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WIFI in the Bay?
- Thread starter DLL
- Start date
BayTrawlerGuy
Member
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2004
- RO Number
- 14696
- Messages
- 185
With a directional antenna for WiFi from Angel Island, you should be able to hit an open hotspot in Tiburon. You may just be mooching, and there's no guarantee it'll work, but I think that's about your best chance.
You can either find a directional antenna online, or directions for making one. (The Pringles cans really do work, though I haven't needed to use mine for quite some time.)
BTG
You can either find a directional antenna online, or directions for making one. (The Pringles cans really do work, though I haven't needed to use mine for quite some time.)
BTG
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2004
- RO Number
- 12830
- Messages
- 674
When I was there last year, we picked up 3 park ranger secure wireless signals. I would contact the park to see if they allow access.
We ended up waiting until we were up in Sausalito at the Schoonmakers marina. From there, we were able to pick up the Sausalito Yacht club signal.
We ended up waiting until we were up in Sausalito at the Schoonmakers marina. From there, we were able to pick up the Sausalito Yacht club signal.
I called down there today, they said no wifi. I am not sure if there is any "legal" penalty for using an unsecured signal. I rarely do it, doesn't seem polite to me. But there are many who feel like a person doesn't mind or they would encrypt the signal.
They make parabolic WIFI antennas that work for over a mile. We may wind up with one of those.
I am taking my HF radio and a 40 meter wire antenna. It is 63 ft long, so I can tie it to the pulpit, run it over the Bimini top, down to the swim platform. 50 foot in length and about
16 ft high. Since I never know whether I will be able to get out or go anywhere, I am taking some toys and magazines.
They make parabolic WIFI antennas that work for over a mile. We may wind up with one of those.
I am taking my HF radio and a 40 meter wire antenna. It is 63 ft long, so I can tie it to the pulpit, run it over the Bimini top, down to the swim platform. 50 foot in length and about
16 ft high. Since I never know whether I will be able to get out or go anywhere, I am taking some toys and magazines.
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2004
- RO Number
- 12830
- Messages
- 674
On our lengthy trips in the SF bay, where we stopped in most marinas, they had WiFi about 1/4 of the time. We would walk to the nearest coffee shop and use their WiFi. We found this kind of place about 3/4 of the time. There are web tutorials on making WiFi antennas out of a tomato soup cans. If you want consistency, I would recommend a Verizon "air card" that uses cell phone signals.
quote:
Originally posted by DLL
I called down there today, they said no wifi. I am not sure if there is any "legal" penalty for using an unsecured signal. I rarely do it, doesn't seem polite to me. But there are many who feel like a person doesn't mind or they would encrypt the signal.
This is conventional wisdom. Sounds good, but I heard of a guy getting into significant legal problems. Apparently what he was doing was driving to Starbucks, then sitting outside in his car using his laptop, rather than going inside. Mind you, you don't have to buy anything to sit inside and use their connection, but he was outside in his car, and evidently somebody thought this constituted him "stealing" the connection. If you're interested, I can hunt down the news stories on this.
Westdelta, not necessary to hunt it down, I believe you.
There are a couple of commercial antennas claiming 24-25 dbi. They are large, I forget the exact size, but 24"x30" would not be too far off.
Many cities are setting up WIFI. And apartment complexes.
As I recall, and I certainly could be wrong, DSL gets slower when you add more people. My broadband does not seem to care much. We tried 4 laptops at one time and all got above 4mg
in speed. Comcast has some places you can get over 6mg in speed. When mobil, I usually don't bother to check, just glad to have a signal.
The 3G by AT&T told me I should expect 900 to 1100k speed in most places. Further away from the tower, the worse the signal gets. If you pull out of Ayala Cove and go around the point, where you can see SF...the signal is supposed to go way up.
Our daughter just bought a condo and says she is not getting the proverbial land line. Her cell phone will be it. I advised her to consider a spare battery.
There are a couple of commercial antennas claiming 24-25 dbi. They are large, I forget the exact size, but 24"x30" would not be too far off.
Many cities are setting up WIFI. And apartment complexes.
As I recall, and I certainly could be wrong, DSL gets slower when you add more people. My broadband does not seem to care much. We tried 4 laptops at one time and all got above 4mg
in speed. Comcast has some places you can get over 6mg in speed. When mobil, I usually don't bother to check, just glad to have a signal.
The 3G by AT&T told me I should expect 900 to 1100k speed in most places. Further away from the tower, the worse the signal gets. If you pull out of Ayala Cove and go around the point, where you can see SF...the signal is supposed to go way up.
Our daughter just bought a condo and says she is not getting the proverbial land line. Her cell phone will be it. I advised her to consider a spare battery.
