External Wifi Antenna

Patrick Harman wrote:
> I started this dialog, so I will give you all an update. I purchased An
> Eon-3220 EXT:
>
> http://www.engeniustech.com/datacom/products/Category.aspx?id=17

I found the specs for physical size of that in the User's Guide:

http://www.engeniustech.com/resources/11gclientBridge_AP.pdf

It looks like both models use the same housing and that it is about 6.5"
(163.8 mm) long, 5.3" (135.2 mm) wide, and 1.9" (47.0 mm) high, and
weighs 2.6 lbs. (1.2 Kg).

> My decision was bases on specifications. I have now established
> communications with the device, it took a null modem adapter and a gender
> changer to do this. Un fortunately I no longer had these in my junk pile.
>
> Stay tuned for my efforts to get on line.
>
> My goal is to get an antenna high enough to clear a boat house or other
> obstruction to receive Wi-Fi. I have some confidence that this device will
> do what I want it to do.

So the plan will be to mount the EOC-3220 EXT up on the mast, power it
with the PoE setup, and use the supplied or another external dipole
antenna?

They don't say much about the antenna other than it is a 5 dB antenna
with a RP-SMA connector. Sounds like your basic "rubber ducky" antenna
as used by Linksys and many of the other wireless units.

Do you know, does that also have the internal 9 dB patch antenna fitted
so you can use either the patch (which would be directional) or an
external antenna?

At any rate, it will be interesting to hear how it goes.

> Funny thing though is I am not a fan of MS Windows, and miss MS Dos, but
> plug and play has some real benefits now that I am just a user. It has been
> humbling.

Sounds like you missed the most troublesome times on Windows. There was
a long time when Plug and Play was less pleasant in use. I'm using
Windows 2000 now and consider it to be stable and reliable. I'm sure
linux and Macs are better but I've never been able to get everything
done on those.

I do keep a Windows 98 boot disk around though. If I want to get a W2K
or XP machine into a DOS mode I do it with that. But don't be afraid to
fool around with the Command Prompt on W2K or XP. It actually has
become pretty stable over the years. If it is not visible on your
Accessories menu, you can start it from Start > Run typing in "cmd" (no
quotes) and pressing Enter.

If you start looking for other antennas to use with that, try a search
for antenna on eBay. There is always a lot of wireless stuff on sale
there, antennas, adapters, etc. Most good antennas will have a Type "N"
connector on them but you can get N to RP-SMA adapters on eBay too.

Do you have a 48VDC source on your boat? If you do, I wonder if that
can be used for the PoE's 48VDC input? It would get you away from
having to use the supplied wall plug AC/DC adapter.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)
 >> Stay informed about: External Wifi Antenna 

I got this device to finally work.You have to go into configuration via your
web browser to search for available Wi-Fi signals.

after you select one you go back in to the network set up in windows to
change the IP address to dynamic. then you launch the web browser again.

Bingo I am on line great signal strength etc. The only problem is I have to
click repair every so often from the icon that represents my network from
the windows network dialog box.

Sorry I have not used the correct syntax, but I think you understand what I
did.

The documentation goes into lots of detail on how to configure the devise
and absolutely none on how to get on line after you have configured it.

The included 5 db rubber duck antenna worked fine, I have a 9 db, which is
about as high gain as I want in while it is mounted on my boat..

It has been a challenge, but I an happy with the results.

