"sillyputty" <karmictaragem@2die4.com> wrote in message
news:1188682504.084406.155030@o80g2000hse.googlegr oups.com...
> On Sep 1, 6:46 am, Shadow <sh@dow> wrote:
> > Well done !
>> Amazing what we pay for antennas when something so simple
>> works so well. BTW liked the tripod, beats my piece of wire .....
>
> Thanks! The tripod was free. I put a wanted ad on craigslist and got a
> couple free tripods from a guy who wanted to get rid of some. The damn
> SMA cable is the most expensive part. I'm thinking about ordering the
> raw parts and assembling some myself. I do have some experience in
> that area - I used to be a cable/antenna installer and assembled RF
> cables.
>
I got around connector costs and cable losses by modifying a dongle
to accept the antenna, and then using USB cable to run from antenna
to computer. I found USB cables for $1.99 on Ebay Express. (shipping extra)
I used a TP-Link TL-WN321G it was easy to modify for the antenna.
It cost $12.99, again found on Ebay Express.
I had some trouble at final installation, I added a second USB cable ( 2 -
15FT cables)
and started getting unreliable operation. After some retesting of the
antenna
at another location, I figured out it was the extra length of USB cable.
So, one section of USB cable unless you use an amplifier type cable.
Mike