I am considering getting a wifi card for my lap top. Since we are well into the season, no doubt some of you have used this method for getting data in the field. Is it worth it? How much did you really end up using it versus your cellphone for data? Since the one I am looking at goes for around 90 - 100 bucks I want to be sure before I buy.
WiFi... is it worth it?
- Thread starter Cstok
- Start date
Bill Hamilton
EF5
With more and more people using wifi and willing to open their connection up to fellow storm chasers. It is almost a must if you take your laptop with you while chasing. It's nice to pull up somewhere and you already have a connection. With the storm season half over just use the free time to learn to use the card and connect with networks. Dan Cook talked about a software thats free and it is great when searching for wifi networks Dan Cook wrote:
http://www.netstumbler.com/download.php?op...1&orderby=hitsD
Jay McCoy
EF5
My WiFi has become very valuable this year with the expansion of wireless sites including www.truckstop.net which you only have to pay for the month you will use it so no contracts. I only use my cell connection when im in the boonies and need a quick (relatively speaking) radar picture. There is no comparison of speed of WiFi vs. cell and $30 a month for wifi is less than I would spend on all the minutes i would rack up on my cell. It is one of the best investment you can make this year. Also there are a number of free wireless access locations (Aaron Kennedy's wifi hotlist is a must) http://ww2.convectionconnection.com:8080/wifi/
I am considering getting the Netgear WAG11g card... Does anyone own that one, and have thoughts. I have read all of the reviews on Cnet and other sites and it looks pretty good. The one concern I have is that it doesn't seem to have a port on the card to hook up and external antenna.... since I need a few more of those on the roof of the rental car! :lol:
Ben Engle
EF1
If you ARE wanting a card with an external antenna jack, go with the Orinoco Gold Card by Lucent Technologies. I just got mine in 2 days ago, and went sniffing around town with netstumbler activated, and found 120 networks within an hour and a half. of course, only probably 60% of those were unlocked, but obviously there's no shortage of connections.
I also got a little 4" tall mag 5.5dbi gain mag mount, it seems to help out a great deal. I think the card was 39$ and the antenna was 14$ both off ebay.
-ben
I also got a little 4" tall mag 5.5dbi gain mag mount, it seems to help out a great deal. I think the card was 39$ and the antenna was 14$ both off ebay.
-ben
Jason Montano
EF4
Speaking of WiFi setups I just got an Orinoco Gold card off of ebay for $39 and a 7 dbi magnet mount antenna for $18. I haven't used this on a chase yet but I drove around Norman yesterday using NetStumbler and picked up close to 300 WiFi Networks. I could reasonably use these networks from ~300 yards away.
JR Hehnly
EF4
Orinoco Gold + magnet mount antenna... you'll love it. Don't get the rubber ducky style antenna on eBay, though. Magnet will not hold while driving. Try the 5.5dBi from sharperconcepts. $16.45 shipped, VERY strong magnet.
Dan Cook
EF5
I'm gonna ditch my Dlink card as it hates my USB card. But driving around with Netstumbler on it pretty fun. I was able to connect to my grocery store's network from the parking lot.
Ben Engle
EF1
I also have one of these on the way, I'll give a report on the gain (if any) I recieve over an omni directional antenna. this directional antenna has 19dbi gain, so we'll see if it's worth the 35 bucks.
[Broken External Image]:http://images.andale.com/f2/121/104/12746421/1084198826333_87_1.JPG
[Broken External Image]:http://images.andale.com/f2/121/104/12746421/1084198826333_87_1.JPG
Stuart Robinson
EF5
Dont forget to activate your GPS when using netstumbler - and save the logs - this way you can import the open hotspots into basic mapping software such as MS street and trips and keep for a later date :wink:
KMcCallister
EF3
It is well worth it. And, it only gets better every day. It's amazing how much free internet you can get on the plains now. And, the truckstop.net and flyingJ programs are small fees, but work very well and have a lot of locations. Try it out....
Steve Burre
Caution on Orinoco Gold cards -
Be careful not to get the a/b or a/b/g Gold combo card (anything with 'a' band) - these do NOT have the external antenna connection that Orinoco cards are known for. I made this mistake recently and was fortunate to exchange it for the b/g Gold card.
Be careful not to get the a/b or a/b/g Gold combo card (anything with 'a' band) - these do NOT have the external antenna connection that Orinoco cards are known for. I made this mistake recently and was fortunate to exchange it for the b/g Gold card.
Mike Peregrine
EF5
I think there are conflicts with the a/b and a/b/g band cards with Netstumbler as well - - - just got my Gold card/antenna last night ... can't wait to use it now ... my old Linksys card just didn't have the reception -
Also - be careful if you're getting a card on Ebay to buy one for your laptop and not for a desktop - I made that mistake and fortunately there was something wrong with the card and they could send me a laptop card instead - -
Also - be careful if you're getting a card on Ebay to buy one for your laptop and not for a desktop - I made that mistake and fortunately there was something wrong with the card and they could send me a laptop card instead - -
Jason Montano
EF4
used my WiFi setup for the first time the last week or so and have been very happy with it. I can't pick up networks from as far away as I'd expected but still very nice. I seem to be able to find a network in every town I drive through, be it residential or commercial areas.
Dan Cook
EF5
Is there a big difference between the Gold and Silver cards?
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