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DevilDog

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 12, 2005
124
0
Ohio
Sadly enough, I use my neighbors' Wi-Fi with my PowerBook because my parents are still stuck in the AOL days. It comes into my room, but signal only works in certain spots, and my room is halfway underground. So, is there anyway that I could boost the signal to the antennaes with metal deflectors or something to make it work better? Thanks.
 

DevilDog

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 12, 2005
124
0
Ohio
P.S. has anybody ever put any gadgets through the wash before and still had them work? I did that with my GameBoy Micro. Theres a small faint spot in the middle of the screen but I'm surprised. I'm glad I bought a 5g iPod instead of a nano...
 

California

macrumors 68040
Aug 21, 2004
3,885
90
DevilDog said:
Sadly enough, I use my neighbors' Wi-Fi with my PowerBook because my parents are still stuck in the AOL days. It comes into my room, but signal only works in certain spots, and my room is halfway underground. So, is there anyway that I could boost the signal to the antennaes with metal deflectors or something to make it work better? Thanks.

On the 12" PB which I also have, there are not pci slots so you'd have to get a usb adapter or something to boost airport reception. And then you'd always have to first shut down the internal card, or so I've heard. Search the posts.
 

balamw

Moderator emeritus
Aug 16, 2005
19,365
979
New England
After G said:
WDS with an Airport Express ... ?
Somewhat along these lines, but much more of a hack. A Linksys WRT54G runnning openwrt in client mode? You could then plug in to the WRT, and use a high gain antenna on the WRT.

Of course you should only do this with the neighbor's consent. You could get in trouble

B
 

Morn

macrumors 6502
Oct 26, 2005
398
0
If you leave a WLAN open and unsecured, you have only yourself to blame.
 

mobility3

macrumors member
Oct 30, 2003
31
0
various
access...

max_altitude said:
It's still not the right thing to do. When you get down to it, it's a form of theft.

That's why there's a need for more open free but secure networks. They're testing the next generation WIFI networks in Europe and Asia now, that cover several square kilometers. This, "internet as public utility", makes much more sense for daily internet use (surfing, email etc...)

I also view telecom monopolies overcharging individuals for internet service as a form of theft.
 

semaja2

macrumors 6502a
Dec 12, 2005
576
18
Adelaide
lol thats why i have the enterprise security...well i dont use wpa-wep or any **** like that on my wireless but you will never get my network from there :p

PS yes telcom companies are robbing us of our money its costs 5 bucks for 15mins of wifi access in austalia i mean comeon thats bs
 

mpw

Guest
Jun 18, 2004
6,363
1
Morn said:
If you leave a WLAN open and unsecured, you have only yourself to blame.
Is that like only having yourself to blame if you not strong enough to fend off muggers?
 

colocolo

macrumors 6502
Jan 17, 2002
480
132
Santiago, Chile
The neighbors Wi-Fi goes into his place, so its not the same as theft. If they want to broadcast a powerful signal, make it secure. If not, limit the range. It's not as if they don't have the tools. Why does anyone have to live with the neighbors electromagnetic frequencies inside their house without their consent?
If the signal leaves your premises, encrypt it. If you have to guess a password or hack it in any way, then and just then it is theft.
 

mpw

Guest
Jun 18, 2004
6,363
1
colocolo said:
The neighbors Wi-Fi goes into his place, so its not the same as theft. If they want to broadcast a powerful signal, make it secure. If not, limit the range. It's not as if they don't have the tools. Why does anyone have to live with the neighbors electromagnetic frequencies inside their house without their consent?
If the signal leaves your premises, encrypt it. If you have to guess a password or hack it in any way, then and just then it is theft.
That may or may not be the legal case in some parts of the world but that doesn't make it right.

Obviously his EMF is entering their property too, has he asked permission? Has he asked his neighbour to limit thier EMF's reach?

Just because there's no password doesn't mean that it's not theft. What if I leave my car unlocked with the keys in, don't I have the right to expect you NOT to steal it?

It's because of people with this attitude of 'if I can do it then why shouldn't I do' that we need passwords and locks.

It reminds me of the Dennis Leary joke about California being the only US State with a law giving pedestrians the right of way at road crossings, every other State relies on common decency.

Go ahead and use your neighbour’s wireless connection but don’t ever complain that someone has stolen your ID or hacked your data or stolen your car. You COULD have taken steps to stop them but obviously didn’t.
 

