WiFi antenna

It does not pain me to agree with MEX. I used my coach as a mobile office for years before the depression shut us down. With my 2W Alfa USB Wifi modem, I could frequently work access points that I could not see. Even with my Verizon link, I still always carry it and often use it because it does not tie up the phone.

The Alfa units are small, portable and simple to use. Because you can stick it to a window, it doesn't need any installation.

Matt

I use an Alfa 2-watt (2000mw) antenna plus a USB AMPLIFIED extention cord to suction cup the Alfa to a window pointing at the modem. The two watts is to insure the upload signal is seen by the modem.

The ALFA 2000mw unit is a good one. Ultra easy. Plug it in let driver do its thing then use. Optional antennas that thread right into the connector atop the tiny amplifier. Its all so simple it is goof proof even by my 4th grade computer standards. Yeah yeah yeah sue me. I like stuff that works and cheap stuff that works and lasts is irresistable...

DATA ALLIANCE.COM in Nogales AZ is where I bought mine. It is so much more powerful than the competition it is embarrasing. Inexpensive, small and reliable. The 12 db whip antenna option is much more sensitive than the antenna that comes with the ALFA. just make sure you get the 2000mw version. It'll turn one bar into 5-bars.

Here's what I got - works well...from Amazon - sorry - dunno how to make links...

TP-LINK TL-WN822N Wireless N300 High Gain USB Adapter, 300Mbps, Dual 3dBi External Antennas, WPS Button, Support Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10/Linux/Mac OS X 10.7-10.10, Plug and play
by TP-LINK
4.2 out of 5 stars 1,913 customer reviews | 457 answered questions
List Price: $27.37
Price: $19.99 & FREE Shipping on orders over $35. Details
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I don't own one but my father owns a USB booster (Alpha I think). It works good. Not as high a range as some units with the big external antennas but way better than just his internal antenna. He generally was able to bring in average campground Wi-Fi if there was any. I use a Ubiqity unit like mentioned above and beat his range but it is not as simple a unit as his is. It requires much more programing. The one you referenced looks like a good unit and got good reviews but is probably cheaper due to it being an older unit. It's directional which will mean better range but you have to know where to direct it. The USB units drawback in my opinion is that they usually only work for the computer they are plugged into, but that may be all you need. They are usually simpler to setup and to configure and are very portable, as in you could take it to your car if you wanted to. Some other options like mentioned above can be configured to work as a router also then allowing everything in your RV to use the booster as a private network, but these are usually more permanently mounted with larger more powerful antennas though many can be made to be more portable as those newer, smaller, box size directional antennas aren't as big as the older Yagi style antennas.

We posted the progression of our wifi set up on the blog for our boat but it applies just as well to the RV. I just finished installing the Bullet set up with an antenna and I am using it right now. We have successfully pulled in access points from miles away. The blog posts need to be read in reverse since the blog posts the most recent first. You can find them here, http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/search/label/WiFi . Chuck

Take a look at Bear Extender. We have one for each laptop and they have worked great for us for years.

We also use a WiFi Ranger as a router to connect all out devices in the RV.

Rather than a USB antenna/adapter I use a Cat-5 Adapter, what used to be called a Wireless Game Adapter.. The computer (or to be more specific my router) thinks it is a Cable Modem and treats it as such.. I sometimes have to do a bit of special stuff to make it happy but it is "Vintage Hardware" (They still make newer stuff that works the same though).

I modified it by following PART of the instructions on the following video link

www.amateurlogic.tv Then link to episode 3

I DID NOT recut the Linksys antenna (Just mounted it in a can as George Did.

Made a major improvement when properly pointed.

Sourdough Biscuits wrote:
Everyone has had the experience of being at the edge of the Wi-Fi signal... At the edge of the Wally's parking lot, in the RV park, or wherever. Has anyone had any experience with the USB antennas for Wi-Fi?

Something like this:
Predator

Thanks in advance for the input!

Actually, there is no such thing as a "USB antenna". An external antenna for WiFi would need be connected using coaxial cable. What you are probably speaking of, and what you really would want is a customer premises equipment (CPE) device such as made by Ubiquiti and TP-Link. Search for such devices on Amazon.... they have many good choices. CPE is a WiFi high powered Transmitter/Receiver and high gain directional antenna all in one nice weatherproof package. You only need connect it with Ethernet cable.... power is fed to it over the same cable. I had one such device years ago I mounted on PVC pipe to my RV ladder as needed.... In some cases I was able to connect to WiFi routers well over a mile away. It was extremely helpful. I sold it when more and more WiFi connections became encrypted and I migrated to iPads with cellular connections instead.

Good point 're: Windows 10. My Windows 7 laptop died just before Christmas. So, yes, I need something compatible with 10. I posted the Predator mostly as an example of what I am thinking if. But, I'll need to remind myself of compatibility before I buy!

I was looking at the questions and answers at the bottom of the page.

Do you have Windows 7? It seems it will not support 8 or 10.



Question:
Will this work with windows 10?
Answer:
It only supports up to win 7 also have to change file type to exe as it comes in chinese
By Robert B. on December 26, 2015

0
votes

Question:
Does ths beauty come with 25 feet of usb cable?. And if it's posible may i have more than 25 feet of cable?
Answer:
Yes, it comes with 25 feet of cable. I if you need more, you can probably get it at some place like Radio Shack.
By David H. on December 9, 2015

0
votes

Question:
Will this work with a Verizon Jetpack Mobile Hotspot?
Answer:
I would seem, that it would not, as there is no way to install the media onto the hotspot, unless you mean "will it connect to a Jetpack" Then yes, if the media is properly installed it will connect to a jetpack from quite a distance
By Jay Bryan on December 26, 2015

0
votes

Question:
Is this compatible with Windows 8?
Answer:
Sorry, it doesn't.
By YXGOOD on September 27, 2015


I have a Hawkins directional antenna that looks a lot like a cell phone, and has a hot spot locator (it will find both locked and unlocked hot spots) that is pretty good, about 1000 foot limit though. I looked at the 3000 meter 'claim' on this one, and thought it would be about 3 times longer than the Hawkins that I bought back in 2007.

I would keep looking if you have a modern computer.

Good luck,

Fred.