[MLUG] Wireless

["Jeff" <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

Today I bought a Belkin Wireless Network Adapter from Staples (great deal is going on for the next couple of days where you buy it for 60 bucks, and get back 20 in mail in rebates), and I'm hoping to amplify it using a cantenna or some such thing to hook my home pc into the wireless Tigernet.  I haven't bought the parts for the cantenna yet, and am a little afraid to start taking the thing apart, especially since I don't know if I could get the cantenna to work with it or get it back together, and want to be able to take the thing back in 13 days or less if this is futile - I don't have a full line-of-sight, and am approximately 1.8 miles from University Hospital (measured the trip to work the other day) by car (probably a little less straight).  Have any of you all been able to connect to the wireless network using similar type things at this distance???  If so, what were you using, and how did you do it?  I'm located right behind the Stephens Stables off of Old 63, and I think I may end up having interference from Boone Hospital, and one or two building between me and the main campus.  The box says that max distance @ 11 mbps is 590 ft, @ 5.5 mbps is 984 ft, @ 2mbps is 1476 ft, and @ 1mbps is 1800 ft....  

 

I noticed in some of the archives that you all are working or mentioned on working on a project to put wireless internet in the public library.  That sort of cooperation with the city is great!

 

I think something very important is going to be happening very soon in downtown based on this: http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Council/feb3bills/ReportB.html 

 

Also, I've read that the wireless access on the main campus is just Cisco.  That makes me curious if it would be agains a contract or something to use other company's stuff...  because in the not too distant future (sometime in first quarter of 2003) it looks like vivato is going to be have wireless switches that are a heck of a lot more powerful than the cisco stuff.  I don't know the pricing yet, as the product is not out yet http://vivato.net/ 

but from the few reviews and stories that I've read tonight and yesterday - it looks like Vivato is going to be creating switches that act like super powerful access points, and they will be able to reach miles, not just feet....