Day 1: 5/27/2003 -- Wireless Networking: Definitions and Introduction

It's time to talk about Pringles Cans.

The original Pringles Can Antenna design for Wireless LANs is by Rob Flickenger:
http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448

And pictures and details from a guy who used this article to create his own magic Pringles Can:
http://verma.sfsu.edu/users/wireless/pringles.php

I'm not endorsing this idea... I'm also not not endorsing this idea...

Hi Susan,

I'm guessing you are probably using the little dipole aerial that comes with a WiFi access card (or worse, an inbuilt aerial!) - if possible get a little directional aerial to mount on the roof or wall pointed at the remote hot-spot... these aerials are measured in db gain (6 is good; 12 is better; 22db gain will provide coverage for miles - although keep the aerial cable-run as short as possible)

Rgds, Don

Jayne, why wouldn't you endorse the idea? I have built several tin-can antennas and they work great. The Pringles can has been supplanted, I think, by a design that employs a large can. I have eaten more Dinty Moore Beef Stew than I cared to just so I could get the can. :) There are instructions all over the Net, but if anyone has questions about this, please post and I can provide details.

Zac

 

Susan, I have a couple of ideas for how you can suck an Internet connection off your friendly neighborhood coffee shop.

Place a repeater somewhere between your apartment and the coffee shop. For example, if you can see your friend's window from your window, place the repeater in her window. It will pick up the signal from the coffee shop and retransmit it. This might not be all that practical, however, and your laptop still might not be strong enough to receive the signal. Which leads me to my second idea.

Attach a directional antenna to a WiFi/Ethernet bridge. Point the antenna out your window at the coffee shop. Then you can either plug into the bridge with an Ethernet cable, or plug an access point into the bridge to retransmit the signal inside your apartment.

I feel compelled to point out, however, that there may be ethical questions to be answered in this scenario. The coffeeshop is probably offering free wireless Internet access in the hopes that you will bring your laptop into the shop and maybe order a monster latté. If you suck off their Internet connection without giving them your business, you may be breaching this tacit social contract. But if you frequently stop by for an infusion of caffeine, you can sleep the sleep of the just. Just something to think about.

Zac

 

infusion of caffeine, you can sleep the sleep of the just (snip)

I don't know Zac... an infusion of caffeine usually makes me sleep the sleep of the damned!! (coffee... every good IT persons drink of choice; good for at least another hour of coding :-)

CYA, Don

"Jayne, why wouldn't you endorse the idea?"

Mainly, it was a joke. The reality is that I don't know enough about it. But I'm learning! The BBC did a story where a guy is driving around London with his souped-up pringles can, looking for wireless networks to hack into... and for some people, that's what the jazzed up Pringle's can represents -- ability to hack. Most people are NOT advocating this, ofcourse.... and, if I really wasn't leaning towards liking it, I never would have made that post...

(Sorry I'm jumping a little late on this topic...) We shouldn't forget the lessons of Juno and NetZero. Free wireless networks are not sustainable, and *somebody* has got to pay for the bandwidth, equipment, maintenance, upgrading, etc. This is actually something that we're struggling with. We are a nonprofit with the opportunity (and plans!) to deploy a community wireless network. And although we would love to deploy high-speed wireless connectivity in the community, we also have to find a way to make it pay for itself or subsidize the costs so that those who don't have or can't afford access to wireless technologies get it.

--davis.