[kwlug-disc] Tip: USB WiFi dongles

[Bob Jonkman]

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Charles wrote:
> Tomato let you boost your router's signal

The problem with a "weak signal" is as much that the laptop WiFi
doesn't have the oomph to transmit back to the access point.
Increasing the signal strength on the router is likely to saturate the
channel, making it even more difficult for a weak signal to be received.

Better to see if there's a less congested WiFi channel, or change the
antenna on the receiving device (which is what Khalid did, in the
extreme).

Recently there was an article or conference talk on exactly that
problem, but my DuckDuck-fu is as weak as a WiFi signal today.

- --Bob.


On 2017-08-30 01:22 PM, Charles M wrote:
> Khalid we've noticed this with different laptops on the same shelf
> - some get a stronger signal than others. Whether it's how they
> implement the antenna (usually around the screen) or the wireless
> chip itself, we haven't investigated yet. As you've pointed out
> we've had better success with external wifi+an antenna.
> 
> It's been awhile since I've played with wireless firmware, but I
> remember that Tomato let you boost your router's signal. I know
> lots of folks love OpenWRT. There's a newer version of Tomato that
> combines Tomato Shibby with some others and works on a few more
> routers called Advanced Tomato.
> 
> On Wed, Aug 30, 2017 at 12:31 PM Khalid Baheyeldin <kb at 2bits.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> My old laptop (~ 2009) was not connecting to a router when 
>> farther away than usual (e.g. in the backyard).
>> 
>> Turns out that it is not the router to blame. I used a USB WiFi 
>> dongle that I got with my Raspberry Pi bundle a while back, and
>> it did work.
>> 
>> The only issue was that this dongle was too long for my liking.
>> 
>> I looked around on eBay and there are ones that are more compact.
>> it only costs C$2.20. I ordered it and when it arrived I tested
>> it and it works as expected. Linux (Xubuntu 16.04) already has
>> the correct drivers for it. Nothing to configure or fiddle with.
>> 
>> http://www.ebay.ca/itm/112224395371
>> 
>> So, if your old laptop is not performing as expected re: wifi, 
>> you have another option to try. -- Khalid M. Baheyeldin 
>> 2bits.com, Inc. http://2bits.com Drupal optimization,
>> development, customization and consulting. Simplicity is
>> prerequisite for reliability. --  Edsger W.Dijkstra Simplicity is
>> the ultimate sophistication. --   Leonardo da Vinci
>> 
>> _______________________________________________ kwlug-disc
>> mailing list kwlug-disc at kwlug.org 
>> http://kwlug.org/mailman/listinfo/kwlug-disc_kwlug.org
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________ kwlug-disc
>> mailing list kwlug-disc at kwlug.org 
>> http://kwlug.org/mailman/listinfo/kwlug-disc_kwlug.org

- -- 
Bob Jonkman <bjonkman at sobac.com>          Phone: +1-519-635-9413
SOBAC Microcomputer Services             http://sobac.com/sobac/
Software   ---   Office & Business Automation   ---   Consulting
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