How can you boost wifi performance of a laptop?

richleeds

Hi

I travel overseas alot with work staying in the same regular hotels and dependng on the room you get and which side its facing and the floor etc you can or cannot pick up a wifi signal from maybe a cafe or office in the surrounding area and surf the web.

(Yes, I know the dangers of surfing on someone elses connection)

However I would like to boost my chances of getting a signal when I am in a room where there is no signal or 1 bar that fades in and out.

I have a sony viao and not sure if something like this would work.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wireless-LAN-WiFi-High-Gain-USB-Dongle-Adapter-Antenna_W0QQitemZ290377764185QQcategoryZ45002QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BIEW%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D3%26ps%3D63

Even if I plug an aerial in, how will it "connect" to the vaios own internal wifi pick up and use any extra gain that the aerial picks up?

Or are there any other options available?

Thanks!

Rich

davb

richleeds wrote: »

Even if I plug an aerial in, how will it "connect" to the vaios own internal wifi pick up and use any extra gain that the aerial picks up?

It won't, that is a separate WiFi adaptor, so it is an alternative to your built in wireless. Not sure how good that particular one is, but you could use some sort of USB Wireless dongle, and stick it on the end of a USB extension cable - you could then leave you laptop in place and move the dongle around to get the best signal.

4743hudsonj

Your laptop will detect it as a second wi-fi card.
Some work, some dont.

Not many other choices?

What phone do you have? alot of modern ones have the capability to become modems. E.g. my nokia 97 using the supplied ovi suite can connect to the 3.5g network and allow my laptop to use it. And because its speeds reach 4gbps (i have acheived this:j) its reasonably nippy. even for downloading smaller files.

NOTE: just remembered, this is known as tethering and i think every major uk network prohibits it and charges it separately apart from vodafone and a few obscure others. Check your network tough, and make sure you have unlimited internet on your plan.

richleeds

Thanks davb. I have an o2 wireless USB dongle is that what you are thinking of? Are there any USB extention cables that would conduct/help the signal or are they all the same?

Thanks again

rich

4743hudsonj

richleeds wrote: »

Thanks davb. I have an o2 wireless USB dongle is that what you are thinking of? Are there any USB extention cables that would conduct/help the signal or are they all the same?

Thanks again

rich

surely that just works on the mobile network?

richleeds

4743 I have an iPhone and I'm sorted in the uk it's just overseas where I struggle and cannot tether my iPhone as there is no overseas dataplan without spending £6 per mb!!!

4743hudsonj

richleeds wrote: »

4743 I have an iPhone and I'm sorted in the uk it's just overseas where I struggle and cannot tether my iPhone as there is no overseas dataplan without spending £6 per mb!!!

ahh, i missed out the overseas part:o sorry.

richleeds

4743, the o2 USB dongle when plugged in does give a choice of data network or any wifi signals it can pick up as well

richleeds

4743hudsonj wrote: »

ahh, i missed out the overseas part:o sorry.

no worries thanks for replying anyway!

davb

richleeds wrote: »

Thanks davb. I have an o2 wireless USB dongle is that what you are thinking of? Are there any USB extention cables that would conduct/help the signal or are they all the same?

Thanks again

rich

The o2 dongle will be a mobile device (which would cost megabucks to use abroad). I was thinking more of a USB WiFI dongle, like the one you gave the link for, but maybe more mainstream - this type of thing, but as an example rather than a recommendation. The one you found could be fine, I've just never heard of the make.

The extension cable is standard - long enough to hang on top of the wardrobe or dangle out of a window - it's not an aerial, just a means of getting the unit to see a better signal.

4743hudsonj

richleeds wrote: »

no worries thanks for replying anyway!

Thanks, im dreading my holiday with the n97, it connects to the internet in so many ways it'll take me ages to deactivate all of them.