PowerBook DVI Airport reception
I've heard that they improved it in the DVI models, but I haven't heard much. Can anyone tell me if it is improved by that much? And how good it is. I'm buying a PowerBook and I'm trying to decide if it is worth it to buy airport in the bundle (I will get a discount) or to get a 3rd party 802.11b card.
Comments
Airport is indeed worth it!
Hope that helps a little.
<strong>I've heard that they improved it in the DVI models, but I haven't heard much. Can anyone tell me if it is improved by that much? And how good it is. I'm buying a PowerBook and I'm trying to decide if it is worth it to buy airport in the bundle (I will get a discount) or to get a 3rd party 802.11b card.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I just sold my original 500 for a DVI, haven't gotten it yet...but the reception in the 500 was "good enough" to begin with. Not what I got from my old Pismo, but fine for walking around the house. That said, standing right next to our new iMac one floor down from our base station, the PowerBook always had fewer bars lit up.
The other thing to consider is that if you're a student, as so many of us are these days here on the AI boards, AirPort is a disaster in a dorm situation; it worked fine in my room, but as soon as I took a step outside...nada. Apparently AirPort and cinderblock walls don't get along so much.
But it's a wonderful technology and a great freedom to have...not to mention the look on people's faces when you start surfing the net without wires - even though the technology isn't new anymore, it always seems to impress.
-S
[ 08-06-2002: Message edited by: SpiffyGuyC ]</p>
<strong>
I just sold my original 500 for a DVI, haven't gotten it yet...but the reception in the 500 was "good enough" to begin with. Not what I got from my old Pismo, but fine for walking around the house. That said, standing right next to our new iMac one floor down from our base station, the PowerBook always had fewer bars lit up.
The other thing to consider is that if you're a student, as so many of us are these days here on the AI boards, AirPort is a disaster in a dorm situation; it worked fine in my room, but as soon as I took a step outside...nada. Apparently AirPort and cinderblock walls don't get along so much.
But it's a wonderful technology and a great freedom to have...not to mention the look on people's faces when you start surfing the net without wires - even though the technology isn't new anymore, it always seems to impress.
-S
[ 08-06-2002: Message edited by: SpiffyGuyC ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
I'm not dorming this year. It's an apartment. I know what you mean with the cinderblocks though, my freshman year you had to go outside to get cellphone reception. I wouldn't expect that to run there.
I have 802.11b at home, and in the apartment this fall I dunno if we'll have it or not, but being
able to browse the web in the basement while watching TV on the big screen will be cool. I heard that you can get better reception with the skyline. So I'm asking here to see how bad the airport reception really is. The airport will cost me $79 with the TiBook verses $119 for the skyline.
Even got on the deck without a hitch. In my use, I'd say I saw an easy 1-2 bar improvement in rooms furthest away from the station. I got 2/5 bars in a far bedroom with a 550 MHz Ti, and 4/5 with a 667 DVI. It has improved over previous models IMHO, but it's still not as good as the iBook.
As an example, while I had no problems with the Ti Book in the house or deck, my iBook killed it. The first time I fired it up, I actually thought I did something wrong, as a name I didn't recognize showed up. With the iBook I could get onto 2 nearby open networks easily, that the TiBook couldn't even see. I was pretty shocked.
Depends on the use of course. If you were going to try accessing it from a neighbor's house a few doors down, you'd need an iBook. But if you're trying to use it within reason (large house, apartment, a few doors away from your dorm room, whatever) it shouldn't be a problem. You'll love it.
<strong>I've had a DVI TiBook running in a 1200 sq ft bungalow and not had any reception problems. Same thing taking it downstairs one floor - through a concrete floor (almost right under the base station, though).
Even got on the deck without a hitch. In my use, I'd say I saw an easy 1-2 bar improvement in rooms furthest away from the station. I got 2/5 bars in a far bedroom with a 550 MHz Ti, and 4/5 with a 667 DVI. It has improved over previous models IMHO, but it's still not as good as the iBook.
As an example, while I had no problems with the Ti Book in the house or deck, my iBook killed it. The first time I fired it up, I actually thought I did something wrong, as a name I didn't recognize showed up. With the iBook I could get onto 2 nearby open networks easily, that the TiBook couldn't even see. I was pretty shocked.
Depends on the use of course. If you were going to try accessing it from a neighbor's house a few doors down, you'd need an iBook. But if you're trying to use it within reason (large house, apartment, a few doors away from your dorm room, whatever) it shouldn't be a problem. You'll love it.</strong><hr></blockquote>
If I want to use it from the neighbor I'll look at getting one of those cat5-to-wireless things and beefing it up with some antannas from Orinoco.
I cannot seem to get 30 feet away successfully. Does it really matter where the base station is?
I think AI is great, and appreciate all who post!
Sincerely,
Dr. Ledgard
<strong>I just bought airport for my iBook (500) and love it. I have it next to a beige desktop (old).
I cannot seem to get 30 feet away successfully. Does it really matter where the base station is?
I think AI is great, and appreciate all who post!
Sincerely,
Dr. Ledgard</strong><hr></blockquote>
Thick concrete walls, or lots of metal in the walls could affect this if you are trying to go through walls.
i think the key to my good reception has been the placement of my base station... it's mounted near the ceiling in the middle of my house... i have all 5 airport bars from anywhere in the house
i should also mention this is with a graphite base station... the newest base stations provide a stronger signal supposedly
The new DVI PowerBook's range should be sufficient for most users needs.
My other sister has a Netgear MA401 and a VAIO laptop and gets slightly better reception. My other sister has a Pismo and I remember it getting the best reception of all.
My 667 DVI has fine airport reception, even when i go to the floor above my base station it's fine, just to test for the thread though, i took a co-workers iBook up with me and they both showed about the same reception strength.
dude, go ahead and buy the DVI PB, you'll not be sorry
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