Geekdom

I will relate my struggles with capturing the Internet on my new Mac Mini. Perhaps I have related this tale of unending woe before. We have wireless and have had it for years. Just a year ago I moved my little office into the back room in the basement. My Internet service was fine. Truckee moved back in about four months ago, hooked up some extra Internet connections. I, in the mean time, bought a new computer. First the service was weak. Now it is nonexistent.

I traveled to the Computer Recycling Center in Santa Rosa to try and find a solution. I learned several things. That a signal will not travel usually more than 50 feet, especially when there are walls and other obstructions in the way. I could make a "can-tenna", a device made from a tin can that could actually receive the wireless signal. Also with the right kind of modem, I could connect a device that would extend my Internet to this side of the house.

I purchased a few items- an older model airport, which I thought maybe I could daisy chain from airport near where the signal begins. Also I bought a wire router- a mistake. My service provider thought that the intermittent service might be a result of a worn out router. I should have known than to add another variable to the mix- another wireless device.

Having looked up on line the specs for the "can-tenna", I decided that I would try it only as a last resort. The next idea was to extend a 50 foot ethernet wire though the house, also a pain. My online research brought me to another antenna that plugs into the USB port of my computer. I will order it today. If anyone is interested, I'll keep you posted.