Re: wireless networks

**"Christopher P. Lindsey" t*@spamfodder.com**

> I tried to go wireless last summer but we could not get any signal to 
> reach outside the basement office where my internet hookup is. It turned 
> out the wireless systems only go through certain lightweight materials 

It also depends on what kind of wireless you're using -- 802.11b is the
standard, but there are others out there.  If you're using an 
omnidirectional antenna you'll get a lot less coverage too, but a 
directional antenna usually has to be line of sight.

If you can swing it, you're much better off having the base station
on the top story of your house.  Mine is in my office on the second
floor, so I can get coverage in a 150' radius around my house.  I'm 
often in the yard taking notes about my plants with the laptop.

I did find that my new laptop with builtin wireless doesn't have nearly
the same range as the laptop that I had two years ago with an add-on
PCMCIA card.  If you're having problems getting a PCMCIA card with an
extra antenna to boost the signal might be the best way to go.

And, just for giggles, you can build your own antennas out of Pringles
cans and the like.  Yes, they do work; we've tried a few.  :)

   http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html

Chris

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