Pollik
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Thank goodness - I thought it was just me being dimwitted!:wacko:
Kontiki
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I will probably have a look at getting a longer range extender when I get back. I have been using a Solwise Rocket (I think it's about 14dB) been pleased with the result as it has picked up signals when we were quite a way from anywhere. I made a reflector to add a little more directional range & pleased that it did give a bit more (5-10%) Can see that a better bit of kit would give us even more of a range.
Having problems at the moment with my rocket, parked close to Mcdonalds, can pick up good signal with netbooks own wifi. can't get any signal for the rocket though from there?? Strange though I can get onto the pizza wifi at the Auchan which is about 3 times further away. Also a lot of the signals it is picking up don't have a name associated with them like they used to??
Having problems at the moment with my rocket, parked close to Mcdonalds, can pick up good signal with netbooks own wifi. can't get any signal for the rocket though from there?? Strange though I can get onto the pizza wifi at the Auchan which is about 3 times further away. Also a lot of the signals it is picking up don't have a name associated with them like they used to??
Pollik
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That is pretty much what the one review said, that I could find. Outdoor USB b/g adapter with 9dBi: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics
Polly
Kontiki
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To be fair it has been working fine & picked up a wifi signal when I didn't seem to be anywhere near to the source. It's only today I had a problem, the other day I noticed the outer covering of the wire was outside of the case & I could see the wires. I opened it up & put a bit of insulatig tape around it. When I tried it today it didn't seem to work as well as usual so maybe I have damaged something :mad2:
Pollik
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Ah, OK...perhaps I will go put it back on my list of possibles.
Bigpeetee
Guest
There are a variety of these wifi extenders around, some on ebay giving upto 1500 mW of power, but you are still restricted by having to pick up the base router, so higher gain antennas are the way to go.
You can paint it pink if you want , but not the antenna!!
As my MH is predominantly GRP with polystyrene insullation, I put the extender in a locker attached using velcro.
Most times it's fine like that, I only use the directional antenna when I'm well out of range of the rubber antenna.
A bit of a faf, but I'm a sad old git that doesn't like to be defeated and loves something for free!!
From what I remember about the BT add on to join Fon, it just plugs into your existing router so that it can operate as a separate signal to your own router to give Fon facilities from your own home, it doesn't care who you have broadband with as it uses a small piece of whatever you have. But it does mean that you can use Fon anywhere you find it. Very useful!!
BT Fon have maps showing the density of Fon base stations around the globe. Very popular now in the UK, especially as new accounts with BT have to "Opt Out" of Fon, usually most don't.
You can paint it pink if you want , but not the antenna!!
As my MH is predominantly GRP with polystyrene insullation, I put the extender in a locker attached using velcro.
Most times it's fine like that, I only use the directional antenna when I'm well out of range of the rubber antenna.
A bit of a faf, but I'm a sad old git that doesn't like to be defeated and loves something for free!!
From what I remember about the BT add on to join Fon, it just plugs into your existing router so that it can operate as a separate signal to your own router to give Fon facilities from your own home, it doesn't care who you have broadband with as it uses a small piece of whatever you have. But it does mean that you can use Fon anywhere you find it. Very useful!!
BT Fon have maps showing the density of Fon base stations around the globe. Very popular now in the UK, especially as new accounts with BT have to "Opt Out" of Fon, usually most don't.
Pollik
Guest
One of the reasons I was hoping for specific recommendations is that there is some confusion over terminology.
I went into Maplins yesterday, said I wanted a wifi extender and described what I meant. The chap was adamant that what I was describing was not a wifi extender...he said it was a dongle, a receiver. And what he showed me were little boxes with a usb on one end and a 3" antenna on the other - no cable. He also showed a larger antenna (which can sit on your desk or car roof top) with a cable which had some kind of a brass (?) circular threaded connection.
I can be a bit like that sometimes - it is a great way to learn. But other times, like now, I just want something that will work straight out of the box. I have enough of a headache at the moment getting my network storage to do what it is told, but that is another story, or stora.
