[NTLUG:Discuss] Wireless Home Network

[Jack Snodgrass]

On Wed, 2004-06-23 at 12:02, Lance Simmons wrote:
> * Lance Simmons <lance at lsimmons.net> [040621 15:19]:
> > I want to change my home network over to wireless, but I'm a bit
> > intimidated.  Have others on the list done it, and what would you say
> > is the difficulty level?
> 
> Thanks for all the replies.
> 
> I'm confused on one point:  the Linux HOWTO's say that you have to be
> able to SEE the antenna, while the manufacturers' websites show a single
> router casting a nice rosy wireless glow over a whole house.  Does
> wireless go through walls?  Because if it doesn't, there's not much
> point in going ahead with this.

These are just low power radio devices.... 

They work best in open air. 

Metal tends to block signals. ( metal studs, metal lats, 
wires, furniture, etc. ) 

The higher the antenna... the less items it will go through.. the better
the reception. 

They are suceptable to other type of interference. 

If you can run a wire... your going to be better off. 

I have a rack mount cabinet with a lot of metal.... 
sides, boxes, ups, etc. If I put in a PCI card with an antenna 
out the back... that metal is going to cause problems. If I use 
a usb device or extended the antenna to the top of my cabinet... 
I get getter results. If I go wired instead of wireless... 
I get a lot better results. 

jack