Pat Harman
"Jack Erbes" <jackerbes.DeleteThis@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:47878736$0$5123$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Patrick Harman wrote:
>> I started this dialog, so I will give you all an update. I purchased An
>> Eon-3220 EXT:
>>
>> http://www.engeniustech.com/datacom/products/Category.aspx?id=17
>
> I found the specs for physical size of that in the User's Guide:
>
> http://www.engeniustech.com/resources/11gclientBridge_AP.pdf
>
> It looks like both models use the same housing and that it is about 6.5"
> (163.8 mm) long, 5.3" (135.2 mm) wide, and 1.9" (47.0 mm) high, and
> weighs 2.6 lbs. (1.2 Kg).
>
>> My decision was bases on specifications. I have now established
>> communications with the device, it took a null modem adapter and a gender
>> changer to do this. Un fortunately I no longer had these in my junk pile.
>>
>> Stay tuned for my efforts to get on line.
>>
>> My goal is to get an antenna high enough to clear a boat house or other
>> obstruction to receive Wi-Fi. I have some confidence that this device
>> will
>> do what I want it to do.
>
> So the plan will be to mount the EOC-3220 EXT up on the mast, power it
> with the PoE setup, and use the supplied or another external dipole
> antenna?
>
> They don't say much about the antenna other than it is a 5 dB antenna
> with a RP-SMA connector. Sounds like your basic "rubber ducky" antenna
> as used by Linksys and many of the other wireless units.
>
> Do you know, does that also have the internal 9 dB patch antenna fitted
> so you can use either the patch (which would be directional) or an
> external antenna?
>
> At any rate, it will be interesting to hear how it goes.
>
>> Funny thing though is I am not a fan of MS Windows, and miss MS Dos, but
>> plug and play has some real benefits now that I am just a user. It has
>> been
>> humbling.
>
> Sounds like you missed the most troublesome times on Windows. There was
> a long time when Plug and Play was less pleasant in use. I'm using
> Windows 2000 now and consider it to be stable and reliable. I'm sure
> linux and Macs are better but I've never been able to get everything
> done on those.
>
> I do keep a Windows 98 boot disk around though. If I want to get a W2K
> or XP machine into a DOS mode I do it with that. But don't be afraid to
> fool around with the Command Prompt on W2K or XP. It actually has
> become pretty stable over the years. If it is not visible on your
> Accessories menu, you can start it from Start > Run typing in "cmd" (no
> quotes) and pressing Enter.
>
> If you start looking for other antennas to use with that, try a search
> for antenna on eBay. There is always a lot of wireless stuff on sale
> there, antennas, adapters, etc. Most good antennas will have a Type "N"
> connector on them but you can get N to RP-SMA adapters on eBay too.
>
> Do you have a 48VDC source on your boat? If you do, I wonder if that
> can be used for the PoE's 48VDC input? It would get you away from
> having to use the supplied wall plug AC/DC adapter.
>
> Jack
>
> --
> Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
> (also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)
 >> Stay informed about: External Wifi Antenna 

Patrick Harman wrote:
> I got this device to finally work.You have to go into configuration via your
> web browser to search for available Wi-Fi signals.
>
> after you select one you go back in to the network set up in windows to
> change the IP address to dynamic. then you launch the web browser again.
>
> Bingo I am on line great signal strength etc. The only problem is I have to
> click repair every so often from the icon that represents my network from
> the windows network dialog box.

At this point it would probably be helpful to know what version of
Windows you are using and how you connect to the internet (dial up with
a modem, cable, DSL, or other full time wideband system, etc.)

> Sorry I have not used the correct syntax, but I think you understand what I
> did.
>
> The documentation goes into lots of detail on how to configure the devise
> and absolutely none on how to get on line after you have configured it.

What mode is the EOC-3320 in? Assuming you have access to a Wide Area
Network (WAN) connection for Internet access and the 3220 is being used
as an Access Point (AP), a typical method would be for the 3220 to be
connected to an Ethernet port on a router and for the WAN port on the
router to be connected to the WAN port on a cable or DSL modem. But
there are many variations on how this can be done.

It sounds like your PC is wirelessly connected to the AP (3220) and you
need to get the AP connected to something that is connected to the
Internet.

I'm not a real networking expert, I tend to have to keep trying and
doing different things over and over and I eventually get it working.
Good luck with that!

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at roadrunner dot com)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)
 >> Stay informed about: External Wifi Antenna 

It is being used as a client, not as an access point to receive WiFi in
various marinas I visit.