I went into Maplins yesterday, said I wanted a wifi extender and described what I meant. The chap was adamant that what I was describing was not a wifi extender...he said it was a dongle, a receiver. And what he showed me were little boxes with a usb on one end and a 3" antenna on the other - no cable. He also showed a larger antenna (which can sit on your desk or car roof top) with a cable which had some kind of a brass (?) circular threaded connection.
I can be a bit like that sometimes - it is a great way to learn. But other times, like now, I just want something that will work straight out of the box. I have enough of a headache at the moment getting my network storage to do what it is told, but that is another story, or stora.
Bigpeetee
Guest
Maplins are generally a waste of time for most things.
Polly, call me on 07979 508286 if you want to chat, easier than typing!!
Polly, call me on 07979 508286 if you want to chat, easier than typing!!
Bigpeetee
Guest
Looking around I found this:
BT Total Broadband and BTFON subsribers CAN acess NEUF FON spots in France.
When you land on the Neuf FON portal click on the "BTFON" link under the buy a pass option. You will then be redirected to a BTFON login page.
You can see how the portal looks like at
File:Neuf WiFi FON Captive Portal.png - FON Wiki Beta
To login use your full BT email address and BT password.
List hotspots at FON Maps
More info on FON can be found at: Main Page - FON Wiki Beta
I've not had time yet to read it, but it looks like Portugal's provider ZON is the main FON supplier
BT Total Broadband and BTFON subsribers CAN acess NEUF FON spots in France.
When you land on the Neuf FON portal click on the "BTFON" link under the buy a pass option. You will then be redirected to a BTFON login page.
You can see how the portal looks like at
File:Neuf WiFi FON Captive Portal.png - FON Wiki Beta
To login use your full BT email address and BT password.
List hotspots at FON Maps
More info on FON can be found at: Main Page - FON Wiki Beta
I've not had time yet to read it, but it looks like Portugal's provider ZON is the main FON supplier
Bigpeetee
Guest
List says NEUF supports FON, don't know the density, but it's an optional source
bigmeeky
Guest
FON for improved home broadband
What an interesting thread, what a diverse community I live in!
From a non techie here am I right to assume that I could use the same equipment to boost my home signal. I live in a rural location but can see that there are a number of BT FONS a mile or so down the road from me.
I currently use Virgin Broadband and have been a Virgin Customer for 14 years or so. We dont have any cable or such on the road I live on but it is installed a mile or so down the road on a built up area.
Question is then if I was to by a FON thingy (Fonera?) and plug it into my Virgin, (might not be terrible useful but the offer is there!) would I then be able to by a WIFI extender with the hope of piggybacking off a stronger signal down the road where there is cable installed and the users have a FON WIFI node?
Any advice always welcome.
ta
What an interesting thread, what a diverse community I live in!
From a non techie here am I right to assume that I could use the same equipment to boost my home signal. I live in a rural location but can see that there are a number of BT FONS a mile or so down the road from me.
I currently use Virgin Broadband and have been a Virgin Customer for 14 years or so. We dont have any cable or such on the road I live on but it is installed a mile or so down the road on a built up area.
Question is then if I was to by a FON thingy (Fonera?) and plug it into my Virgin, (might not be terrible useful but the offer is there!) would I then be able to by a WIFI extender with the hope of piggybacking off a stronger signal down the road where there is cable installed and the users have a FON WIFI node?
Any advice always welcome.
ta
Bigpeetee
Guest
Yes,ish.
If you buy a fonera and link it in to your Virgin router via a short cable, the fonera will create a micro FON node or cell.
This will enable anyone subscribed to FON to access your node and make use of your broadband facility, but cannot gain access to any information on your computer etc.
You, by purchasing and connecting the Fonera, have now become a member of the FON community and as such are entitled to connect into any other FON/BT Openzone node.
There are limitations: the bandwidth available to you through FON is approx 0.5 Mb, possibly less than you are used to, so data throughput is reduced, but still very useable, ie. last weekend, we were able to use FON and download from ITV player, made VOIP (Voice over IP) telephone calls to friends in the US and used SKYPE to have a video call to our Granddaughter in Milton Keynes.
