The
unsolicited testimonials we receive from our Wi Fi Long Distance
Digital Antennas highlight the level of attention and integrity we
offer every Customer. Our commitment to providing you with high quality
service and excellent Products to last you for many years is a
Promise.All Wi-Fi Catcher™ Products come with three year Repair/replace
warranty.
Here's what our client's have to say:
I purchased a out door Wi-Fi Catcher Antenna in 2004. Threes years
later with no problems at all,I am adding another to my rental 1200
feet away.Adding in lease" free WiFi"..You guys have been
great,Thanks for always having the time to speak with me by phone call
you returned promptly. I have never experienced better service!Thanks.
-Jerry Walker
St.Mary's,GA.
I am amazed at the distance i can pull in on my Wi Fi Catcher
Antenna. I consistently receive Four Bar as to where just my lap top
just picks up the one.Also, since i canceled Comcast DSL,I can attest
to my area being just as fast if not the same.My total drops is less
then 5%,Very pleased.
-Graham Wellington
Boulder,CO.
I just wanted a cheap antenna to get Free WI FI in my
area.AT@T raised their prices AGAIN!Almost $32.00 a Month!!Tired of DSL
Prices. Yours was just what i needed to the Tee.Thank you Wi-Fi Catcher!!!
-Jennifer Hill, West Canal,Ohio
Very Impressed with the
Fast Shipping of your WiFi Catcher Biquad Antenna I purchased in Oct,
This Thing is Fantastic!!!! and Powerful. -Steve Janson Canada
Questions / Answers and About Us...
What do I need to set up a wireless network?
You will need a Wi-Fi compatible base station, an access
point or a client card, a computer, and an Internet connection.
To increase the range and boost signal strength of your network,
use our Biquad antenna.
What do I need to pick up a wireless
signal without having to buy a base station?
You will need a Wi-Fi compatible access point or client
card and a computer. Unless the Wi-Fi signal is very close,
you will need a Wi-Fi Catcher Biquad Antenna.
What’s the difference between a
router, base station, access point, and client card? Why are
these terms so confusing?
Every manufacturer uses its own terminology, which can
cause some confusion. Here is a simplified explanation:
In Wi-Fi, a router is usually referred
to as a base station, and broadcasts
your Internet signal. The router is typically attached to an Internet connection
via a USB or Ethernet port.
A client card usually refers to a PCMCIA
wireless card. The client card is attached to your laptop, or inserted into
your PDA’s PCI slot.
An access point is the radio device that
receives the signal from the base station. It attaches to your laptop or
computer via USB, PCI slot, or Ethernet. An access point can also mean a
physical area (Hot Spot) where you can pick up Wi-Fi signals.
Do I connect the Wi-Fi Catcher
Biquad to the base station or client card?
You can connect it to the base station,
the client card (or access point), or both for maximum effect.
How do I measure the signal strength
of the Wi-Fi Catcher Biquad?
You can download software like NetStumbler or
its Mac cousin, MacStumbler.
HP also offers the Wireless Connection Manager. Wndows XP
users can use the built-in Wireless Network Connection Status
window.
I am losing signal strength in
parts of my house, particularly down in the basement. Can
a Wi-Fi catcher Biquad bridge that gap and how can I maximize its effect?
Yes, the Wi-Fi Catcher Biquad may help to boost the signal depending
on the layout of your house, and the obstruction that is
weakening the signal. Signal strength decreases as the distance
between base station and your computer increases. Try moving
your base station and Wi-Fi Catcher Biquad away from the wall, metal
tables, cabinets, or similar obstructions. Experiment by
pointing the Wi-Fi Catcher Biquad in different directions, even away
from the area that you are trying to reach. Sometimes rotating
the Biquad on its axis so that the connector points sideways
or up will help to boost the signal. Finally, in your basement
try moving your laptop toward the middle of the room, away
from the walls or metal. You can also try tilting your laptop
(or Wi-Fi receiver if you have a desktop computer) on its
horizontal axis.
I do not have a base station or Internet
connection, but I was told that my apartment complex has a
Wi-Fi network. Can I get free Internet access with with a Wi-Fi Catcher Antenna?
You will need a 802.11b or 802.11g wireless device that
connects to your laptop or desktop computer. Whether or not
you will be able to pick up a signal depends on the proximity
of a broadcasting signal, obstructions, and strength of signal.
If the person that broadcasts the signal uses encryption,
you have to request a username and password to gain access.
How can I test to see if I get a signal
at my house before I buy a Wi-Fi catcher Biquad Antenna?
Our Wi-Fi Catcher Antennas can only pick up and boost an existing
Wi-Fi signal. There are many factors that determine signal
strength, such as obstructions, atmospheric conditions, distance,
and strength of the originating signal. To check your neighborhood
for Wi-fi signals, try using software like NetStumblerMacStumbler.
