[kwlug-disc] Tip: USB WiFi dongles

[CrankyOldBugger]

And so how many of those 83 WAPs lack password protection?  And what
torrents did you manage to pull down with them?


On Wed, 30 Aug 2017 at 14:22 Charles M <chaslinux at gmail.com> wrote:

> Funny you mention congestion Bob, a couple of times I've run active
> wifi scans at our apartment I've gotten 60+ access points (83 once).
> We're beside another building that's 18 stories. I'd hate to think
> what it's like in the high-rises in downtown Toronto!
>
> On Wed, Aug 30, 2017 at 1:33 PM, Bob Jonkman <bjonkman at sobac.com> wrote:
> > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> > Hash: SHA1
> >
> > 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
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> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________ kwlug-disc
> >>> mailing list kwlug-disc at kwlug.org
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> >
> > - --
> > Bob Jonkman <bjonkman at sobac.com>          Phone: +1-519-635-9413
> <(519)%20635-9413>
> > SOBAC Microcomputer Services             http://sobac.com/sobac/
> > Software   ---   Office & Business Automation   ---   Consulting
> > GnuPG Fngrprnt:04F7 742B 8F54 C40A E115 26C2 B912 89B0 D2CC E5EA
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> > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
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> > iEYEARECAAYFAlmm9ugACgkQuRKJsNLM5ermFACdFuc95mYaYiWwQS9EPCwy6Z3m
> > fGwAoNJuL5cscdKTZ67fYtfK5R/+acIE
> > =oPru
> > -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
> >
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>
>
>
> --
> Charles McColm
> Blog: http://www.charlesmccolm.com/
> Twitter/Identica/Google+: @chaslinux
>
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