All this from a field in Yorkshire!!
To help achieve this, I used the WiFI extender I mentioned at the beginning of the thread with the additional antenna.
So to connect to the village nearby is possible, but as you have broadband already, it's probably faster than FON.
It is of course possible to buy parabolic antennas (bit like Sky) to point at a friends house in the village and link up like that, but the costs start to escalate!!
OTHER USES of WiFi extender, our daughter at college who is always skint can use an extender and our login to gain access to the internet. Probably not what it's designed to do, but it works and BT do say that there is no useage limit on FON.
Doing this reply whilst in a layby in Bodelwyddan, N Wales while waiting for hospital appt.
If you buy a fonera and link it in to your Virgin router via a short cable, the fonera will create a micro FON node or cell.
This will enable anyone subscribed to FON to access your node and make use of your broadband facility, but cannot gain access to any information on your computer etc.
You, by purchasing and connecting the Fonera, have now become a member of the FON community and as such are entitled to connect into any other FON/BT Openzone node.
There are limitations: the bandwidth available to you through FON is approx 0.5 Mb, possibly less than you are used to, so data throughput is reduced, but still very useable, ie. last weekend, we were able to use FON and download from ITV player, made VOIP (Voice over IP) telephone calls to friends in the US and used SKYPE to have a video call to our Granddaughter in Milton Keynes.
All this from a field in Yorkshire!!
To help achieve this, I used the WiFI extender I mentioned at the beginning of the thread with the additional antenna.
So to connect to the village nearby is possible, but as you have broadband already, it's probably faster than FON.
It is of course possible to buy parabolic antennas (bit like Sky) to point at a friends house in the village and link up like that, but the costs start to escalate!!
OTHER USES of WiFi extender, our daughter at college who is always skint can use an extender and our login to gain access to the internet. Probably not what it's designed to do, but it works and BT do say that there is no useage limit on FON.
Doing this reply whilst in a layby in Bodelwyddan, N Wales while waiting for hospital appt.
Pollik
Guest
So the set up is something like this?
Wall socket ==> [my D-Link wireless router] ==> Fonera
My wireless router will continue to supply my house. The Fonera, connect to the wireless router by Cat5e, will (potentially) steal 0.5 Mb from my available bandwidth and act as a wireless hotspot for anyone within range (and with the equipment you have, that will probably be you!). But where I am, I don't imagine anyone will use it.
What I am trying to get at - I won't need to do anything to my existing set up except add the Fonera like a network drive, with a Cat5e and supply it with power.
If I have this right, then Fonera looks like a really good deal. The low bandwidth won't be an issue. Add an extender and I almost don't need a 3G dongle anymore, in the UK, anyway.
Wall socket ==> [my D-Link wireless router] ==> Fonera
My wireless router will continue to supply my house. The Fonera, connect to the wireless router by Cat5e, will (potentially) steal 0.5 Mb from my available bandwidth and act as a wireless hotspot for anyone within range (and with the equipment you have, that will probably be you!). But where I am, I don't imagine anyone will use it.
What I am trying to get at - I won't need to do anything to my existing set up except add the Fonera like a network drive, with a Cat5e and supply it with power.
If I have this right, then Fonera looks like a really good deal. The low bandwidth won't be an issue. Add an extender and I almost don't need a 3G dongle anymore, in the UK, anyway.
Bigpeetee
Guest
Spot on!!
If no one connects to your Fonera, there's no one to use the bandwidth.
The BT router does give preference to the owner, so if they need to do a massive download, they get all the bandwidth then it reverts to normal.
And if your mobile phone gives limited data, you can often tether it to the laptop as a modem.
My wife gets 0.5 Gb/Month so useful as a backup.
If you ask your phone provider for a free data alowance like your friend etc, esp if you're "Considering leaving"
For those reading this thread, if you have a predominantly metal MH, then that will shield any system inside the unit and cause poor signals.
For better signal mount the extender outside as high up as poss and put it in a waterproof plastic box, pref clear polythene, coloured ones sometimes have metal particles. If they claim to be microwave safe, then they're OK.
