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Trying to get a good Wi-Fi signal on your laptop inside a Caravan or Canal Boat can be frustrating. At 1stHotspot we have years of experience delivering Wi-Fi connections on Caravan Sites Mobile Home Parks and Canal Marinas. If the suggestions on this page don't solve your problem please let us know. Our Wi-Fi Signal Boosters can be purchased through Google Checkout or with your Credit Card and we aim to deliver your purchase within 48 hours. All prices include VAT and UK Mainland Delivery. |
Why do I get a problem with Wi-Fi reception?
WI-FI signals are broadcast on 11 standard frequencies in the 2.4GHz range. This is a high frequency signal similar to your mobile phone and you may have noticed that the reception on a mobile is not always as good indoors as it is outside. Because Wi-Fi is broadcasted on a public unlicensed frequency the transmitter has to be relatively low powered and this makes the problem even worse especially inside buildings or metal structures such as Caravans Mobile Homes and Canal Boats.
How do I improve my Wi-Fi signal reception?
The best way is to have an unobstructed line of sight between the transmitting antenna and the receiving computer. Unfortunately it's not always practical especially in the British weather to sit outdoors with your laptop facing the Wi-Fi transmitter even if you know which direction the signal is coming from. You will need a USB Wi-Fi antenna on the roof of your Caravan or Narrow Boat in exactly the same way as you need an outside aerial for your TV.
Which type of Wi-Fi antenna is best for me?
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Omni Directional Antenna 1 metre cable with USB Wireless Adaptor [Windows XP Vista] |
£39.99 |
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High Gain Panel Antenna 1 metre cable with USB Wireless Adaptor [Windows XP Vista] |
£69.99 |
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When you're not sure which direction a signal is coming from or you want a low cost solution that can be connected as required an Omni Directional antenna will be the best bet. High Gain Panel antennas will give a stronger signal reception but like your TV aerial must point in the general direction of the transmitter. They cost a little more but are highly effective when you have a permanent stand or mooring.
What if I've got a Mac or a Linux laptop?
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Add to change the USB Wireless Adaptor for one with Mac and Linux drivers |
£8.99 |
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We have tested this USB Wireless Adaptor with Ubuntu 8.04 and it works on a plug and play basis with no need for driver installation from the CD. You may need experience of installing hardware on Linux Operating Systems in order to use this product with other Linux distributions.
Can I extend the cables to suit my needs?
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Add for 3 metre low loss coaxial cable extension |
£11.99 |
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In general it is better to extend the distance from your computer to the USB Wireless Adaptor with a USB extension lead rather than increasing the length of coaxial cable between the USB Wireless Adaptor and the antenna. This is because the more coaxial antenna cable you use the higher the signal loss. We recommend using a maximum of 3 metres low loss coaxial cable extension with the High Gain Panel antenna.
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