Skip Gundlach wrote:
A brief review, and, perhaps, a restatement of the problem (left below for
newcomers) in a different light which might get some of the creative minds
here going in a different direction.

I've got this neat bridge (Senao 2611DB3 Deluxe) in a NEMA enclosure atop
the mast, with an 8.5 dBi antenna connected to it via a 6" pigtail
(virtually no signal loss). It's 200mw, so it reaches out really far (23
dBm). It's antenna is omidirectional so it doesn't matter which direction
the boat's pointing. The signal pattern is fat enough to cover sea level to
many hundred feet high from the typical anchoring location. It's
point-to-multipoint so it can see any available "visible" access point.
Because my XP network program controls for me, I can select which of the
available access points it sees that I want to talk to.

Connected to my computer via ethernet, and powered with 12V via separately
appropriately sized wire, both up the mast, it sees a WAAAY farther than the
card in my laptop would, allowing me a great deal more latitude in finding a
usable signal when I'm at anchor, wherever that may be.

However, I'd really like to shed the wired connection (the ethernet
connected to my computer, as it's a laptop and I'd like to be able to carry
it up on deck without a tether).

Unfortunately, a bridge won't talk in both directions over the antenna. How
can I get some other wireless device (one which can talk to my computer) to
seamlessly (so I see my remote AP as though it were coming in via my laptop
antenna) talk to my bridge?

There may be a variety of voltages of whatever this device may need; I'll
work out getting power to it, and, as long as I'm having more than one -
Schaeffer fans from the northern US may recall that ditty? - I'll put it up
the mast, in the enclosure, too, so there's essentially no distance between
the two, in case that's of any issue.

Can this be done? Can I put some other wireless device (that is, which can
see my computer's wifi) in connection with my bridge, so I can see (and
choose which of potentially many) a remote AP? If so, what is that device?

Better, is there a device which already integrates those functions?

Thanks.

L8R

Skip, about to enter active rehab, the sooner to get back to active refit
and eventual launch!


Skip, I believe your answer will be another computer cat 5 connected
to the wireless and having another wi fi card and antenna at deck
level to talk wirelessly to your portable. A 1" rack space server
would do.

I do not know exactly what software this base boat processor would
need, but suspect you may need to go so far as remote console
supervisory control over the "boat base station processor", similar
to that used in computer classrooms. You would select the base
server as your link from the portable, and work as the net manager
on remote access. You would need complete access from the remote to
the base server, and should use a crypto link.

It would emulate a backbone for your intranet wan. You will need to
manage the base firewall / gateway. I'm out of date, retired. Sorry
I can't be more specific.

Terry K