WiFi Signal Booster, Range Extender For Laptop Computers

I already bought the Wilson cradle with the recommended antenna. If I do have to use cellular I will upgrade the antenna.

 

Sprint every bit as good as verizon.

I have both

 

UPDATE: Just tested out my new alfa wifi booster. I picked up roughly 20 more wifi channels with this thing. Sadly, only one channel was open to the public. If I get several hours of free wifi, it would pay for itself within several months. So... I don't regret spending $60... would be a month of unlimited 128 kbps data with spring/t-mobile/at&t.

Haven't tested out the wilson, and probably won't until I'm on the road. I'll update the post once I do... and give further updates to the performance of the Alfa.

 

Well, do some realistic testing at some point. Once you get some free wifi, run speed tests with your built-in antenna, and then with your alpha setup and compare throughput. I have no doubt you will see more networks, bet can you effectively pass data back and forth any better then with your built in wifi hardware?

Directional antennas should provide better throughput if they are built properly and aimed properly.

 

Thats the plan. And I have a 7dbi directional antenna I plan on using. I have the 5dbi installed right now.

 

@OP

I have the 2000mw one as well, with the magnetic mount 9dbi antenna. Got it i think for 35$ on amazon.

Magnetic mount is kinda pointless, as most of the truck is fiberglass. Not rated for outdoor but it'll work most of the weather you'll come across. I usually just have it on the dash with a little bend to it to make sure its completely upright. Almost always pickup whatever nearby food spot there is for wifi unless its a built in dennys or the like in a pilot. BK, McD's all usually work fine. I've gotten plenty of signal from the lot across the interstate to the opposite stop (TA, J, Pilot) and pick theirs up too within enough signal to connect.

The trick is finding an open one that you can connect to but like i said, there are usually decent restaurants and such, sometimes even titty bars that have wifi. park at a stop and pick those up and you'll be good to go

PS in my search, the 5000mw model can only pull enough power under most conditions to be comparable to the 2000mw. apparently its specific drivers, and only some laptops can power so much in a usb port. went with the awus036nh as well, and if i have enough time (usually my 10) to tweak it a little, i can find an open connection and cruise the net before crashing for the night

 

Thanks for the review. It cost $39.99 on Amazon now, but I think it was because I opted for the 7db directional antenna. Yeah, finding an open channel is probably going to be the difficult part. I did go with a wilson mobile cell phone booster, so if one fails, the other may work. I opted for the their best antenna. Hopefully It doesn't have to come down to AT&T unlimited data plan... I don't know if I could stay sane with 128kbps speeds... I've experienced dial up and it's a nightmare. The 5000mw model had conflicting information on amazon with a lot more negative reviews. It is a USB power issue, but it also said in the description "max 1500mw"... I don't know... and I'm not too concerned.

 

http://www.ccrane.com/Antennas/Super-USB-WiFi-Antenna-3-High-Power-Long-Range-80211-B-G-N-Wireless-1

 

Tested 24 hours at a truck stop. Almost hopeless using the laptop, connecting to pilot. With my extender/booster, I get a good consistent signal.

 

If you a DYI person, you could always do what I did. I modified my laptop to have a 10dbi antenna built into it. Now, instead of just picking up just my wifi network, I am picking up two other networks. The closest neighbor is 300 yards away and pick that signal up at 4 bars and the next closest neighbor is a block away and pick up 1 bar on that one.