wifi?

[jdmetzger]

I see on our rally map that there is going to be another "cyber cafe" this year. Is there any chance we will have wifi access? I was thinking this could be good for people with a laptop or a small internet-enabled handheld device, for sending emails. I'm not sure what our connection speed is going to be at the rally (so I don't want to overwhelm it), but is this possible? I'm not traveling with a laptop, but can you give me a reason to buy an internet-enabled handheld? :D

[DarrylRi]

At the RA rally in Boise this past summer, I chose my camping spot such that:

There was a 110V outlet nearby. It was just within range of the WiFi in the building It was in shade late in the afternoon and evening.


It was delightful!

[Newstar]

The new Zumo eliminates the need to constantly download maps so I'm going to try to leave the laptop home this time.

No laptop = no work.

While it's a wonderful thing, it's also a ball and chain.

Tracy

[PAULBACH]

I have a Palm TX and a small WiFi laptop. If both disappeared off the face of the earth the net result would be I have less "stuff" to carry and take care of. There are lots of free paper maps available.

The Cellphone can store all the telephone #s I need.

Do you NEED one? Not really. The more stuff you own, the more the stuff owns you.

Put the bucks in a good camera and record the memories. The most unitarian (OOPS - utilitarian) use of the laptop is for photo storage and cataloging.

[The_Veg]

The most unitarian use of the laptop is for photo storage and cataloging.
Heheheheheh, Paul, as a lifelong member of the Unitarian church, I am really wondering what I'm missing by not having a laptop! :laugh

[snoone]

I have a Palm TX and a small WiFi laptop. If both disappeared off the face of the earth the net result would be I have less "stuff" to carry and take care of. There are lots of free paper maps available.

The Cellphone can store all the telephone #s I need.

Do you NEED one? Not really. The more stuff you own, the more the stuff owns you.

Put the bucks in a good camera and record the memories. The most unitarian use of the laptop is for photo storage and cataloging.

Due to the distance some of us have to travel and the rally starting on thursday,some of us will need to remain in contact with our offices. I have a hard time not having access to wifi for IM, email and access to my companys ftp. I don't go anywhere without the laptop. I have no idea what I did before computers existed.

[DarrylRi]

I have no idea what I did before computers existed.You probably had evenings and weekends off.

[GregFeeler]

I see on our rally map that there is going to be another "cyber cafe" this year. Is there any chance we will have wifi access? I was thinking this could be good for people with a laptop or a small internet-enabled handheld device, for sending emails. I'm not sure what our connection speed is going to be at the rally (so I don't want to overwhelm it), but is this possible? I'm not traveling with a laptop, but can you give me a reason to buy an internet-enabled handheld? :D

I'm one of the three Cyber Cafe Co-Chairs, along with Brian Curry and Brian Burdette. The Cyber Cafe will be housed in it's own air conditioned room in the primary vendor building. There will be walk-up PC's to use for checking web-based e-mail, weather, etc., plus WiFi access. We hope to have some tables and chairs (with plugins) either inside or just outside of the Cyber Cafe room where you can sit inside and connect with your own equipment. There will also be WiFi outside this building to some degree, hopefully where there will be some tables and shade at times.

I was Co-Rally Chair for the 2006 RA Rally in Boise and we had the double good fortune of a site where the camping was much closer to the vendor buildings than we'll have in Wisconsin, plus a Wireless Internet Access vendor who *gave* us free access for the rally and positioned equipment so we could blanket the entire site. I can't say enough about the good folks with Clearwire, but unfortunately they are not yet servicing the West Bend area.

In Wisconsin the camping area is likely too far from our hot spot to get a usable signal, however there will be WiFi in the general area around the Cyber Cafe both inside and outside the building. It may or may not reach as far as the Beer Garden, but we're working on that. :drink

Note, that it's not too early to volunteer for a 4-hour shift in the Cyber Cafe or for the Charging Station (where folks can charge their batter-power goodies). Remember - both will be inside with air conditioning and this is *easy* work! Between the two functions, we can use folks with anywhere from zero to Guru tech skills. ;) If you're interested, leave a post here or PM me.

[Braddog]

You probably had evenings and weekends off.

I truly understand and appreciate the need for some folks to be able to stay in contact with their business and/or place of employ. However, for me, days riding on the motorcycle and days taken as "vacation days" mean no computer. That's why they call it vacation.

I'll have my cell phone and I'll have my digital camera that can hold hundreds of pics. I'll save them to the computer when I get home.

[PAULBACH]

How To Build A Tin Can Waveguide WiFi Antenna
for 802.11(b or g) Wireless Networks
or other 2.4GHz Applications

If you can change a flat tire on a motorcycle or adjust the valves, this homebrew project should be a snap.

Got no dough for a commercial WiFi antenna? Looking for an inexpensive way to increase the range of your wireless network? A tin can waveguide antenna, or Cantenna, may be just the ticket. This design can be built for under $5 U.S. and reuses a food, juice, or other tin can.

The Disclaimer from the website: I am not an electrical engineer, nor do I have access to any fancy test equipment. I've built some antennas that worked for me and thought I would share what I learned. I have no idea if this is safe for your radio or wireless network equipment. The risk to you and your equipment is yours.

Building your Cantenna is easy, just follow these steps.

1. Collect the parts
2. Drill or punch holes in your can to mount the probe
3. Assemble the probe and mount in can

For the rest of the directions click here (http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html)
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

This should great increase the range of your wiffi gear. Now go to Google Earth and pick out a nice shady spot.

73
de
W2USN aka paulbach

[Mudbug]

You probably had evenings and weekends off.

Evenings and weekends are times when I can get things done without being interrupted constantly.