🚀 go-pugleaf

On Fri, 3 May 2002 13:26:05 -0700, "Gary Funck" <gary@intrepid.com>
wrote:

>
>"Elroy the Seedy Impaler" <elroy@impaler.com> wrote in message
>news:3cd28a97.1926740@news-server.neo.rr.com...
>> My $.02 to this thread:
>>
>> I just set up an SMC7004AWBR with Orinoco USB NICs.  I have great
>> reception from the first floor to the attic, in opposing corners of
>> the house.  No mods to the antenna.
>>
>> Something is definitely wrong with your hardware.  In my setup, the
>> crappy link monitor app that Orinoco provides says there is a "poor"
>> connection, but the recieved signal level is -70dBm and the SNR is
>> over 20.  Most of these receivers have sensitivity levels of around
>> -85dBm at 11Mbps.  In my engineering opinion, 15dB above the lower
>> level is more than adquate.
>
>Yes, I was a bit unhappy with limited info. that the Orinoco card's monitor
>program gives. Lesser brand cards offer more definitive data regarding
>signal strength and error rates.  I've read there's a program (or special
>firmware) that offers more info. from the Orinoco card, but I haven't tried
>to chase it down, yet.
>
>A key phrase in your reply, I think, is "in the attic".  Did you locate your
>WAP in the attic? I'm thinking of trying that next to see if it gives
>better/adequate coverage.  This creates some logistic problems, however,
>because I would be unable to use the router/firewall/print server features
>of the SWC70004AWBR if I choose to locate the WAP there.  I'll really only
>need a WAP in that case, and I'll need to run Cat5 to the attic at a minimum
>(using one of the pairs for power, using an adaptor).

The WAP is located on the first floor.  The client is in the attic.
The signal has to pass through the second floor to get to the attic.
I have renter in the attic that needs net access.  Also, the three
other PCs are on the second floor, and get pretty darn good reception.
Running CAT5 cable to the attic doesn't seem fun, and it kind of
defeats the "wireless" benfit.  =)

>BTW, I did return the first SWC unit that I purchased - there was something
>definitely wrong with its transmitter/receiver.  The current SWC unit seems
>comparable in range to a Netgear that I borrowed for a side-by-side test,
>but it looks like there's problems with my house's construction (perhaps
>mylar insulation or some such) that block the signal.  I'm hoping the
>attic-placement experiment will be successful.

I hope it works out.  I have an old house (1930's).  I don't know if
that is good or bad.

>Which model of the SWC7004AWBR do you have? I seem to have purchased the
>ill-fated  #720.5435, which frequently hangs on the wired LAN, and has some
>other glitches that in my mind make this unit unusable.  Apparently, the
>older #720.5312 is much better, and is the unit that has generally received
>decent reviews.

I just got it a couple of weeks ago, so I'm going to assume that it is
the newer model.  I haven't had any problems with it yet, but I'm not
running anything on the 10/100T side.

Elroy


>>
>> The SMC7004AWBR isn't the best (it's not a Cisco/Aironet), but then
>> again, I'm not setting up an enterprise network.
>
>I'm seriously considering trading up to a better brand. Since I have
>Lucent/Orinico cards, I was thinking of looking at the RG-1000.  Does anyone
>have (hopefully positive) experiences with the Lucent gear?
>
>>
>> Don't modify the antenna circuit unless you really know what you are
>> doing.  Microwave designs are very touchy.
>
>Yeah, it was just a thought. :) I did read that SMC sells a higher gain
>antenna for $60. That would've been my next experiment.  But, I'm quite
>dis-enchanted with SMC at the moment. I think SMC should not have sold a new
>(and apparently inferrior/unreliable) implementation of the SWC7004AWBR
>without renaming the product, so that it is clear to both users and
>reviewers that this is a new beast. Based on my experience, I'd strongly
>discourage anyone from buying and using the #720.5435 model (look under
>"supplier part number" on the identifying label area of the product's
>carton).
>
>