[rescue] Poor Man's WiFi extender

[Lionel Peterson]

> From: patrick at mail.zill.net (Patrick Giagnocavo)
> Date: 2004/10/23 Sat PM 11:18:02 GMT
> To: The Rescue List <rescue at sunhelp.org>
> Subject: Re: [rescue] Poor Man's WiFi extender
> 
> On Sat, Oct 23, 2004 at 04:08:33PM -0700, Sheldon T. Hall wrote:

> > If someone knows a general-purpose way to split a connection from one
> > computer to a distant one over two parallel routes, I'd love to knowabout
> > it.
> 
> You would have to do some math, but buying a WiFi device that can do
> dual antennas for "antenna diversity" might do the trick.  Then
> install them X number of feet apart.  When one antenna signal gets
> weak, the other antenna is used.  I can dig up the math for the
> calculation from the WLAN book I have, I think.  

The cable runs required for a meaningful amount of diversity would most likely ruin any chance at getting a meaningful signal to the antennas (using one network device) - why not deploy two APs with Cat 5 strung between them? Of course, to ensure signal continuuity, you'd have to do a bit of math/charting... imagine a boat in the middle of the inlet(?) of average size, then draw lines originating at your office on one side of the inlet, with one crossing through front of the ship, the other through the rear of the ship, and continuing the lines to your side of the coast (this will measure the "shadow" cast by the ship when it eclipses your office.

If the inlet is of any real measure, the distance between the two antennas would a multiple of the length of the ship, with the size set by the proximity of the ship to the office...

What about going over it - an option? ;^) 
> You would need to know the length of the boat, about how far it is
> from the antenna, how far away the other antenna is from the boat, and
> the height of the boat.
> 
> Alternatively, buying a cheap 30' tower for your antenna from Radio
> Shack or whatever might fix the problem completely.
> 
> --P
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