[bodhi]

Hey boys and girls, greeting from sunny oz!!

Right, im in a grotty internet cafe (yuk!) so i will get right to the point. Ive got my sony vaio laptop with me and want to check emails etc at home. I can see a couple of unsecured wireless networks but with really low signal strengh so they wont connect. These appear to be company networks so when its night time and im checking i wont be affecting their internet so that should clear up the moral aspects!! ;-)

Anyway, i was wondering, is there any equipment i can purchase to boost the signals so i can connect and check my emails and obviously post on PC REVIEW!!!! Obviously i cant connect anything to their side, but was wondering if there was anything i could do from my side? Broadband internet is so damn expensive over here!!

Yours faithfully and in desperation!!

Bodhi.

[Quadophile]

Bodhi,

It's very difficult to suggest since not many here are from down under and we may not know what alternatives are alvailable and having down to earth prices. However, I know a few from down under on another forum and will post your problem to them and see what they suggest.

Sorry I cannot help right away but as soon as I hear from them will post it here for your consideration.

[christopherpostill]

Get a bigger antenna?

Move closer?

[NR117]

Are you near any computer stores? Somebody there may be able to help. Sorry, I know nothing about wireless.

[Ian]

An externally powered one might give you some extra range? If its internal they are very low power.

[Quadophile]

Bodhi, here is the first response to my request from a fellow member:

G'day Quad I can't help you with anything wireless, but here's a cheap ISP called DODO. A unlimited broadband plan for 3 months is Oz$50.00 :woot:

Here's the link to the cheap Dodo Dialup

They are not Australia's best isp but for the short term would probally be ok.

Edit: In the capital cities you can get free wireless connection at MacDonalds Restaurant's ( Macca's Greaseburgers) I believe.

I will post other replies if any on the thread.

[psd99]

Bodhi

check this out:

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop...&ShopGroupID=3


as ur like 6,000 miles away im not too sure if u will be able to buy directly from this place
but this is the kind of thing u need to get a better signal!!! so look hard in australia for a item like of this calibre!



p.s how crafty of u to do what you are doing!
p.p.s its very cloudy still in uk summer has not arrived just yet as u head into winter!

[bodhi]

Thanks for the replys guys, im not i can use that antena psd, ive had a look at there doesn't appear to be any place to connect an antena to the laptop unfortunately.

I thought there may be some crafty way of having some kind of booster plugged into the USB or something. Its such a pain not being able to connect!!

Ive heard some bad things about dodo, and all the ones that dont require you to have a contract also want you to pay about $300 set up fees! Its a nightmare, if only i wasnt a nerd!! ;-)

There are a few people in pc review land that i thought would have the answers to this, is there anyone else still there with any ideas? Basically, i can see a weak signal, just need something to boost it so i can check my emails at night. It is an internal one Ian, one of those built in wifi 802.11b/g things.

HELP!!

[christopherpostill]

http://www.hawkingtech.com/prodSpec.php?ProdID=239

Something like this?

[Ian]

Yeah, thats what I was thinking of Chris - there is one on that page specifically for laptops (http://www.hawkingtech.com/prodSpec.php?ProdID=234)