T&T: Radio Labs Wi-Fi

[Steven Dubnoff]

>All, I purchased the marine Wi-Fi antenna system from Radio Labs and thought
>I'd post my initial findings.

I also have one of these (as well as another, similar system) sitting 
on my shelf and your post inspired me to do a head to head test.

As a comparison, I tried this:

http://www.netgate.com/product_info.php?products_id=328

which consists of a small Senao EUB-362 200mw USB adapter, and an 8.5 
db Hyperlink antenna, plus a mount and assorted other goodies.  I am 
not using, nor would I use, the 20' of coax that is included, because 
a much better idea is to buy a male/male "RP-SMA gender changer" on 
ebay and hook the three foot pigtail on the antenna directly to the 
usb adapter (There is, at least on my boat, enough room to lead the 
pigtail through the roof to the adapter).

For a cogent explanation of why you don't want a long coax lead going 
to your wifi antenna and why the antenna height above the water does 
not really matter, see this:

http://tinyurl.com/nnycz


In the fit and finish department, I have to say the Radio Labs system 
has fewer connections and is thus less likely to give problems, and 
its software is _much_ superior.  The Senao adapter supports the 
faster G protocol, but I don't think that is much importance since B 
adapters can talk to a G access points.

The important thing is, with both of these systems, set up side by 
side, connected to two laptops, on my desk, the clear winner is the 
Seneo/Hyperlink system.  With the Radio Labs system, I can see my own 
access point and that of on immediate neighbor.  With the 
Seneeo/Hyperlink system, I can see these, plus my other immediate 
neighbor (two access points) and three other access points.  Since 
that is, after all, what matters, I would recommend the netgate.com bundle.

Best,

Steve



Steve Dubnoff
1966 Willard Pilothouse
www.mvnereid.com
sdubnoff@circlesys.com