So it is time to brag about my setup. It is a little modest, I am always hungry for more range and stumble across more APs. Here is what I got in chronological order. I will also make a list of the software and other devices I use! UBDo-gt5 After some research and because I lived in a quiet residential area I decided to get this little innocent looking outdoor device. It came with an rtl8187L chipset and integrated 12dbi antenna. It was mounted on the gutter and the 5m cable was just enough to reach into my window so I could plug into my laptop. I was also able through my Mac to create a WiFi hotspot from the networks I was able to get into so the family could have WiFi. Speeds were also good at 600kb/s and the neighbour was none the wiser . Big issue are drivers for Mac. Don't think they work anymore. Here is what my RTL8187L chipset looks like AWUS036NHR I was wooed by the new 2000mW n compatible product from ALFA with the new RTL8188RU chipset. Probably got this a little early, as driver development was still far from complete. Not as plug and play in Linux compared to the RTL8187L and did not find as many networks, but the Mac drivers worked really well and there seemed to be a stronger signal. It also comes with a clip for suction on smooth surfaces and a 5dbi antenna. R36 I absolutely love this product, I got it as soon as the new firmware update allowed me to connect it to my AWUS036NHR. It is essentially a WLAN, Bridge and 3G Hotspot maker. I took out the RTL8187L from the UBdo-gt5, placed the RTL8188RU into the UBdo-gt5 and plugged the UBdo-gt5 with the RTL8188RU into the R36. Now I can create a new wireless network from a WiFi hotspot from a network I have connected to many meters away. I still use my rtl8187L and it is in the AWUS036NHR housing , but I have a huge 9dbi omni directional antenna attached This device essentially creates personal WiFi hotspots (just like a pocket WiFi or MiFi would). All you have to do is plug in the USB device and you will have WiFi to share. While not the most mobile of devices. It has a whopping 27dbm power output which surely means it is one of the longest (if not thee longest) WiFi hotspot creators and WiFi extenders out there. Now it is made even better. Alfa has just released R36-v1.2.0.8 firmware for theR36 Wireless Network Range Extender and Router for 3G USB dongles, WLAN and other network USB devices. This will allow you not just to connect to a AWUS036H device but also to AWUS036NHR /AWUS036NH devices. I asked Alfa a few months ago if the AWUS036NHR was compatible, they said 'NO'. And now it is. This is great news because now I don't need to plug in my AWUS036NHR into my laptop anymore! Cheapest place to look if you want one of these babies would be ebay, Amazon, Alfa Europe or rokland but do shop around. Latest R36-Firmware 1.3.0.0 Other versions R36_0929_v2024 R36-1.2.0.7 R36-1.2.0.7_02202012 R36-v1.2.0.7b6 R36-v1.2.0.8 Alfa's FTP server ftp://downloader:[email protected] is down and ftp://61.221.104.183/Download/Firmware is up. R36 PDF Manual Firmware migration guide Notes • Any interruption during firmware migration might damage your unit permanently. • Please load factory default after firmware migration is completed, cause we need to make sure that firmware is written into R36. • Alfa is revising the firmware, you can send an email to [email protected] if you have DNS issues with AWUS036NH on the R36. • If you upgrade the firmware 1.2.0.8 and above you cannot use AWUS036H with the R36. But you will be able to use the AWUS036NH and AWUS036NHR. Also Alfa devices with the same chipsets (RTL8188RU / RT3070) as the models above e.g. Alfa outdoor models should also work also Wifisky 3w, 2w, Wifi-unlocker models should also work. Features | Could you call it a modem? Processor: Ralink RT3050F @ 320Mhz Flash: MXIC MX29LV640EBTI-70G RAM: EtronTech EM63A165TS-6G One