Walk or drive around your area to see if you can pick up
a nearby Wi-fi signal. There are also little key-chain type Wi-Fi
sniffers that signal when you are in the presence of
an active network. or
its Mac cousin,
Can I return the Wi-Fi Catcher Antenna if I
don’t pick up a signal?
Yes, you may return any of our products within thirty days, however, you are responsible
for all shipping and handling costs. The Antenna must be
returned in its original condition and in its original package
within 30 days of purchase for a full refund of the purchase
price.
Is it legal to use your Wi-Fi Catcher™ Antenna?
Yes, our Antennas and Pigtails have been tested and comply
with part 15 of the FCC rules. Make sure other wireless devices
that you use also comply. Compliance with FCC regulations
is your responsibility. Check with your Internet Service
Providers to find out if they permit sharing of their Internet
connections.
How safe is it to use a Wi-Fi Catcher Antenna?
WiFi Catcher Antennas should not be used outdoors without
being properly grounded.Other than that, it
is subject to the same radio waves as your cordless phone,
microwave, cell phone, radio, etc. If you are concerned about
your sensitive data, as with any other wired connection,
without using encryption your network can be subject to potential
eavesdropping. Always take appropriate security measures
to protect your data.
My router has two antennas. Where do
I attach the Wi-Fi Catcher?
If your router or base station has removable antennas,
unscrew one of the antennas and connect the Wi-Fi Catcher. We
recommend using the side that points away from a wall or
obstruction. You can keep the other antenna attached, but
also try it without it as it may cause interference. If your
device has an external antenna jack, connect the pigtail
directly to it, and leave the other antennas in place.
Can I just make my own Pigtail?
Sure, but it may not be worth the effort in research, soldering,
testing, and cost of parts. Pigtails are very sensitive to
interference and signal loss, and are carefully engineered,
manufactured and tested.
I want to mount my Wi-Fi Catcher about
25 feet away from my base station. Can you provide me with
a 25 foot long Pigtail?
In general, the longer a Pigtail is, the more of a signal
loss you may experience. For that reason, we currently limit
production of our cables to 10 feet. 25 feet would cause
a severe signal loss. You could purchase a wireless bridge,
such as the Linksys WET54G, which attaches to your Ethernet
port. A 25-foot long Ethernet cable could then be used without
substantial signal loss.
I have a Macintosh. What are my
options?
Linksys, D-Link, Buffalo Technology, and Belkin have base
stations, Wi-Fi access points, or PC cards available. Just
make sure that they have an external antenna jack to attach
a Wi-Fi catcher Biquad. If you have Apple’s Airport Extreme
(modem edition only), you can purchase the optional laptop
adapter (MCX-Plug). G5 owners can connect
the Wi-Fi Catcher biquad with the optional laptop adapter directly
to the G5's external antenna port.
How can I mount the Wi-Fi Catcher Antenna?
Each Wi-Fi Catcher has a mounting port for standard
tripod units. Or, we sell mounting hardware as well.Also, you can
use your own mounting hardware.
Can I mount your in wireless antennas outside?
Yes,all the Wi-Fi Catcher Antennas are weather resistant. Make sure
that you ground it properly.
I read in Time Magazine that I
can make a Antenna myself, why should I buy one?
It’s true that techno wizards have been making their
own Antennas for years, however, you may not want to spend
your weekend learning basic antenna physics, finding parts,
soldering, assembling and testing several designs before finding
the one that works best. To buy or to build? You decide.
Why is your Wi-Fi Catcher Biquad better
than the copper square one?
Our engineers have optimized can dimensions, shielding,
and polarization for maximum signal strength and distance.Each
Wi-Fi Catcher Biquad is tested at 14.4 dBi and will not oxidize like the 12dBi open copper element ones on eBay.We use only high-quality and lab-tested materials to manufacture
the outer shell and inner parts. With aThree year Repair/Replace Warranty,We remain Number #1 in Sales and Quality.
Can I use a Wi-Fi Catcher Antenna to access online
games with my Playstation? What about my PocketPC?
You can use your Wi-Fi Catcher Antenna with any wireless network (802.11b)
enabled device, provided it has an external antenna or an
Ethernet port. To use your Playstation in the Starbucks parking
lot, you can get a new wireless Ethernet bridge from Linksys.
Will my Wi-Fi Catcher Antenna and Pigtail work
with the new 802.11g/n Wi-Fi routers and access points?
Yes. The radio wave length and height dimensions are identical
to 802.11b. You can use your existing Antenna on 802.11g
devices, as long as they have an external antenna jack that
fits your current Pigtail (or any Pigtail that we carry).
Is the Wi-Fi Catcher Guaranteed?
