There's no one answer to WiFi and high gain antennas. Some NIC's
(network interface cards) accept external antennas and the Cantenna
(something like 12 db gain, IIRC, and looks like a can of tennis balls)
will usually connect to these NIC's (take your card with you - wrapped
in foil to protect it from [electrical] shocks - to check this).
Hawking Technology makes an 8db gain patch antenna (same deal for
connections as the Cantenna - this one looks like a 3" x 3" paddle on a
small stand) as well as a USB-based antenna/NIC combo (which I use on
OWTW, same mount as the antenna alone). PC Card NIC's without antenna
jacks (alas, most of them are made this way now)aren't much good for
"DXing" with WiFi.

As with any high gain antenna, the gain comes at a price: reduced
acceptance angle. That is, the antenna's "field of vision" decreases as
the gain increases. Tied up at a slip, this isn't a problem but on the
hook... plan on talking someone into keeping the antenna pointed at the
access point as the boat swings. The antenna should be as high as
possible (read "on the cabin house, not in it") and its view shouldn't
be blocked by metal (winches, etc.).

Cheers,
   Rick Emerson

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Received on Thu Aug 10 15:48:33 2006