Pat
"Jack Erbes" <jacker DeleteThis @midmaine.com> wrote in message
news:478b675f$0$31766$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Patrick Harman wrote:
>> I got this device to finally work.You have to go into configuration via
>> your web browser to search for available Wi-Fi signals.
>>
>> after you select one you go back in to the network set up in windows to
>> change the IP address to dynamic. then you launch the web browser again.
>>
>> Bingo I am on line great signal strength etc. The only problem is I have
>> to click repair every so often from the icon that represents my network
>> from the windows network dialog box.
>
> At this point it would probably be helpful to know what version of Windows
> you are using and how you connect to the internet (dial up with a modem,
> cable, DSL, or other full time wideband system, etc.)
>
>> Sorry I have not used the correct syntax, but I think you understand what
>> I did.
>>
>> The documentation goes into lots of detail on how to configure the devise
>> and absolutely none on how to get on line after you have configured it.
>
> What mode is the EOC-3320 in? Assuming you have access to a Wide Area
> Network (WAN) connection for Internet access and the 3220 is being used as
> an Access Point (AP), a typical method would be for the 3220 to be
> connected to an Ethernet port on a router and for the WAN port on the
> router to be connected to the WAN port on a cable or DSL modem. But there
> are many variations on how this can be done.
>
> It sounds like your PC is wirelessly connected to the AP (3220) and you
> need to get the AP connected to something that is connected to the
> Internet.
>
> I'm not a real networking expert, I tend to have to keep trying and doing
> different things over and over and I eventually get it working. Good luck
> with that!
>
> Jack
>
> --
> Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at roadrunner dot com)
> (also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)
 >> Stay informed about: External Wifi Antenna 

> Bingo I am on line great signal strength etc. The only problem is I have
> to click repair every so often from the icon that represents my network
> from the windows network dialog box.

Sounds like the DHCP lease is timing out. Determining the source of the
problem would depend on how the leases are being distributed. Is your
router setting up it's own DHCP? Or is it acting as a relay back to the
WiFi network? If it's acting as a relay then source Wifi network may not
have a large enough DHCP range. It may be running out of addresses due to
you and everyone else trying to connect.

At this point your conversation is probably better continued in the
alt.internet.wireless newsgroup
 >> Stay informed about: External Wifi Antenna 

Your comment about DHCP appears to be right on the money. There is an option
in the set up to enable DHCP for dynamic addressing from the access point.
When I go to my boat later I will configure it per your
suggestion/observation.

Thanks,

Pat Harman


"Bill Kearney" <wkearney99.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:jr-dnRu_qZr56RbanZ2dnUVZ_uqvnZ2d@speakeasy.net...
>> Bingo I am on line great signal strength etc. The only problem is I have
>> to click repair every so often from the icon that represents my network
>> from the windows network dialog box.
>
> Sounds like the DHCP lease is timing out. Determining the source of the
> problem would depend on how the leases are being distributed. Is your
> router setting up it's own DHCP? Or is it acting as a relay back to the
> WiFi network? If it's acting as a relay then source Wifi network may not
> have a large enough DHCP range. It may be running out of addresses due to
> you and everyone else trying to connect.
>
> At this point your conversation is probably better continued in the
> alt.internet.wireless newsgroup
>
 >> Stay informed about: External Wifi Antenna 

Patrick Harman wrote:
> It is being used as a client, not as an access point to receive WiFi in
> various marinas I visit.
>

In that case, if you can use the 3200 to find the available networks it
would just be a case of picking one by it's SSID, entering a password if
necessary, maybe a I.P. address if that is not, for some silly reason,
using DHCP, and connecting to a network.

Then, connect the Ethernet cable to the RJ-45 connector on your PC or
network card. In some cases, a crossover cable may be needed if you are
not connecting through a hub or router.

I've not done much if lately and away from home but it used to be that
often all you needed to do was pick a SSID and try it. The ones that
still had the default SSID name for the brand of wireless equipment
involved, were often easy to connect to. The SSID "linksys" for example
was always a Linksys router or access point.

People are getting smarter about it, it might be a little harder to find
a access point that does not need a password. Some of the marinas used
to tell you the SSID and that was all you needed. Others wanted you to
pay a fee and then they gave you a password. Sometimes the passwords
never changed, in others that was not the case.

