Ashtabula Yacht Club

 

 

 

 

 

   
        I know that many of you have had issues connecting to our wireless network.  We are doing what we can with limited resources to provide you with the best possible service for the smallest possible price.  Please consider that right now other clubs and commercial "hotspot" services are charging more for 1 month than we charge for an entire year of access to ours.  I could make the system work in such a way that each person could get onto the network from anywhere on the club grounds using what is currently built into their computer. I have actually talked to a commercial company that sets these systems up, but we would have to charge a substantial monthly rate for them to service our club.  The companies will setup and operate the access on the club grounds free to the club, but the users of the system have to foot the bill.  Rather than doing that, I believe it will be more cost effective to point you the users in the direction of some high powered equipment which will help you not only at AYC, it will also help you when you travel to other marinas with wifi and hotels too!  These items are a one time cost, upgrading the network would be a continuing monthly cost that will do nothing to help the similar situations which you are bound to run into when you are away from AYC.

Suggestion 1-  Get a high powered usb connectable WiFi adapter to use in place of your internal card.  The cost will be $54.99 if you order it from the website provided for you.  This adapter is about 20 times more powerful than what is inside of your computer.
  http://www.data-alliance.net/servlet/the-90/AWUS036H-Alfa-500mW-USB/Detail

Suggestion 2-  For a price of $5.99 from the same web page that has the high powered adapter, increase to a higher gain antenna.  This actually does more for you reception through the free air than increasing your power.  The increase in power is what will help better punch the signal through the hull of your boat, this will give you greater distance.
  http://www.data-alliance.net/servlet/the-129/Antenna-Aerial-5dBi-omni/Detail

Suggestion 3- Talk to people who boat around you, they are probably having similar problems.  The website charges $14.00 for shipping, so try to order 2, 3, or as many of these items at one time as you possibly can.  The more ways you can split the shipping, the more money you will save.  Also, you can poke around the website on your own in order to see if there might be antenna setups that are better for you than what I suggested.  Keep in mind, I tested the WiFi adapter with the 5db antenna from every point on the club with good results.  The specifications you need to look for if you are picking out your own antenna is as follows;

 

FREQUENCY- 2.4 Ghz (some will specify 802.11b/g compatible, just make sure it is 2.4Ghz)
CONNECTOR- For the wifi adapter I suggested plus 75% of all other wifi adapters made, you will need a connector that is called a RP-SMA Male (what it stands for isn't important, just make sure it has ALL the right letters in the name and it is the correct gender).
CABLE- For our purposes, keep is as short as possible, I screw the antenna directly onto the wifi adapter.  If you get a magnetic mount, don't but a 20 foot extension, you will loose more signal the longer your cable run is.

TOTAL COST WITH SHIPPING FOR SYSTEM WITH ANTENNA $74.98 (buy 3 it's just $65.00ea)

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS BEFORE YOUR ORDER, EMAIL ME AT yfdfireman@gmail.com (subject AYC WiFi).
 

Other "Hotspot" Services that I referenced
1.  Boingo Wireless
2.  Air2Access Wireless
3.  Mas Hotspots.com
4.  GNS Wireless
5.  C3-Wireless
6.  RV Access.com

DRIVERS
     Windows 98
     Windows XP
     Windows Vista