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Anonymous Poster

Antenna for DSL Wireless Reception

10/08/2009 8:12 AM

I have a DSL wired and wireless modem for my home computer. My desktop uses the wired connection and my wife's laptop uses wireless. She owned the desktop I now use and my old desktop went out into a detatched hobby building (really a detached garage with a sliding glass door in place of the roll-up vehicle door). Her old desktop connected to the modem using a USB connected antenna that was perched on the top of her machine. I now would like to use her old wireless USB antenna on the computer I have in the hobby room which is within range of the modem. I have verified the range by taking her laptop to the room and not losing the connection. However, when I enter the room the signal is lost. I suspect it is because when I built the detached building, I used Fy-Foil over the furring strips to increase the insulation R-value and this material is acting like a Faraday cage. Is there an antenna I can purchase that could be installed in the attic of the hobby building to allow me to get signal reception?
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TommyTech
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Join Date: Dec 2006
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#1

Re: Antenna for DSL wireless reception

10/08/2009 12:12 PM

Have you looked at a 'cantenna'?

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html
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DrMoose
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#2

Re: Antenna for DSL Wireless Reception

10/08/2009 11:00 PM

I see no reason why you couldn't simply run a longer USB cable up to the attic and put the old USB antenna up there.

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bwire
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#3
In reply to #2

Re: Antenna for DSL Wireless Reception

10/09/2009 2:19 AM

Use a USB repeater cable to do it

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Old Submarine Sailor
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#5
In reply to #2

Re: Antenna for DSL Wireless Reception

10/09/2009 8:30 AM

USB 2.0 cables can only go about 15ft (4.6m) before wireloss makes them useless. Use an in-line amplifier or amplified USB extender cable if you are going over that length.
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bwire
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#7
In reply to #5

Re: Antenna for DSL Wireless Reception

10/09/2009 10:01 PM

Some refer to them as repeater cables because they can extend the useful length about one hundred fifty feet.

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Kyoto
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#11
In reply to #2

Re: Antenna for DSL Wireless Reception

10/13/2009 7:52 AM

I might try that using a 15-foot max cable and see what happens; of course that may have to wait until the temp in the attic gets below 120F.

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bwire
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#4

Re: Antenna for DSL Wireless Reception

10/09/2009 2:24 AM

Is there an antenna I can purchase that could be installed in the attic of the hobby building to allow me to get signal reception?

Could be but first what type roof and which material is the roof constructed of? How far from the wireless DSL modem to the hobby room and of what material construction is the house interior and exterior walls between DSL modem and hobby room?

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Kyoto
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#9
In reply to #4

Re: Antenna for DSL Wireless Reception

10/13/2009 7:46 AM

Is within 75-80 feet (within laptop range); Hobby room has roof standard construction - plywood, roofing paper, and asphalt shingles; ceiling 1/2 drywall with regular (non-FyFoil) R-30 fiberglass insulation over. House same but concrete block walls with stucco over.

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Anonymous Poster
#6

Re: Antenna for DSL Wireless Reception

10/09/2009 9:13 AM

Connect a hub to your wired desktop and run one channel to your garage.

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bwire
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#8
In reply to #6

Re: Antenna for DSL Wireless Reception

10/09/2009 10:02 PM

That is the best option...

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Kyoto
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#10
In reply to #6

Re: Antenna for DSL Wireless Reception

10/13/2009 7:49 AM

Can't hardwire.

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Anonymous Poster (1); bwire (4); DrMoose (1); Kyoto (3); Old Submarine Sailor (1); TommyTech (1)

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