Escaping WiFi Interference In The Modern Dorm Room?
j.cherney writes "I recently moved my son up to a dorm at Michigan State University. We set up a wireless router (D-link) and everything worked well-until the rest of the dorm moved in. Now he is getting intermittent outages which I am quite sure is related to the large numbers of cordless phones on the 2.4ghz frequency. So my question to everyone is: Is there anything that I can do to make wireless work in this environment? Obviously I'm not willing to buy everyone in the dorm a new cordless phone! Is one brand more resistant to interference than another? Is there a filter than can be installed? Or is he S.O.L.?"
For the college student, 2 is pretty much the only option available.
Build and turn on a jammer. Everyone else will go buy phones on a different frequency. Then the frequency will be free for you to use your network with.
If you have a microwave you know exactly how to build one. The freq. that a microwave functions at is damn near spot on 2.4 GHz so all you need is several rolls of metal window screen where the mesh size is the same as your microwave.Oh Yah, you also need to make sure that it is well grounded, you can tie directly to the ground lug of any triple prong outlet, or steam pipe, etc.
This also has the advantage of identifying appliances that have ungrounded "hot" metal cases by electrocuting anyone touching the metal case and the wall at the same time. Comes in handy for party games like "Stick the fork in the toaster."
Here come da fudge!
Bah! Back in my day we used ARCNET, Twinax, PLIP, or if we were really lucky, SLIP, and WE LIKED IT!!!
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
Is that the mode that redirects you to belkin ads randomly?
:-)
sorry, couldn't resist
We huddled around a 110 baud acousticoupler, and if you read something that was funny the laughing would generate errors in the connection.
I've mastered a new technique employing "direct transcranial wireless transmission." All you need is about a 12' lenghth of aluminum foil, two coat hangers, and a pair of 9v batteries. I just added an extra battery yesterday to boost the signal and now I'm getting 1.1 Mb signals--wait...they're transmitting--from Andromeda, and also Tau Ceti. They...tell me their plans. If you promise not to tell them, I can send you the schematics after I take my meds.
"OH SHIT, THERE'S A HORSE IN THE HOSPITAL!"
My god, you live in a *dorm* and you need wireless networking?
You're the wifi version of the idiots I lived next to in college with GIGANTIC STEREOS jammed into little 8ftx8ft rooms. Did you know ALL music sounds the same when filtered through the low-pass filter known as "the walls"? I didn't!
Yeah, when you're in college, you're king of your world and entitled to everything. Whatever.
Besides, with the wireless, you're just letting that freaky Linux guy next door who wears a cloak see what kind of porn you like to hit it with.
You don't need a cordless phone either, by the way. You live in a damn CLOSET!
(Oops, this was the guy's dad. Adjust pronouns appropriately.)
Have you ever thought he might be faking it so he doesn't have to talk to you? Want hime to look after grandma this weekend and suddenly his line drops? Clip the cheeky bugger over the ears, I say.
Remove the magnetron from and old school 1500 wattmicrowave. Mount it in focal point of an old Primestar (or other satellite dish). Install a pistol grip and a trigger and you are good to go. Get a nice long extension cord and sweep the entire dorm with cleansing 2.4ghz waves. As long as you shield you AP before you begin you should be the only one left on the 2.4ghz frequency. Save your rig, it makes a nifty hot dog cooker. One warning, line you shorts with lead before you start so as not to cook your own frank and beans.
SD
PS Don't try this anywhere, ever.
âoeWho knew something as harmless as willful ignorance could end up having real consequences?â
Like I'm concerned with what is a hassle for you. Sorry but wanting to browse porn in the comfort of your bed isn't a good enough reason for clogging my airwaves.
Why not find the source of the problem and use this on it instead?
An Education is the Font of All Liberty
OR
3) spread rumors that you and anyone else with the right equipment can listen to cordless phone conversations in the building. A few additional rumors about 'things you heard while sniffing phone conversations' will also help a bit. Students are a gullible lot.
Reminds me of the time back in the late 80'S where typing PROMPT "Warning: Virus Detected $d$p" on the DOS machines in the computer lab guaranteed that the machine would stay free.
The dangers of excessive individualism are nothing compared to the oppressiveness of excessive collectivism