[Cotuit329]

Is there a way to increase the range of the iBook internal antenna? I have an G3 iBook and need more range to pick up signals from an Airport router. The router is not equipped with the antenna option. Cantenna makes a kit for some Apple portables but not the iBook.

Thanks

[BobVB]

Originally posted by Cotuit329:
Is there a way to increase the range of the iBook internal antenna? I have an G3 iBook and need more range to pick up signals from an Airport router. The router is not equipped with the antenna option. Cantenna makes a kit for some Apple portables but not the iBook.

Don't know of a way to make the iBook work better, but you can bring the Airport signal closer to your iBook. Just today I got a Microsoft
Wireless-G Base Station (MN-700) at Costco for $40. Takes about 5 minutes to configure it to being another access point. String an ethernet to the closer location, install the Base Station and your wireless networks range has just greatly increased. It just picks up a local LAN number from your Airport via DHCP and looks like another node of your existing network.

When I get around to it I will thread the ethernet cable through the furnace cold air returns and really get it exactly where I want it.

[amazing]

You can add an external antenna to the graphite or snow ABS

http://www.vonwentzel.net/ABS/index.html

Trouble is, why? The antenna costs around $70, which means you're better off taking that money and buying a 3rd party router, because they mostly already have external antennas. It's been conservatively estimated that 3rd party routers have 20% better airport range than Apple ABS.

Nowadays, you can get rebates on 802.11b WAP which bring the price down to $25 or $30. You can even find rebates on 802.11g WAPs, so don't waste your money on an antenna! Just watch the weekend sales for deals on routers...

[Cotuit329]

Thanks for the help. But my issue is simply increasing the reception of my wireless iBook.

I am renting a home for a week this summer which does not have cable/DSL internet. The neighbor across the street has an airport router which is not protected. They will allow me to get on the internet at anytime. But I have to go into their yard to receive an adequate signal. I just want to be able to receive from my house.

[Applefreak01]

Originally posted by Cotuit329:
Thanks for the help. But my issue is simply increasing the reception of my wireless iBook.

I am renting a home for a week this summer which does not have cable/DSL internet. The neighbor across the street has an airport router which is not protected. They will allow me to get on the internet at anytime. But I have to go into their yard to receive an adequate signal. I just want to be able to receive from my house.

Well you got three choices:

1. Get another wireless access point and use it to extend the range of your neighbors Airport base station indoors. Cheapest solution but some non Apple routers don't work well with Apple Airport Cards.
2. Get a outdoor wireless access point. They run in the $400-900 range so that's out of the question but would be nice.
3. Get an antenna for your neighbors base station. A bit more costly than option 1 but might be easer to setup.

I got a netgear MR814 version 2 and I can surf the web from my access point on the sidewalk across the street with all bars full on the Airport strength meter.

Apple says the Airport Base Station Extreme has a signal output power of 15dBm with 50 foot range running in 802.11g speeds and 150 foot range running in 802.11b speeds. I used to have the older graphite colored Apple base station and I couldn't surf from my own drive way. My Netgear MR814v2 router's output power is 2dBi and like I said I can surf farther with a strong signal than I could with the older Apple Base Station. I'm not sure what the older model had for power output but it must have been like 1 or something because it was in the same place as my netgear is right now.

If you want to go the antenna route then I would find out what version of the Apple Base station your neighbor has. If it's the new version called Airport Extreme then you can get any one of these but if it's the older versions (graphite colored or snow colored) then only option 3 will work:

1. Dr. Bott's ExtendAIR Direct Antenna $149 from the Apple Store online which extends the signal 500 feet.

2. Dr. Bott's ExtendAIR Omni Antenna $99.00 from the Apple Store online which extends the signal 250 feet.

3. QuickerTek's AntennaKit $129.95 works with older Apple Base Station as well as Airport Extreme Base Stations, increases range to 500ft.
http://www.technowarehousellc.com/qubastan.html

Hope that helps you.