USB port One Serial Port @ 115200bps One WAN One LAN Wired: IEEE 802.3 (10Base-T) IEEE 802.3u (100Base-TX) Wireless: IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n Physical 1 x 10/100Mbps WAN Port 1 x 10/100Mbps LAN Port 1 x detachable external 5dBi antenna 1 x Reset button 1 x WPS Security Key 1 x USB Port Management Web-base management interface Remote management SNTP time synchronize Output Power 802.11b: 27dBm ± 2dBm 802.11g: 25dBm ± 2dBm 802.11n: 25dBm ± 2dBm Sensitivity 11n 20MHz MCS7: -71 MCS0: -90 40MHz MCS7: -69 MCS0: -88 11g 54Mbps: -75 6Mbps: -92 11b 11Mbps: -90 1Mbps: -95 Data Rate 802.11n ( 40MHz ): up to 150Mbps 802.11n ( 20MHz ): up to 72Mbps 802.11g: 54,48,36,24,18,12,9,6Mbps 802.11b: 11,5.5,2,1Mbps Wireless Mode WISP Bridge Router Operating Frequency FCC: 2412~2462MHz (Ch1~Ch11) ETSI: 2412~2472MHz (Ch1~Ch13) Japan: 2412~2484MHz (Ch1~Ch14) Security Access Control Policy MAC filter DMZ Host SSID Broadcast disable Wireless MAC address Filtering WEP Encryption WPA-/W PA2-PSK (Pre-shared Key) WPA/W PA2 Enterprise mode (802.1x) WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) Router Shares high speed cable/xDSL Internet connection Static Routing VPN Pass through NAT 802.11e WMM IGMP Proxy Dual SSIDs Temperature Operating: 0ºC to 40ºC (32ºF to 104ºF) Storage: -20ºC to 60ºC (-4ºF to 140ºF) Humidity Operating :10% to 85% Non-Condensing Storage: 5% to 90% Non-Condensing Dimensions 93 x 70 x 26mm Weight 74g Power Input 12V/1A 3G Functions 3G budget Control with Email warning ( Support Pre-pay and Post-pay ) Dual Wan backup Remote Access Control by 3G WAN Alfa R36 Compatibility Device List ALFA Onyx3G ALFA Fly3G ALFA AWUS036H ALFA AWUS036NHR ALFA WUS036NH Huawei E220 Huawei E169 / 169G / 169U Huawei E219 Huawei D02 Huawei D21 Huawei D22 Huawei D23 Huawei D31 Huawei ET128 Huawei D12HW Huawei D12LC Huawei D21LC Huawei E1762 Huawei E1552 Huawei E1782 Huawei E1552 Huawei E1782 Huawei E156G Huawei E177 Huawei E353 Asus T500 SonyEricsson MD300 Qisda H21(single) ZTE MF626 ZTE MF627 ZTE MF628 ZTE AC2726 ZTE MF636 ZTE MF637 ZTE AC2736 ZTE MF631 ZTE MF180 PROLINK PHS100 PROLINK PHS300 PROLINK PHS101 DoCoMo A2502 SoftBank C01LC Sierra 598U C-MOTECH U300 Qisda H21(dual) EpiValley 8089 i-mobile U3300 BandLuxe C180 Option Icon 225 Dlink DWM-156 NOKIA CS-15 Royaltek Q110 CSL U1-TF
So here i have the Ubdo-gt5 (with an rtl8188ru chipset) focusing on a AP that is WEP enabled. That is plugged into my R36 via USB cable which provides me with a WPA2 wireless network. I will post clearer pictures soon
Lan is just as fast maybe a little slower, on a mac through WiFi it doesn't seem to transfer maximum speed. I lose about 30kb/s. Took quite awhile to setup, with the new 1.3.0.0 firmware and there are a ton of settings that you need to be familiar with. Once it is setup you can forget about it, but those blue LEDs are bright lol.
ouch, if throught wifi the speed loses about 30kb/s, an average internet speed here just around 40kb/s (normal household)...guess it will be almost inoperable..lols...btw do u happened to know other alternative beside r36 for making my wifi adapter as router?
Oh dear, that is :slug That speed will definably increase if you can get a stronger signal :joy. I think it might be a mac issue. My phone is connected and it blazes. I was getting 7.3mb/s at uni the other day. Network I am connected to about 160kb/s. Maybe it is a percentage or a proportion so to speak. I am losing about 18.5% speed. So you might get 32kb/s. My peak bandwidth today has been 132kb/s. I do not think there is another alternative to the r36. Think it is the only one of its kind that you can connect via USB to ALFA and other chipset type models.
R36 is cool. Another option I've tested is ubiquiti's picostation M2HP, is a bit more expensive (I got it around US$75) but more flexible in terms of the configuration. Pretty cool too.
