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Practical Sailor gives a thumbs up to our BAD BOY Xtreme
Read it here!
What is Wi-Fi? What Can I Do With It?
Wi-Fi is a method that
uses wireless technology
to connect a computer to
the internet.
This eliminates the need to
physically plug in to an ethernet port.
Today, there are many access points, commonly called hotspots, available
throughout the world and more are being added daily. Many provide free
service. With a Wi-Fi connection, not only can you stay in touch with
family and friends, you can:
• Get weather, gribs, forecasts
• Answer email
• Keep up on local and world news
• Call buddies on skype
• Upload pictures
• Review investments
• Download videos, TV, movies
• Post your latest blog
• See what's viral right now on youtube
• Tracking parts and items ordered
• Do banking, verify transactions
• Catch up with work at the office
• Reserve cars, restaurants, flights
• Entertain the kids and yourself
The internet is now mainstream.
Every product and service anywhere in the world
can be found on it. And Wi-Fi is the
tool for wireless access to the
web.
Why Can't I Get A Reliable Connection?
Wi-Fi is a two way system. Each
end must both send and receive
the signal equally. Think
of it as two people, a substantial distance apart, throwing a ball to
each other. Person A has to be strong enough
to throw the ball to person B.
Person B also has to be strong
enough to throw the ball back to
person A. If either Person A
or B cannot throw the ball that
distance, they will not have much
of a throwing game.
Access points have an advantage over laptops because they have higher output
power and their antennas are
usually up high. They therefore
have the ability to send a
signal further than most laptops
can. With
the addition of a high gain antenna and Wi-Fi device,
a
laptop's range will be
dramatically increased, thus
matching that of the access
point and leveling the playing
field.
The location of the antenna is
important too. Wood, water and
metal all interfere with Wi-Fi
by absorbing, refracting and
reflecting it. Being in a steel
boat down below near the
waterline tied to a wood dock
will likely not get a
connection. Having the antenna
up higher will.
How Does BAD BOY Solve This?
1) High power -
36dbm (4W) EIRP. The typical laptop puts out
a paltry 35-50mW of power.
Do the math. That's a significant increase!
2) Superior antenna - BAD BOY
uses a high gain antenna to focus the signal
to get to the access point and
not wasting it by sending it in useless
directions.
3) Higher antenna location - the typical
laptop is down below deck. Wood,
water and metal absorb, refract
and reflect Wi-Fi signals.
Getting the antenna higher up
and away from these
interferences will provide a cleaner,
clearer signal. The BAD BOY
antenna can be mounted up to
300' (90m) away - sticking it on
top of your mast is now
possible.
4) No antenna cable loss - BAD BOY attaches directly to the antenna so all the power gets used where it should.
And that's going out the antenna!
Receiving is improved as well
since there's no loss there either.
5) Purpose build devices - BAD
BOY is small with no wasted space.
They're a rugged, all
weather, all temperature, high
power Wi-Fi
device.