This of course works better for any MH, GRP or whatever!!
If no one connects to your Fonera, there's no one to use the bandwidth.
The BT router does give preference to the owner, so if they need to do a massive download, they get all the bandwidth then it reverts to normal.
And if your mobile phone gives limited data, you can often tether it to the laptop as a modem.
My wife gets 0.5 Gb/Month so useful as a backup.
If you ask your phone provider for a free data alowance like your friend etc, esp if you're "Considering leaving"
For those reading this thread, if you have a predominantly metal MH, then that will shield any system inside the unit and cause poor signals.
For better signal mount the extender outside as high up as poss and put it in a waterproof plastic box, pref clear polythene, coloured ones sometimes have metal particles. If they claim to be microwave safe, then they're OK.
This of course works better for any MH, GRP or whatever!!
lebesset
Guest
I've been a fonero for many years , almost since they started
don't know what a cat5e is , but when your FON router arrives it comes with an ethernet cable , plug that into your router , give it a power supply , and away you go
so you end up with 3 wifi signals [ presuming you had wifi already , if not , you have 2 now ] one fon signal is , as stated , available to all members ; the other [ my place ] is encrypted so that only you can use it
in france there are neuf/sfr FON hotspots for members ; unfotunately they are doing what BT did to start off with , allowing people to opt in ....this means it is not so widely available as you would hope ; hopefully they will change to opt-out like BT
and in portugal ZON [ the major cable company ] IS the most widely available
word of warning ....they check that your hotspot is active ; so if you go away and switch it off , after about 3 weeks your roaming privileges disappear until you start it up again
don't know what a cat5e is , but when your FON router arrives it comes with an ethernet cable , plug that into your router , give it a power supply , and away you go
so you end up with 3 wifi signals [ presuming you had wifi already , if not , you have 2 now ] one fon signal is , as stated , available to all members ; the other [ my place ] is encrypted so that only you can use it
in france there are neuf/sfr FON hotspots for members ; unfotunately they are doing what BT did to start off with , allowing people to opt in ....this means it is not so widely available as you would hope ; hopefully they will change to opt-out like BT
and in portugal ZON [ the major cable company ] IS the most widely available
word of warning ....they check that your hotspot is active ; so if you go away and switch it off , after about 3 weeks your roaming privileges disappear until you start it up again
Pollik
Guest
You do now!
Thanks for the post. 3 signals??:
[My D-Link wireless wifi]
BTFON - free to members
BTOPENZONE - chargeable hotspot (Buy great-value BT Openzone wireless internet - BT Openzone)
Actually, a monthly contract of £5 for openzone is not bad value for over 8 hours...but not as good as Fonera. The daily tickets are just stupid prices, of course.
This has been a brilliant thread - thanks
)Polly
Kontiki
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I did write to FON, took a while for them to answer. I asked if I bought a FON router & as I was going away for 3 months could I connect to somebody elses router (one of my daughters for example) their reply was that as long as the FON router was active it didn't need to be at my home address. This would save me having to leave my router switched on for 3 months when we are off travelling.
GeoNomad
Guest
Having been a fonero since the very beginning, I can say that the absolute best place I have found for access is the UK. It was amazing to me how many access points were available when I was there in April. I was connected daily - as evidenced by my blathering on on this forum.
Do not expect the same in France. The deal with SFR seems to be one that lets SFR customers use FON access points without having to open up their own. So there are way fewer FON access points available. In fact, I have yet to find one in the past 3 weeks of travelling around.
There are still some generous cafes and campsites with open WiFi that can be used. Not as many as there used to be, though.
I also have an SFR 3G dongle, which works, but is often very slow. Once in a while it surprises me by being fast, though.
Peter
Do not expect the same in France. The deal with SFR seems to be one that lets SFR customers use FON access points without having to open up their own. So there are way fewer FON access points available. In fact, I have yet to find one in the past 3 weeks of travelling around.
There are still some generous cafes and campsites with open WiFi that can be used. Not as many as there used to be, though.
I also have an SFR 3G dongle, which works, but is often very slow. Once in a while it surprises me by being fast, though.
Peter