Southern California Wireless Users Group

Full house! 73 people were at the meeting tonight. Most people found a seat, but a few found Standing Room Only.Frank Keeney started the meeting and introductions. Frank passed around an article about Michelin tires embedding RFIDs into the rubber of the tire making it easy to track the tire and vehicle. Mike Outmesguine spoke some more about RFIDs and privacy issues. And covered the privacy issues of GPS enabled devices and the concept of jamming GPS signals for personal privacy. Mike read a news article about a car rental company using GPS units to control renters, “when we get a rental [car] that is out of bounds, we shut the vehicle down, send a tow-truck and just go and get it.” This kind of company policy encourages underground countermeasures like Personal Area Jammers. (more…)

 Introduction and news items: Download
 Ronan Higgins' Cafe.com Presentation : Download
 ff Skolnick from BAWUG introduces FreeNetworks.org : Download

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[Booster piggybacking an access point]

Linksys recently started selling their Wireless Signal Booster, model WSB24, for their 802.11b wireless access points. Click for Linksys product page.

I received the WSB24 and hooked it up as specified on the Quick Install sheet (pictured at right.) It was remarkably simple to install. All you need to do is unscrew the antennas from your wireless access point and move them to the booster. Then hook up the pigtails from the access points to the booster inputs. Plug it in and go. That’s it. No network, SSID, or any other configs. This is a direct RF amplifier, so you are simply placing it in between the access point output and the antenna. (more…)

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Review by Mike Outmesguine

It’s hard to summarize the Sidekick.  Except, to say it’s almost everything you’d want in a tiny wireless computer.  The Sidekick is the first generation Hiptop computer from Danger, Inc.  Currently, it’s only available from T-Mobile (which has its downsides, see below.)  It uses the T-Mobile (or Cingular in Los Angeles) GPRS cellular network so coverage is similar to a cell phone. (more…)

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March 8, 2002 (revised Jan 7, 2003)

This test was in response to questions about the MobileMark 5dbi Omni-directional antenna from Fab-Corp and the Lucent (now Proxim) Range Extender antenna.  The test was done from the same location on the rooftop of a Honda Accord within 100ft. of a Linksys BEFSW411 wireless access point. Software used was Netstumbler with the signal strength graphic.

Antenna Location:

MobileMark 5dBi Omni Magnetic Mount
(from www.Fab-Corp.com)

Lucent/Orinoco/Proxim Range Extender
(note this is not a magnetic mount)

Signal Strength Graphic:

[Click image for larger size]

The signal strength was clearly stronger using the MobileMark antenna with the Fab-Corp pigtail.  And shows that this antenna would be a good choice for mobile communications. (Including RF sniffing.)  The stronger signal and the fact that it is magnet mounted makes it a good choice for temporary vehicle mounting.

However, it should be noted that specific factors could interfere with antenna operation.  Since the MobileMark antenna is much shorter than the Range-Extender, hilly terrain could adversely affect signal strength due to the car rooftop obscuring lower-than-roof-level access points.  This was evident on another test, with the car on a slope angled away from the access point.  (See height comparison here.)

I would also speculate that the Range-Extender is less “omni” directional than the MobileMark due to it’s etched circuit internal construction.  (See internal pictures here.)

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