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    Ralink WIFI Antenna USB

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by hankaaron57, Sep 21, 2008.

  1. hankaaron57

    hankaaron57 Go BIG or go HOME

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    I have been using this on my laptop at home for two years now, after buying it off eBay for $100. I'm too poor and scumbagg ed to afford my own internet, so I 'borrow' the B/G networks around my house in my neighborhood. It was advertised as having 32 dB and great range, which was obviously superior to my internal network card. It's USB, and has had driver problems since the start.

    The model is Ralink IEEE 802.11g Wireless Pocket USB #2 and uses 2.1.1.0 [11/8/06] driver version. It looks like this:

    [​IMG]


    I was hoping there were other people using this Wifi antenna who could provide some insight unto their own use of the item, and any driver tips or configuration tips. I just want the best possible, consistent connection. It appears Ralink has stopped updating drivers for XP-users :(
     
    hankaaron57, Sep 21, 2008
    #1
  2. focusfre4k

    focusfre4k Notebook Evangelist

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    ralink has great driver support for a variety of cards!

    however that 36db aint doing jack without any amplified power. and your not going to get an amazing signal a mile away...its a two way street.
     
    focusfre4k, Sep 21, 2008
    #2
  3. hankaaron57

    hankaaron57 Go BIG or go HOME

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    What about a wireless repeater? Would that help out, so I'm not constantly moving the antenna minute millimeters to the left and right in the window trying to capture the ideal signal point?
     
    hankaaron57, Sep 21, 2008
    #3
  4. brianstretch

    brianstretch Notebook Virtuoso

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    No solution is going to be reliable, simply because the receiving AP will be using stock short-range omnidirectional antennas and won't hear your radio very well.

    Time to buy your own Internet feed.
     
    brianstretch, Sep 22, 2008
    #4
  5. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    Thread closed - stealing bandwidth is against the law in a lot of areas.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Sep 22, 2008
    #5