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- - The "little bars" you see on your computer are the strength of the signal you are receiving from the transmitting land-based antenna. Using a high gain antenna with increased sensitivity will result in more "bars" being shown.
- - However, the "bars" have absolutely nothing to do with measuring your output power back to the land-based antenna. You have no way of measuring that except by an external signal meter you hold near the antenna. Just like SSB HF technicians do to the measure the output power of your SSB antenna system.
- - Using a half watt or the 1 watt (1000mW) transmitter will increase your ability to "reach out" to land-based antenna further away from your location and also increase the quality of your transmitted signal to closer in land-based antennas. This helps increase your bit-rate and you get faster wifi up to the limit of the capabilities of the land-based server.
- - As with most things in this world the more you can put out the better your performance. A 25watt VHF can reach further than a 1 or 5 watt handheld radio.
- - I also use a "powered" USB extension cable to increase the USB external antenna cabling from the usual 15 feet to 35 feet. The normal maximum that a USB type signal can travel through wires is limited to about 15 feet before signal losses become too great. These powered USB extension cables are easily available via the internet or good computer stores. They typically have a fat "bulb" at the female end of the cable that contains the "signal amplifier". Using the amplified extension cable I can attach the antenna to a flag halyard and hoist the antenna up the mast to get "above" all the interfering neighboring boats.
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