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joanne
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire
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Lloyd
Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699
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dougal
Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent
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 Posted: Mon May 23, 05 1:30 pm Post subject: |
 
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| Treacodactyl wrote: |
| Deedee wrote: |
I read somewhere they can intercept the signal is that right and if so how can I protect my vast fortune  (I WISH  ) |
AFAIK it's true about intercepting the signal, some signals can go for miles... |
| dougal wrote: |
Security: In order to get the signals to go "miles" you need at least a rather special aerial. A normal range of 50 yards in clear air (less with walls, especially if earthed metalwork is involved) is a reasonable expectation.
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... lack of range is good security! |
| Jonnyboy wrote: |
| I have a Wireless node less than 10 metres from my office but have no signal due to the number of walls between my laptop and it. |
| jocorless wrote: |
| ... I got it sorta working in our old house but this new house doesn't want to play ball at all - I even bought extra long arials for it - I'm suspecting that they aren't connected up correctly inside the box ... |
Wireless can involve a certain amount of black magic. *Excessive* range is rarely a problem.
As the distance increases, the system will step down in speed in order to maintain a working connection.
Different routers and laptops etc have differing range capabilities. Within Apple's range (with which I am most familiar) the upmarket PowerBooks (with their metal casings) offer distinctly *less* real range than their downmarket plastic cased iBook siblings - from the same basestation! (Lets gloss over the signal "strength" displays...)
Basestations with *internal* aerials can perform differently when sitting on desk or hanging on a wall - aerial vertical or horizontal!
Attaching longer external aerials can extend the range - but to get properly long range you have to use aerials that focus the signal into a narrow and highly directional beam, which then needs very careful aiming!. Note that the aerial cable is *very* delicate.
Walls - some walls are relatively transparent to the radio signals while others effectively block them. Materials, thickness, moisture content all probably matter. (Plasterboard with aluminium foil for thermal insulation might have been designed as a screen...)
Another problem is reflection. The waves bounce around - and this can mean that moving just a few inches can make or break a connection. For this reason, some better base stations have multiple ("diversity") aerials and use whichever has the best signal from moment to moment. Repositioning the base station is worth trying in order to bring a location within range.
Interference: Obviously it will work better in an area unpolluted by other radio transmissions - intended or not. So, mount the base station at least a few feet away from crt monitor screens, cell phones, cordless phones and their bases, etc... And wireless networks can operate on different channels - using a different one can sometimes give better results.
Setup: Do any laptop setup right next to the base station so that range doesn't add additional complication. Then walk it away while displaying signal strength... |
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joanne
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire
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Lloyd
Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699
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No idea what DD or DS mean. I ended up with Cat5 cable as I had no end of problems with my wireless connection. Cable is I believe, also quicker than wireless.
Thanks, Jo!
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