Help WiFi or Satellite

[tommytanker]

Live in rural area had a 57 ft tower installed for OTA-HDTV and WiFi and because of dialup speed downloads of 2 to 5 kbs, yes 5 kbs tops. Now the WiFi gets me anywhere from 15 to 45 kbs and were it to stay there on consistent basis it would work. WiFi is very inconsistent, works good early morning but very spotty rest of day. I know of the Satellite lag, that's fine but once I'm locked in does the signal stay on without the drops I get on WiFi. I understand the limited downloads (FAP I think it's called). In reality I download windows updates, some PS3 updates as needed to a USB drive and then manually transfer to PS3. I occasionally download some applications. Don't believe I have downloaded a gb in the last 6 months. I am on a couple dog forums that occasionally have some you tube viewing which will not run with WiFi.

If I were able to get 512 kbs speed downloads and no signal bouncing on and off it would be like getting out of a Model T and into a Porsche.

I am paying 34.95 for the WiFi and 15.00 for dialup as it's needed when WiFi has the signal loss. I know that Hughes has dropped their mthly fee a bit so the money is not a problem as it would be in same ball park.

Any opinions would be helpful, oh I just switched from Dish to DirecTV so I am at least very familiar with TV reception etc and love it.

To top it off I typed up thread and when I went to submit it my WiFi had lost connection and luckily I had copied my post and saved it because this does happen regularly. I am now on dialup.

[tobifelinis]

Well I would normally recommend WIFI over satelite but if yours is truly that bad. Then Hughes net would defintely be a great improvement.

It is however going to cost you $60 to $70 per month for the Home plan. But that plan would be like light speed compared to what you have.


http://consumer.hughesnet.com/plans.cfm

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r248...d-is-HughesNet

[iwc5893]

Why not call your WiFi provider and see if they can improve your signal?

[Stargazer]

I would definitely try to get that wifi link improved as it should be working a lot better than that even on a bad day.

[tommytanker]

I would definitely try to get that wifi link improved as it should be working a lot better than that even on a bad day.

Alright, I think before I jump into anything I will try the WiFi server and see what happens. Maybe I have a faulty piece of equipment in my setup. One last thing, should have put this in yesterday we are 7 miles from server tower.

On one PC there is Linksys BEFSR41 router on main PC there is a Dlink DES 1105 router. Are there better routers any kind of upgrade equipment to help WiFi.

Thank you..

[oldford]

Try to get the wifi working. If that fails, check and see if you have a Starband dealer locally. Local dealers are usually better to deal with.

GL, Eric

[jayn_j]

7 miles is getting to be enough that you might need to consider something with more gain than the standard antenna. Get someone good out, and ask about using a multi-element yagi or 1M dish instead.

[tommytanker]

7 miles is getting to be enough that you might need to consider something with more gain than the standard antenna. Get someone good out, and ask about using a multi-element yagi or 1M dish instead.

Sorry you've got me confused now because a Yagi is TV antenna, They have something called a radio mounted on tower, or I may be confused about what they call it but it does not look like an antenna.

I did get in touch with server and they did a firmware update so I will sit for a while and see if there is a change.

[jayn_j]

Sorry you've got me confused now because a Yagi is TV antenna, They have something called a radio mounted on tower, or I may be confused about what they call it but it does not look like an antenna.

I did get in touch with server and they did a firmware update so I will sit for a while and see if there is a change.

Actually, a YAGI is a type of antenna with multiple dipoles on a common support. There are yagis out there with 20+ elements that have very high gain and which are tuned to frequencies used in WAN. You often see them in commercial type installations.
See definition here:
Wireless Antenna Terminology

The provider's tower needs an antenna that is omni-directional or semi-directional so it can transmit to a number of users spread over a wide angle. You, on the receiving end, want something very directional that will only communicate with that provider's antenna. The high gain helps in 2 ways here.

First, it will pick up more of the signal from the provider's antenna. Second, it will reject all the junk from other transmitters. When you are transmitting, it will direct the entire signal to the provider antenna and not waste signal sent out at random angles.

Your provider is probably sending out 802.11a signal at 5 GHz, so you would need a 5 GHz yagi, or parabolic with 10-20 dB of gain.

Does that make sense?

[tommytanker]

Actually, a YAGI is a type of antenna with multiple dipoles on a common support. There are yagis out there with 20+ elements that have very high gain and which are tuned to frequencies used in WAN. You often see them in commercial type installations.
See definition here:
Wireless Antenna Terminology

The provider's tower needs an antenna that is omni-directional or semi-directional so it can transmit to a number of users spread over a wide angle. You, on the receiving end, want something very directional that will only communicate with that provider's antenna. The high gain helps in 2 ways here.

First, it will pick up more of the signal from the provider's antenna. Second, it will reject all the junk from other transmitters. When you are transmitting, it will direct the entire signal to the provider antenna and not waste signal sent out at random angles.

Your provider is probably sending out 802.11a signal at 5 GHz, so you would need a 5 GHz yagi, or parabolic with 10-20 dB of gain.

Does that make sense?

Please understand caliber of man you are dealing with, I don't have a clue as to what your talking about as I just learned how to program my VHS last week. (well not quite that dim)

I did send this info to my server though as if this can be tweaked with a better antenna how great would that be. I also have a Yaesu 800 rotor that can turn anything any direction needed.