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2005
- RO Number
- 19018
- Messages
- 25
I agree that it's "not polite" to use somebody else's unsecured WiFi without their permission. However there are numerous marinas and yacht clubs around the bay who provide unsecured access to anybody who is close enough to make use of it.
Bear in mind that, when you connect to an unsecured network, the connection works both ways. You can connect to the network, but somebody with the smarts to do so can connect to your computer. Make sure you have a good firewall running.
Also bear in mind that most recent laptops have built in WiFi but no external antenna socket. A directional antenna will do you no good if you can't plug it into your computer.
I've never used Starbucks WiFi but I thought that they were secured networks and that you have to pay at the counter to get a logon password?
Bear in mind that, when you connect to an unsecured network, the connection works both ways. You can connect to the network, but somebody with the smarts to do so can connect to your computer. Make sure you have a good firewall running.
Also bear in mind that most recent laptops have built in WiFi but no external antenna socket. A directional antenna will do you no good if you can't plug it into your computer.
I've never used Starbucks WiFi but I thought that they were secured networks and that you have to pay at the counter to get a logon password?
BayTrawlerGuy
Member
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2004
- RO Number
- 14696
- Messages
- 185
westdelta, I invite you to dig up those articles. The stories of supposed problems when WiFi squatting get much press--in no small part because the vendors of general wireless service, like Verizon and ATT, encourage the spread of these articles. When carefully checked, they virtually always fail to pan out for US cases. (Europe is somewhat different.)
There are three very common stories. Two involve Minnesota. One involves a big-box home supply store, where the actual prosecution was for hacking the store's database, not free-loading off their Internet WiFi. The other Minnesota story involves some schmuck who pled to a minor charge rather than fight for the dismissal he was entitled to. The third common story involves an over-eager cop on Nantucket about 5 years ago who chased off people using the library's FREE WiFi from outside, instead of inside, the building.
While various blogs and forums devoted to Internet related topics blather on endlessly about whether it's "right" or "ethical" to mooch open WiFi, it's very hard to say that it's clearly illegal. (Yes, this is an open challenge for anyone to cite California or federal law making WiFi mooching illegal.)
Realistically, there is as much chance of being successfully prosecuted for "theft" of WiFi Internet access as there is being prosecuted for reading a novel on the street at night using the spare light from someone's post lamp. The main reason is that securing the signal is so easy that it's fair to say an unsecured signal is an invitation for use, just as a park bench adjacent to the sidewalk is an invitation to sit.
There are many things that can change this--including any form of hacking (either past even the most basic form of WiFi security or into the WiFi provider's computer) or some other indication that casual use is not welcomed. I wouldn't, for example, use a WiFi signal named "private" or "stay_away".
Additionally, the cautionary aspect mentioned above is a real concern. Not only can the person running the WiFi try to hack your computer, he can trace your Internet steps. Most significant transactions (bank, etc.) are hopefully encrypted, but you may not want someone knowing that the same person who posts here as "SpecialDeltaRacerGuy" also spends a lot of time at www.speedboatsex.com .
There's also the ultimate kicker: Even if someone on the Tiburon shore figures out that their WiFi is being used and they don't like it, if they are too lazy or incompetent to secure their WiFi, how are they ever going to figure out who YOU are?
BTG
There are three very common stories. Two involve Minnesota. One involves a big-box home supply store, where the actual prosecution was for hacking the store's database, not free-loading off their Internet WiFi. The other Minnesota story involves some schmuck who pled to a minor charge rather than fight for the dismissal he was entitled to. The third common story involves an over-eager cop on Nantucket about 5 years ago who chased off people using the library's FREE WiFi from outside, instead of inside, the building.
While various blogs and forums devoted to Internet related topics blather on endlessly about whether it's "right" or "ethical" to mooch open WiFi, it's very hard to say that it's clearly illegal. (Yes, this is an open challenge for anyone to cite California or federal law making WiFi mooching illegal.)
Realistically, there is as much chance of being successfully prosecuted for "theft" of WiFi Internet access as there is being prosecuted for reading a novel on the street at night using the spare light from someone's post lamp. The main reason is that securing the signal is so easy that it's fair to say an unsecured signal is an invitation for use, just as a park bench adjacent to the sidewalk is an invitation to sit.
There are many things that can change this--including any form of hacking (either past even the most basic form of WiFi security or into the WiFi provider's computer) or some other indication that casual use is not welcomed. I wouldn't, for example, use a WiFi signal named "private" or "stay_away".
Additionally, the cautionary aspect mentioned above is a real concern. Not only can the person running the WiFi try to hack your computer, he can trace your Internet steps. Most significant transactions (bank, etc.) are hopefully encrypted, but you may not want someone knowing that the same person who posts here as "SpecialDeltaRacerGuy" also spends a lot of time at www.speedboatsex.com .
