Open Node In A Bag

adelayde writes "You're a wireless network engineer and you work on the run. You need a kit that gives you flexibily yet is light and portable. Style is also important to you. This article (mirrored here) describes just the kit you need, based on modifying the Apple AirPort base station with suggestions for a range of handy antenna attachments and includes component part numbers and prices as well as a complete set of range test results. Just the Jobs for the wireless engineer on the go." Update: 04/08 00:06 GMT by T : Here's another mirror, thanks to the story submitter ;)

Comments

why apple?

[akb]

This article is pretty pointless to focus on Apple. Unforuntately clueless people will read it and assume that in order to use wireless they'll have to drill and void their warranty. The fact is there are plenty of other products for which none of that is necessary.

The first time /. ran one of these "Mod your Airport" articles however many years ago it was cool but the wireless product landscape was very different then.

Wireless Engineer

[GigsVT]

I think anyone who calls themselves a "wireless engineer" should be able to figure out how to put an N connector on an Airport. Unless you mean "engineer" in the "sanitation engineer" sense.

some Airports have an antenna connection

[green pizza]

Some of the newer Airports (AirPort Extreme perhaps) have an external antenna jack. There's even a company selling a matching external antenna, no drilling required.

Re:some Airports have an antenna connection

[hypertex]

My Extreme base-station does not sport an external antenna connector. Upon internal inspection, the circuit board(s) have the same connector as the original tiBook Airport/Orinoco cards. So buy a pigtail, external antenna, drill the hole and plug it in.

Re:some Airports have an antenna connection

[edspunky]

man, why would you pay $100 for a 3.5 dBi antenna when you can get a 5 dBi antenna for $20 here? ok, so i understand cool matching looks, but there's a limit, especially when you can get so much more performance for less...

So what exactly stops you from

[happyhippy]

being arrested every time someone sees you carrying that thing thinking its a bomb?

This has to be a new record!

[Dr_Cornholio]

Both the original site and the mirror /.ed in under 30 minutes!

Wow... that's some mirror...

[loucura!]

It's so good, it even mirrors the slashdotted state of the original...

Re:Wow... that's some mirror...

[Elwood P Dowd]

The mirror was slashdotted first.

I know this because I immediately right clicked both links and made new windows. Then I realized: "I'm being an asshole..."

Re:Mirror of the Mirror?

[GigsVT]

Mirror Be gentle.

I wish

[mao che minh]

"You're a wireless network engineer and you work on the run...."

No I'm not, and I don't even want to get started down that path to fantasy. I'll just be depressed again when I open my eyes and realize that I'm still in this tiny office , with a job description that is nowhere near as exciting as "wireless network engineer".

I go through these bouts of depression too much as it is with my constant, recurring, and haunting "you are a porn star that will be filming a scene with Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez....." day dreams.

Re:already /.'ed?

[SHEENmaster]

Here is a mirror. Apparently the cheap-ass version doesn't have such a connector.

Mirror

[nelf]

Another mirror:
http://ds.dial.pipex.com/psand/airport/

For all the effort...

[azav]

For all the effort to do this, it is worth it to pay the extra 50 (or so) bucks and get the Airport Extreme with the antenna jack.

How much is your time worth after all?

If it's not worth it then by all means, go ahead and drill.

flakey.info?

[mattkime]

does anyone else think its a bad idea to name a server "flakey"?

US Laws?

[Anonymous Coward]

Based on the laws in the US, and my understading (I am NAL), because of the part 15 the antennas are illegal because they have to be certified good by the FCC as well as the unit itself which has been modified from the original spec. Article talking about this for wireless ISPs, but the part 15 would still apply to individuals I believe. While it is unlikely that they would randomly come across you this is always a good deterent:

Julius Knapp, FCC deputy chief of the office of engineering and technology, said the agency's policy isn't to punish, but to correct the system before it becomes a problem.

"Generally, we try to correct the problem before we take any further steps," he said. "Of course, there are provisions for people who (continue to) violate Part-15 rules, with up to $11,000 in fines for first-time violations all the way up to $80,000 for repeated violations."

I don't get it

[g4dget]

"Wireless network engineers on the run" generally use something like a PocketPC or Zaurus, together with a CF WIFI card and a collection of wireless and network tools. That's smaller than the AirPort, battery operated, and far more flexible.

blah

[kwj8fty1]

This is a pointless /. story.

1. First of all, this 'airport', is really just an RG1100 with a different cover. Sure, you can connect antennas to it. But it's not a "MAC Only" think it's a "Windows thing" that just so happens to have MAC OSX drivers. Google on rg1000 + linux/windows. You'll find several java config tools. Moron.

2. Anyone who really has the title 'wireless network engineer' would know that building homebrew antennas just isn't worth the time. most of them end up sucking, and it's MUCH cheaper to just purchase one online.

3. Anyone who cared about the FCC regs wouldn't do this.

4. To do real LOS tests, you want antenna systems with known gain & radial patterns.

5. You'll want kistmet, as some other posters highly under-rated posted.