floor
Ceramic (metal content or backing)
                     High             Ceramic tile, ceiling, floor
Paper                High             Roll or stack of paper stock
Concrete             High             Floor, outer wall, support
                                        pillar
Bulletproof glass    High             Security booth
Silvering            Very High        Mirror
Metal                Very High        Desk, office partition,
                                        reinforced concrete,
                                        elevator shaft, filing
                                        cabinet, sprinkler system,
                                        ventilation systems

I'm sure I agree with their list either.  I've had no problems with
paper products as long as the paper is dry.  I just poked my access
point antenna into a ream of paper.  No obvious loss of signal.  Maybe
they're thinking of a warehouse size pile of paper (like my desk).
They also claim that a "metal tinted window" has low attenuation.  The
reflective aluminized mylar coating I've found on some office windows
has a really high loss.  Maybe there are different types of
metalization.  Dunno.

Nope.  Common window glass is quite transparent to 2.4Ghz energy.
However, some types of glass and glass coatings do cause problems.

On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 10:09:19 -0800, Jeff Liebermann
<je***@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us> wrote:


<snipped>

Useful list thanks Jeff

Glass has Pilkinton K coating but I haven't done extensive signal
measurements and there may be other factors at play.

"Tony Lewis"

<snip>

We were renting an apartment where I had a contract job.  The lady who owned
the building likewise did not like 'dangly bits in the window' so I
purchased a plastic (but matching the outside decor) window flower box.
Installed some plastic flowers that effectively hid the WIFI antenna.

Only draw back the landlord lady wanted me to install the boxes in the other
apartment windows. (I should mention she does a wicked job on home made
brownies so it was not a total loss <g>)

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 12:20:38 GMT, intothe***@hotmail.com (Tony Lewis)
wrote:

UK Homemade antennas:
  http://www.wlan.org.uk/antenna-page.html
Biquad antenna that I like and find easy to build:
  http://home.deds.nl/~pe2er/biquad/
  http://martybugs.net/wireless/biquad/

Tony Lewis <intothe***@hotmail.com> wrote:
In the UK, you might take a lead from this hobbyist.  His site has some
homebuilt solutions and some links to UK sites.

http://www.nodomainname.co.uk/cantenna/cantenna.htm

On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 01:45:25 +0000 (UTC),
d***@XReXXNeedX.usenet.us.com wrote:

This (and others mentioned in other threads) look most promising
thanks. 

As is often the case google throws up lots of sites (and noise) but it
takes a NG to find the best answers :)

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