There's also the ultimate kicker: Even if someone on the Tiburon shore figures out that their WiFi is being used and they don't like it, if they are too lazy or incompetent to secure their WiFi, how are they ever going to figure out who YOU are?
BTG
BTG, those are good points. I bought a Hawking
15 dbi interior antenna and the 14 dbi exterior antenna. I will put the interior antenna up on
the fly bridge. IF it does not work, I might try putting the outside antenna up on the bow, using 30 ft of coax to bring the signal inside...to my D-Link DWL-G710.
My theory was to buy an antenna, run low loss coax inside, hook it to the range extender and have my own "wifi" on the boat. At least that was the idea. I am so confused about the D-Link thing...I called D-Link, got a lady whose voice
is in the spectrum I don't hear well and it was a total mess.
Does anyone here know about those things??
I want a wifi antenna...run it to a router or
Range Extender...creating my own wifi on the boat. Both of our Dell laptops (Inspiron 6400)
have built in antennas. I asked around and was told this is a good setup...but I am beginning to think they did not know what they were doing.
Suggestions?
15 dbi interior antenna and the 14 dbi exterior antenna. I will put the interior antenna up on
the fly bridge. IF it does not work, I might try putting the outside antenna up on the bow, using 30 ft of coax to bring the signal inside...to my D-Link DWL-G710.
My theory was to buy an antenna, run low loss coax inside, hook it to the range extender and have my own "wifi" on the boat. At least that was the idea. I am so confused about the D-Link thing...I called D-Link, got a lady whose voice
is in the spectrum I don't hear well and it was a total mess.
Does anyone here know about those things??
I want a wifi antenna...run it to a router or
Range Extender...creating my own wifi on the boat. Both of our Dell laptops (Inspiron 6400)
have built in antennas. I asked around and was told this is a good setup...but I am beginning to think they did not know what they were doing.
Suggestions?
quote:
Originally posted by BayTrawlerGuy
westdelta, I invite you to dig up those articles. The stories of supposed problems when WiFi squatting get much press--in no small part because the vendors of general wireless service, like Verizon and ATT, encourage the spread of these articles. When carefully checked, they virtually always fail to pan out for US cases. (Europe is somewhat different.)
There are three very common stories. Two involve Minnesota. One involves a big-box home supply store, where the actual prosecution was for hacking the store's database, not free-loading off their Internet WiFi. The other Minnesota story involves some schmuck who pled to a minor charge rather than fight for the dismissal he was entitled to. The third common story involves an over-eager cop on Nantucket about 5 years ago who chased off people using the library's FREE WiFi from outside, instead of inside, the building.
BTG
The one I'm aware of is: http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9722006-7.html
This is a Michigan guy who gets into trouble for using the coffee shop's free and open wifi. This may be the second example you're thinking of. Apparently he did a small fine and community service. However, it wouldn't have stuck if he had hired a halfway decent lawyer. That probably would have cost more than the $400 tho, you know?
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2005
- RO Number
- 19018
- Messages
- 25
DLL, These range extenders are intended to allow the "owner" of a WiFi network to extend it's range so that clients can pick up the signal further away.
What you are doing is trying to pick up somebody else's weak signal and extend it into your boat. Doing this is not impossible, but the D-Link user manual assumes that you have access to that network configuration - which you don't.
The first thing you need to do is set your DWL-G710 to get a dynamic IP address rather than a static one. It's default is to use a static IP but you can't specify a static IP because you don't know whether the one you choose will be compatible with the network you're trying to connect to.
To have any chance of success, you should first connect to a known WiFi network which you know to have a strong and reliable signal. Use the DWL-G70's built in antenna for this purpose in order to remove the variable of a different antenna. Once you have it successfully connecting, with a dynamic IP, then you can try it with your Hawkin antenna. Once you have that working, then you'll be ready to go cruising for other networks to connect to.
Hope this helps.
What you are doing is trying to pick up somebody else's weak signal and extend it into your boat. Doing this is not impossible, but the D-Link user manual assumes that you have access to that network configuration - which you don't.
The first thing you need to do is set your DWL-G710 to get a dynamic IP address rather than a static one. It's default is to use a static IP but you can't specify a static IP because you don't know whether the one you choose will be compatible with the network you're trying to connect to.
To have any chance of success, you should first connect to a known WiFi network which you know to have a strong and reliable signal. Use the DWL-G70's built in antenna for this purpose in order to remove the variable of a different antenna. Once you have it successfully connecting, with a dynamic IP, then you can try it with your Hawkin antenna. Once you have that working, then you'll be ready to go cruising for other networks to connect to.
Hope this helps.
I just made my primary internet access Verizon Wireless broadband cellular and networked the boat. Works great. Speed is slightly shy of Comcast in practice but not enough for us to worry about. One broadband connection that works practically anywhere with no hassles, even if the power goes down.