Uograding the ADSL wireless adapter PC card

[Ian Robinson]

Bigpond sent me a NetGear WG511 V2 PC card when I discovered the USB wireless adapter was DOA. Standard kit if you request a wireless adapter with ADSL modem I guess.

Works OK in the same room , the ADSL modem is only about 6 feet away.

BUT .... I want to set up the ADSL on the beast in the study as my base-station.

I want to have access wirelessly in the garage is about 100 feet away .... no reception on taking the WG111 there .
The study is about 60 feet away from my coffee table where I usually use the laptop .... no signal if I do the reverse and move the laptop to the study but it works of a fashion .... very slowly.

BigPond wont send me more powerful wireless PC card as a swap .... bummer !!!!

So I am considering buying one myself , looking at the NetGear WPN511 wireless adapter PC card which supposedly is backwards compatible with WG routers (presumeably this part of the ADSL modem I have) and have a higher speed and 10 times the coverage.

I do not want to pay extra to BigPond to network the home .... when all I need is a better wireless PC card adapter (will only cost about $50) for the laptop or an equivalent USB style wireless adapter (WPN111) for the destop.

Anyone in IIS-Land crossed this bridge ?

Is it simply a matter of buying the better PC card , installing it's driver ? (Hopefully this change is going to be invisible to the BigPond Modem since teh computer using wireless will not change ..???.. :headscratch:

[GTB_an_Owl]

does the modem have detachable aerial ?

geoff

[acropolite]

If you go to Freenet Antennas (http://nuke.freenet-antennas.com/), they have a very nice USB dongle Network adapter (http://host219.ipowerweb.com/~freenet-/oscommerce-2.2ms2/catalog/product_reviews_info.php?products_i d=258&reviews_id=18&osCsid=b042ed47177ea265a1b0e98775ce 3e96)that has an external antenna connector. I can vouch for these as I have one myself. The software is full featured and has excellent diagnostic capabilities (I use mine for survey work on some long distance (KM's) installations we have). Freenet has them on special ATM for $45. The USB dongle has a socket to allow you to connect any of the various types of antennas that are available. Freenet also have budget high power WAPS and a full range of antennas. Terry in Sydney is an absolutely delightful guy to deal with so it would be worth giving him a call.


basically it is and then selecting and connecting to your wireless network. Make sure you have some form of wireless encryption set on the Router/WAP and make the SSID invisible as well for extra security.

[Ian Robinson]

No - everything is internal.

[tnbk00]

Check the settings on the wireless card config of your lappy. I have found that my default they are set to conserve power and dont operate at full power......somewhat annoying.

[Ian Robinson]

I'm using a wireless adapter PC card , slides in under the HDD.

I will have a look at the settings and see is it is set to conserve power.

[GTB_an_Owl]

we are using Netcomm modems for our Jumpnet customers - NB5plus4W i think the wireless ones are.
makes a big difference if you can upgrade to a 5db antenna (or bigger) when you need to

If you need to use a USB (card) dongle - better if you can source one that will let you put an antenna on it - be it that it will cost a lot more

geoff