All Wi-Fi catcher parts are guaranteed. Wi-Fi Catcher™ makes no guarantee
of actual performance as several factors may inhibit the Wi-Fi Catcher's effectiveness, such as obstructions, atmospheric
conditions, distance, and strength of the originating signal.
That being said, if for any reason you are not satisfied
with the Wi-Fi catcher Biquad, you may return it within thirty days of
purchase for a full refund of the purchase price.
What Is WiFi?
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What's in a name?
You may be wondering why people refer to WiFi as 802.11 networking. The
802.11 designation comes from the IEEE. The IEEE sets standards for a
range of technological protocols,
and it uses a numbering system to classify these standards.
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A wireless network uses radio waves, just like cell phones, televisions and radios do. In fact, communication across a wireless network is a lot like two-way radio communication. Here's what happens:
- A computer's wireless adapter translates data into a radio signal and transmits it using an antenna.
- A wireless router receives the signal and decodes it. The router sends the information to the Internet using a physical, wired Ethernet connection.
The process also works in reverse, with the router receiving
information from the Internet, translating it into a radio signal and
sending it to the computer's wireless adapter.
The radios used for WiFi communication are very similar to the
radios used for walkie-talkies, cell phones and other devices. They can
transmit and receive radio waves, and they can convert 1s and 0s into
radio waves and convert the radio waves back into 1s and 0s. But WiFi
radios have a few notable differences from other radios:
- They transmit at frequencies of 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. This frequency is
considerably higher than the frequencies used for cell phones,
walkie-talkies and televisions. The higher frequency allows the signal
to carry more data.
- They use 802.11 networking standards, which come in several flavors:
- 802.11a transmits at 5 GHz and can move up to 54 megabits of data per second. It also uses orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM), a more
efficient coding technique that splits that radio signal into several
sub-signals before they reach a receiver. This greatly reduces
interference.
- 802.11b is the
slowest and least expensive standard. For a while, its cost made it popular, but now it's becoming less common as
faster standards become less expensive. 802.11b transmits in the 2.4
GHz frequency band of the radio spectrum. It can handle up to 11 megabits of data per second, and it uses complementary code keying (CCK) modulation to improve speeds.
- 802.11g
transmits at 2.4 GHz like 802.11b, but it's a lot faster -- it can
handle up to 54 megabits of data per second. 802.11g is faster because
it uses the same OFDM coding as 802.11a.
- 802.11n is the newest standard that is
widely available. This standard significantly improves speed and range.
For instance, although 802.11g theoretically moves 54 megabits of data
per second, it only achieves real-world speeds of about 24 megabits of
data per second because of network congestion. 802.11n, however,
reportedly can achieve speeds as high as 140 megabits per second. The
standard is currently in draft form -- the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) plans to formally ratify 802.11n by the end of 2009.
- Other 802.11 standards focus on specific applications of
wireless networks, like wide area networks (WANs) inside vehicles or
technology that lets you move from one wireless network to another
seamlessly.
- WiFi radios can transmit on any of three frequency bands. Or,
they can "frequency hop" rapidly between the different bands. Frequency
hopping helps reduce interference and lets multiple devices use the
same wireless connection simultaneously.
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Other Wireless Networking Standards
Another wireless standard with a slightly different number, 802.15, is used for Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs). It covers a very short range and is used for Bluetooth technology.
WiMax, also known as 802.16,
looks to combine the benefits of broadband and wireless. WiMax will
provide high-speed wireless Internet over very long distances and will
most likely provide access to large areas such as cities.
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As long as they all have wireless adapters, several devices can
use one router to connect to the Internet. This connection is
convenient, virtually invisible and fairly reliable; however, if the
router fails or if too many people try to use high-bandwidth
applications at the same time, users can experience
interference or lose their connections.
Next, we'll look at how to connect to the Internet from a WiFi hotspot.
WiFi Hotspots
If you want to take advantage of public WiFi hotspots or start a wireless
network in your home, the first thing you'll need to do is make sure
your computer has the right gear. Most new laptops and many new desktop computers come with built-in wireless transmitters. If your laptop doesn't, you can buy a wireless adapter that plugs into the PC card slot or USB
port. Desktop computers can use USB adapters, or you can buy an adapter
that plugs into the PCI slot inside the computer's case. Many of these
adapters can use more than one 802.11 standard.
Alfa USB wireless adapter and Antenna Consumer Guide Products
Wireless adapters can plug into a computer's PC card slot or USB port.
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Once you've installed your wireless adapter and the drivers
that allow it to operate, your computer should be able to automatically
discover existing networks. This means that when you turn your computer
on in a WiFi hotspot, the computer will inform you that the network
exists and ask whether you want to connect to it. If you have an older
computer, you may need to use a software program to detect and connect
to a wireless network.
Being able to connect to the Internet in public hotspots is
extremely convenient. Wireless home networks
are convenient as well.
