Boosting WiFi signal

[hardrock]

So I'm stealing my neighbors signal with my new lappy and my signal is pretty weak unless I basically hang the fucker out the window. I don't really like doing that as it makes it hard to type and then my neighbors kids can see the porn I'm looking at. And holding an umbrella over it while I type in the rain is no simple task. Plus I might drop it and I didn't get that extended warranty thing that they try to jack you for $200.


ANyway I want to boost my antenna power. I went to Radioshack and the Dbags there said there is nothing out there that doesn't require me to have something on the other end at the hub. I say bull shit.

Come on you dorks. Someone must have an idear or 2. I tried pluggin a set of rabbit ears into it, but the fucker wouldn't hold still. Even tried wrapping it in tinfoil, but then I couldn't see the screen.

help a brother out.

 

[digger]

http://www.pcbay.net/aiapsugmuacp.html

 

[hardrock]

Unless I am mistaken, that needs to be installed at the signal base. My neighbor aint gonna be to keen on me breaking into his joint and fucking with his shit.

Correct me if I'm wrong?

 

[pintoca]

Any solution you try to implement will need

a) the Access point emitting the original signal needs to allow for "extending" the signal (there is an specific protocol there, the original access point and your new one BOTH need to support it)

b) by extending the signal, you automatically cut the available bandwidth by 50% (because the repeater now needs to send traffic in both direction).

c) the mac address of the repeater needs to be trusted by the original access point, which means you would have to be the owner of the original access point, which you aren't, which in turns means you're fucked.


Your only way around will be:

a) Use an external (or maybe a PCMCIA card) Wireless card, that is able to us an external antenna and then hook it up with a high gain (probably some 6db) DIRECTIONAL (and this is the tricky part) one so you can point it in the direction you want.

Frankly, it will be all expensive and tricky and hard to do... you will be better off getting your own interwebs bro, that shit is almost free nowadays.

You could also try and get a wireless card that is hackable and then increase the Tx power beyond the max allowed (in the US is WAY HIGHER than the allowed in Europe, btw, you all are getting cancer soon) so that you can get a better reception, that will kill your battery in no time and probably your card as well (due to heat) and your neurons too.

As a side note, your neighbor is a sucka, if I allow somebody to use my WLAN because I don't enable the security in this, get a load of this, I AM LIABLE for any illegal shit you do with my connection, from downloading music, to hacking some corporation to posting kid porn, you name, I as well are you, are liable for your shit.



Anyway, there yo go.

 

[str8nubin]

Take a peek at what other channels wifi routers are using in your area. Do a google search for "netstumbler" this free app will allow you to see what channels everyone is running

Default channel is typically 6, and most people use this channel, so you want to reset their channel to whatever is furthest from this.

You can reduce interferance and boost your neigbours signal by resetting their channel to 1 or 11.

To do this, you need to find the IP of the default gateway once you are connected to their router

Run command prompt, type ipconfig/all then enter. (for vista, you will need to run command prompt as an administrator)

Under the entry for "default gateway" you will get the router IP usually 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, 192.168.2.1, etc

Plug this into your browser. You will need the login & password for the router. This is usually "admin" for username and "password", "password", or blank for password.

Once you have access to the router, you need only find "channel & ssid". Do not change ssid, just reset the channel & apply the changes.

This will only get you a minor improvement at best unless you are in an environment with a lot of hotspots operating on the same channel.

The alternative is to either:

1) Determine exactly what kind of router they have. If it is something like a linksys super g, you might be able to buy a wireless card with super g to take advantage of a small range increase. Same for draft wireless N routers or routers utilizing MIMO. Buy a card to match the capabilities of the router.

2) Download kismet for windows and run a linksys router with the kismet firmware to connect to routers that are already secured/encrypted, or do not have the ssid broadcast. You can also buy a usb adapter for $45 if you do not have or want to run a linksys router. This is difficult but will allow you to connect to virtually any connection that is not running WPA type encryption.

PS: Never listen to guys at radioshack or bestbuy

Good luck =)

 

[ItalianMuscle27]

How about getting your own signal? Hate cheap people like you, thats why I put a lock on mine..

 

[str8nubin]

I have my own

But local operator has lots of downtimes.

In this event, I borrow from elsewhere.

And they are "locked" as well

If you want to prevent this:
1) Disable SSID broadcast
2) Use WPA for security, and create a ridiculous passphrase
3) Disconnect power from your router when not in use

 

[digger]

The Airlink is supposed to be a repeater (a "range extender") as well as an access point. I've reconfigured a few regular access points to do that, but the price was right on this one so I thought I'd give it a try.

But don't even think about logging on to your neighbor's wifi router and changing settings. It shouldn't work, because the out-of-the-box config requires you to hook up with a cable to make setting changes. If it's allowing you to see the admin console on the wireless side, "IT'S A TRAP!"

 

[str8nubin]

You can log in as admin and make changes wirelessly =)

I do it all the time, give it a shot. You will need to reconnect to the router as you go depending on what you are doing.

It beats trying to sneak up on them with an ethernet cable

Also the repeaters can work but they can be a pain to set up, and they do reduce speeds considerably

 

[hardrock]

How about getting your own signal? Hate cheap people like you, thats why I put a lock on mine..

Hey I got an idea. How about you fuck right off.



To the rest of you, thansk for the tips.

 

[pdaddyII]

Any solution you try to implement will need

a) the Access point emitting the original signal needs to allow for "extending" the signal (there is an specific protocol there, the original access point and your new one BOTH need to support it)

b) by extending the signal, you automatically cut the available bandwidth by 50% (because the repeater now needs to send traffic in both direction).

c) the mac address of the repeater needs to be trusted by the original access point, which means you would have to be the owner of the original access point, which you aren't, which in turns means you're fucked.


Your only way around will be:

a) Use an external (or maybe a PCMCIA card) Wireless card, that is able to us an external antenna and then hook it up with a high gain (probably some 6db) DIRECTIONAL (and this is the tricky part) one so you can point it in the direction you want.

Frankly, it will be all expensive and tricky and hard to do... you will be better off getting your own interwebs bro, that shit is almost free nowadays.

You could also try and get a wireless card that is hackable and then increase the Tx power beyond the max allowed (in the US is WAY HIGHER than the allowed in Europe, btw, you all are getting cancer soon) so that you can get a better reception, that will kill your battery in no time and probably your card as well (due to heat) and your neurons too.

As a side note, your neighbor is a sucka, if I allow somebody to use my WLAN because I don't enable the security in this, get a load of this, I AM LIABLE for any illegal shit you do with my connection, from downloading music, to hacking some corporation to posting kid porn, you name, I as well are you, are liable for your shit.



Anyway, there yo go.

How do you know if your signal is open to the public or if it's private?

 

[Dial_tone]

How do you know if your signal is open to the public or if it's private?

If you don't know then it probably is. You have to disable ssid broadcast (which does very little) and configure a WEP/WPA key that anyone connecting (including you) would have to enter to use it.