What antenna are you using with the SMC card? What kind of connector does
it take to plug into it?

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Don" wrote in message
...
Broadband Xpress has their "Networked Boat" package that seems like just
what you're looking for. Pricey, though, and I'd bet you can find the
components elsewhere for less money.

I've found BBX to provide very good service, but not until I replaced my
standard wifi PCMCIA card with a high-power card such as the one sold by
BBX
for $109. I was able to buy that exact same card (made by SMC) for $55
from
nextwarehouse.com. Made a huge difference - testing with my standard
Netgear card at 30% signal, up to 100% with the SMC card. Adding the 6dbi
indoor antenna is often not needed, but it does help in extreme cases. I
have been reaching it out the cabin hatch and just setting it on the
coachroof.

Don

"Matt O'Toole" wrote in message
...
Johnhh wrote:

I currently use a high power PCMCIA card with a 6dbi omni indoor
antennae. This works well for 1/4 to 1/2 mile if I put the antenna on
the cabin roof, but this is very impractical, especially if it is
raining. What I would like to do is mount a permanent exterior
antennae and run it through a network bridge to my own onboard
wireless network. Can anyone recommend a good high power bridge and
antennae?

This is exactly what I'd like to do. I'd like to find an omni antenna
w/
bridge
to mount on the mast or someplace. If the bridge puts out a healthy
signal,
there would be no need to run wires except for power. For that matter,
a
few
solar cells and a battery inside might take care of that issue too, for
a
completely self containted unit. I'm quite surprised no one seems to be
targeting boaters with kits like this, especially considering the
"yachtsman's
discount" to be tacked on. (Does it work with no hassle? Write the guy
a
check!)

I've been trying to use marina WiFi networks with little success. Most
of
them
really stink, with little coverage and weak signals. I'm often
wandering
the
docks carrying my laptop, looking for just the right spot to get enough
reception to do anything. The prices companies like Broadband Xpress
charge are
pretty aggressive. Considering the service is useless more often than
not, it
winds up being a bit of a ripoff. However, if I had a good antenna
setup
it
might actually be useful. With all this supposed WiFi access around,
I'm
still
checking my email through a cell phone. Currently the best strategy is
to
find
a nearby coffeehouse, which often have free WiFi.

Matt O.

I often don't use an external antenna, but the SMC card has a removeable
plastic antenna and micro-coax connectors (MMCX) for an external antenna.
The SMC part numbers and nextwarehouse.com SKU numbers are

SMCANT-OM5 $22.37 ANTENNA EXTERNAL OMNI W/MMCX (nextwarehouse 46227)
SMC2532W-B $54.86 Elite Connect 2.4GHZ 802.11B HIGH POWER WIRELESS
PCMCIA (nextwarehouse 46183)

SMC has other antennas and higher-speed cards also - see www.smc.com

The removeable plastic antenna is a bit fragile - the first day I had this
card my dog got tangled in the laptop power cord and pulled my laptop to the
carpeted floor. No damage except that plastic antenna got mangled and it
pulled one of the connectors out. There was no damage to the card itself -
it's well encased in a metal shell. However, a replacement antenna cost me
$20 from SMC. I know one guy who leaves the PCMCIA card in his computer all
the time and just plugs the antenna in when needed. I worried that this
might cause problems - running the transmitter circuitry into an open
unterminated load - but he has not had any problems in a year of daily use.
I keep my cheap Netgear card in the computer most of the time and only put
the SMC card in when needed. It's hot-swappable.

Don

"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
news:u6eCd.9220$EG1.5775@lakeread04...
What antenna are you using with the SMC card? What kind of connector does
it take to plug into it?

--
Glenn Ashmore