> > I'm trying to strengthen a wireless connection that spans about 150 > > feet and has to go through about 5 walls. I bought two of these: > > > > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833164110 > > > > for either end of the connection, but I'm having trouble making it > > work well. I've noticed the connection will be perfect for a short > > time, but then disappear. When watching iwconfig during this process, > > it looks like the connection is good when on a low rate, but when it > > goes to 54 Mbps it falls apart. > > > > Should limiting the rate solve this problem? If so, how can I do > > that? I'm using hostapd on the AP and wpa_supplicant on the client. > > > > - Grant > > Grant, > > Yes, lowering the rate to a "slower" speed will help greatly. The lower > rates > use less compression and modulation... less complex wave forms better > connects over long hauls. > > The antennas look very good, but what's driving them? I use and whole > heartedly endorse SENAO products and have had very good luck with these > models: ECB-3220 (400 mw) or 2611CB3 PLUS (200 mw) at: > http://www.wlansolution.com. Either unit with the high gain antennas you > have, will penetrate what you stated and probably go pretty high on the > speed scale doing it too.
With careful antenna placement and use of 'iwconfig wlan0 rate 2M' I have a nice reliable connection. Thanks for the advice on lowering the rate. Does anyone think I would be better off with a 15 foot antenna extension cable and a PCI adapter than what I have now which is a USB adapter on the end of a 15 foot USB cable? I know antenna cables are lossy. - Grant -- gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org mailing list