They allow you to easily connect multiple computers and to move them
from place to place without disconnecting and reconnecting wires. In
the next section, we'll look at how to create a wireless network in
your home.
Building a Wireless Network
If you already have several computers networked in your home, you can create a wireless network with a wireless access point. If you have several computers that are not networked, or if you want to replace your Ethernet network, you'll need a wireless router. This is a single unit that contains:
- A port to connect to your cable or DSL modem
- A router
- An Ethernet hub
- A firewall
- A wireless access point
A wireless router allows you to use wireless signals or Ethernet cables to connect your computers to one another, to a printer and to the Internet.
Most routers provide coverage for about 100 feet (30.5 meters) in all
directions, although walls and doors can block the signal. If your home
is very large, you can buy inexpensive range extenders or repeaters to
increase your router's range.
Photo courtesy Consumer Guide Products
A wireless router uses an antenna to send signals to wireless devices and a wire to send signals to the Internet.
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As with wireless adapters, many routers can use more than one
802.11 standard. 802.11b routers are slightly less expensive, but
because the standard is older, they're slower than 802.11a, 802.11g and 802.11n routers. Most people select the
802.11g option for its speed and reliability.
Once you plug in your router, it should start working at its
default settings. Most routers let you use a Web interface to change
your settings. You can select:
- The name of the network, known as its service set identifier (SSID) -- The default setting is usually the manufacturer's name.
- The channel that the router uses -- Most routers use
channel 6 by default. If you live in an apartment and your neighbors
are also using channel 6, you may experience interference. Switching to
a different channel should eliminate the problem.
- Your router's security options -- Many routers use a standard, publicly available sign-on, so it's a good idea to set your own username and password.
Security is an important part of a home wireless network, as
well as public WiFi hotspots. If you set your router to create an open
hotspot, anyone who has a wireless card will be able to use your
signal. Most people would rather keep strangers out of their network,
though. Doing so requires you to take a few security precautions.
It's
also important to make sure your security precautions are current. The
Wired Equivalency Privacy (WEP) security measure was once the standard
for WAN security. The idea behind WEP was to create a wireless security
platform that would make any wireless network as secure as a
traditional wired network. But hackers discovered vulnerabilities in
the WEP approach, and today it's easy to find applications and programs
that can compromise a WAN running WEP security.
To keep your network private, you can use one of the following methods:
- WiFi Protected Access (WPA) is a step up from
WEP and is now part of the 802.11i wireless network security protocol.
It uses temporal key integrity protocol (TKIP) encryption. As with WEP, WPA
security involves signing on with a password. Most public hotspots are
either open or use WPA or 128-bit WEP technology, though some still use the vulnerable WEP approach.
- Media Access Control (MAC) address filtering is a
little different from WEP or WPA. It doesn't use a password to
authenticate users -- it uses a computer's physical hardware. Each
computer has its own unique MAC address. MAC address filtering allows
only machines with specific MAC addresses to access the network. You
must specify which addresses are allowed when you set up your router.
This method is very secure, but if you buy a new computer or if
visitors to your home want to use your network, you'll need to add the
new machines' MAC addresses to the list of approved addresses. The system isn't foolproof. A clever hacker can spoof a
MAC address -- that is, copy a known MAC address to fool the network
that the computer he or she is using belongs on the network.
Wireless networks are easy and inexpensive to set up, and
most routers' Web interfaces are virtually self-explanatory. For more
information on setting up and using a wireless network, check out the
links.
More Great Links
Sources
- Borisov, Nikita, Ian Goldberg and
David Wagner. "Security of the WEP algorithm." University of
California, Berkeley. (Aug. 7, 2008)
http://www.isaac.cs.berkeley.edu/isaac/wep-faq.html
- Geier, Jim. "802.11 WEP: Concepts and Vulnerability." Wi-Fi Planet. June 20, 2002. (Aug. 6, 2008)
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/1368661
- IEEE. (Aug. 6, 2008)
http://www.ieee.org
- IEEE. "IEEE Standard for Information
technology -- Telecommunications and information exchange between
systems -- Local and metropolitan area networks -- Specific
requirements." (Aug. 6, 2008)
http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/download/802.11-2007.pdf
The TNC connector is usually found mainly on access-points, such as the Linksys WAP11.
The
SMA connector is found on both some access points such as from D-Link,
and PCI wireless cards, such as the Belkin F5D6001 and the Netgear
MA311.
The
MC connector, also often referred to as a Lucent connector, as it first
appeared on pcmcia cards by Lucent, is usually found on pcmcia cards,
such as the Buffalo WLI-PCM-L11G. I usually use the Buffalo pigtail
WLE-LNC-3.
This is a short 12 inch cable with a female N connector on the
end for connecting directly to an antenna cable, unlike the converters
for TNC and SMA connectors which come with male N connectors. Around $18.00 dollars (US).
Example
of channel reuse