Look for a freeware named netstumbler, that is a good one for finding
the nodes in your vicinity.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at roadrunner dot com)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)
 >> Stay informed about: External Wifi Antenna 

> It is being used as a client, not as an access point to receive WiFi in
> various marinas I visit.

Then is it passing DHCP requests to the host network? Or is it acting as a
router to the local network, via NAT? It'll make a difference as the host
network may well have limited a DHCP address range. I've run mine as
gateway routers. That way my local equipment is protected from the other
wireless systems. That and it handles it's own DHCP address range.

I've yet to find any client software I needed to use that failed to work.
But if there were such software it'd probably fail as a direct client
anyway. Unless ports were opened on the source Wifi router to allow the
traffic to pass (unlikely if you don't own the source router).
 >> Stay informed about: External Wifi Antenna 

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:40:27 -0500, "Bill Kearney"
<wkearney99.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in
<jr-dnRu_qZr56RbanZ2dnUVZ_uqvnZ2d.DeleteThis@speakeasy.net>:

>> Bingo I am on line great signal strength etc. The only problem is I have
>> to click repair every so often from the icon that represents my network
>> from the windows network dialog box.
>
>Sounds like the DHCP lease is timing out. Determining the source of the
>problem would depend on how the leases are being distributed. Is your
>router setting up it's own DHCP? Or is it acting as a relay back to the
>WiFi network? If it's acting as a relay then source Wifi network may not
>have a large enough DHCP range. It may be running out of addresses due to
>you and everyone else trying to connect.
>
>At this point your conversation is probably better continued in the
>alt.internet.wireless newsgroup

Another possible DHCP problem is Comcast Internet, which doesn't work
well with some wireless routers. Check for updated firmware and/or a
different brand of wireless router.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>
 >> Stay informed about: External Wifi Antenna 

> Another possible DHCP problem is Comcast Internet, which doesn't work
> well with some wireless routers. Check for updated firmware and/or a
> different brand of wireless router.

Which is unlikely to be useful advice in this particular situation.
 >> Stay informed about: External Wifi Antenna 

On Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:18:50 -0800, "Patrick Harman"
<ppharman.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote in
<sdGdnXPdovV1pfDanZ2dnUVZ_uqvnZ2d.TakeThisOut@comcast.com>:

>Anyone have a link to an external marine Wifi antenna. I want to mount it
>atop my mast and run about 40 ft to my computer.

See the "Wi-Fi on a Boat" section of the Wiki below.

--
Best regards,
John Navas <http:/navasgroup.com>
 >> Stay informed about: External Wifi Antenna 

On Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:55:34 GMT, John Navas
<spamfilter1 RemoveThis @navasgroup.com> wrote in
<831oo3tif58tk5a8egd33dn2g2kd9ncl2c RemoveThis @4ax.com>:

>On Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:18:50 -0800, "Patrick Harman"
><ppharman RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in
><sdGdnXPdovV1pfDanZ2dnUVZ_uqvnZ2d RemoveThis @comcast.com>:
>
>>Anyone have a link to an external marine Wifi antenna. I want to mount it
>>atop my mast and run about 40 ft to my computer.
>
>See the "Wi-Fi on a Boat" section of the Wiki below.

Oops!

http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_on_a_Boat

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>
 >> Stay informed about: External Wifi Antenna 

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:04:25 -0500, "Bill Kearney"
<wkearney99.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in
<04Gdnbx4AKcRZRbanZ2dnUVZ_tyknZ2d.TakeThisOut@speakeasy.net>:

>> Another possible DHCP problem is Comcast Internet, which doesn't work
>> well with some wireless routers. Check for updated firmware and/or a
>> different brand of wireless router.
>
>Which is unlikely to be useful advice in this particular situation.

Wasn't obvious because so little of the thread was cross-posted here
(alt.internet.wireless), and not entirely out of the question -- I know
of at least one marina using Comcast Internet.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>
 >> Stay informed about: External Wifi Antenna