So Cal Free Net.org

I just recently discovered this site, through accident. When I bought my wife a new Averatec 6240 laptop, I noticed that on occasion, I would pick up a wireless signal from someone. I clicked on the network, and of course the laptop wasn't setup to log into the network.

We live in the Sherman Heights area (19th and Imperial) and I imagine I am picking up the Sherman Heights node and would appreciate if someone on this site, can guide me through the procedures to setup my wife's laptop.

Any help would be appreciated.

A Senao 2511 AP3 installed in an outdoor case with a new pigtail and a PoE injector.

You can add an external antenna to the AP3 by removing the existing antenna connector from the PC Card and replacing it with an appropriate pigtail. Here you can see an MMCX right-angle connector to N-Female bulkhead pigtail. Make sure the metal connector from the removed pigtail doesn't come in contact with any of the electronics.

A Senao/Engenius 2511 AP3 with the lid off (undo the four screws underneath and gently remove the lid). As you can see, its mostly a Senao/Engenius 2511CD Plus Ext2 with some supporting hardware to provide an ethernet interface and http based GUI.

Any suggestions on how to set-up Mac OSX so I could access the freenet?

We tried to mount the antennas as far apart as the site would conveniently allow. Here you can see both, plus the geeks still at work on the roof. The yagi has a radio directly underneath it (blocked by the space heater in the foreground).

This is a Maxrad 15dbi yagi. It should easily make the 5/8 mile link back to the 'home base', despite the many other APs in this neighborhood.

Terminating RJ45s (ethernet) is a pain. 8 little wires all into one little plug. This cable provides power (12V) as well as the relayed data.

Meanwhile, this somni antenna and radio were waiting until we got the crucial relay up and running.

You know you're getting close when you can get off the roof. Here we're all connected wirelessly, trying to configure the radios for best operation.