LimeiBook86

macrumors G3
May 4, 2002
8,002
51
Go Vegan
Ok...

Wether he's getting his internet legally or not is not the issue here, at least that is not what the user needed help on. He just wants to know how to extend the range of a wireless signal that he is barley getting.

Your best bet is to get a USB adapter or some sort of internet antenna that will work with your PowerBook, although most Mac compatible USB adapters are not without their problems

The WDS network extension will only work if the wireless router or access point is WDS compatible, so if it's not then your out of luck. I say you should have a long talk with your parents on how expensive AOL is and compare prices with a DSL or cable company of some sorts. Maybe if they have a 2nd phone line you can advise them that they can get rid of that once they ditch AOL. Although most people have problems leaving AOL since they are so used to it but, maybe having them look at the price tag might change their mind.

Good luck, maybe putting a piece of metal mesh or tin foil around the laptop may help...you think I'm kidding? It worked for me once hahaha :D
 

wPod

macrumors 68000
Aug 19, 2003
1,654
0
Denver, CO
Morn said:
If you leave a WLAN open and unsecured, you have only yourself to blame.

if i left my jeep in the drive way with no doors or top on it (a common occurrence with jeeps and nice weather) does that mean i am the only one to blame for someone joy ridding in my jeep?

morally its better NOT to steal your neighbors wireless. . .but then again morally forcing your family members to use dial up is punishment! lol

if you let your neighbor know, you could work something out with the linksys WRT54G set up in WDS client mode and then add a large antenna. the WDS configuration would probably have to be set up on your neighbors router so they would need to be in on it to allow that. (unless of course they dont have a password on their router, (or use the default password that came with the system) but then you get into the teritory of hacking which seems less 'right' than just borrowing a little bandwidth from your neighbor. )
 

doug.hall

macrumors regular
Jul 28, 2005
165
0
London
colocolo said:
The neighbors Wi-Fi goes into his place, so its not the same as theft.

Sorrry but that statement is incorrect. It is illegal and in the eyes of the law is classed as theft. Todate, in the UK, two people have been charged and fined and that is just in 2005. The criminal act is known as "war driving" and is covered under the 2003 Communications Act. To be found guilty the prosecution do not need to prove that you had any hostile motive only that you've used the network.
 

mbopy22

macrumors 6502
Nov 8, 2005
344
0
DevilDog said:
Sadly enough, I use my neighbors' Wi-Fi with my PowerBook because my parents are still stuck in the AOL days. It comes into my room, but signal only works in certain spots, and my room is halfway underground. So, is there anyway that I could boost the signal to the antennaes with metal deflectors or something to make it work better? Thanks.


Get a CANTENA:D

http://www.cantenna.com/
 

mbopy22

macrumors 6502
Nov 8, 2005
344
0
mpw said:
Do you have to empty the tennis balls out first?

LOL!!! just go to FAQ on their page and you'll se they're Mac compatible.. with Airport Extreme and with DLink routers... :D
 

LimeiBook86

macrumors G3
May 4, 2002
8,002
51
Go Vegan
mpw said:
Is that like only having yourself to blame if you not strong enough to fend off muggers?
I mean it tells you how to do it in the manual. But, most people don't read that part because it's too complicated for them, or they don't think they have to do it. But, they should, they should protect their network and their wireless signal. I've been to countless homes and protected people's networks and told them that they were at risk and why they needed to use a password. Most people just aren't aware of this and maybe some of them just don't know how to put a password on, or some people just didn't know about the risks to begin with. I believe that if you buy the device, you should be able to know how to operate it correctly, the manuals sure make it pretty easy.

I tell yah I should drive around with MacStumbler open and charge $10 a house to protect their network and inform them that they are at risk for people stealing their data and wireless information...heck why not $20 :p
 

zap2

macrumors 604
Mar 8, 2005
7,252
8
Washington D.C
If people who lived near me used my Wi-Fi it would not both me as long as

they not doing anything illegal online
it does not mess ANYTHING i do up


and a heads-up about them using it
 

DevilDog

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 12, 2005
124
0
Ohio
More Details...

My parents and my neighbors don't know... I don't do anything illegal or screw with their router or pc, I'm just a deprived kid. My brother apparently looked at porn or something and they're afraid. "It's too much of a temptation" my mom says. They're super-christians. But thanks for all of your posts so far.
 
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