Itching to use your new Eye-Fi Wireless SD card to shoot an event, but want to make sure photos can get downloaded no matter where you are as you’re wandering around?

We’ve got the solution.

First, make sure you’ve read these instructions for setting up Eye-Fi to work without Internet.

To maximize the range in this setup, you’ll want to pick up the D-Link DWL-G730AP Wireless Pocket Router. For about $50, you get a full-featured portable wireless router that can be powered over USB.

Add this pocket-size rechargeable battery pack with included USB cable, and you’ve got a battery-powered wifi router that you can easily carry on your person as you shoot. (The battery will power the router for about 4 hours.)

Now, just set up your new portable router just as described in these instructions and head to the shoot. Only, instead of putting your router in a central location, keep your little D-Link on you as you shoot. Because the Eye-Fi’s antennas is smaller than your laptop’s, this will ensure that it’ll stay in range of your router (just a few feet away) and so will your laptop.

Photo downloading bliss!

(Thanks to Ziv Gillat, Eye-Fi Founder, for the tip!)

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Ever since we started selling the Eye-Fi wireless SD Card last week, we’ve been getting questions from pros about how they can use this at weddings and events. Places where they’re not guaranteed an Internet connection.

Turns out there is a way to use Eye-Fi without Internet.

The basic setup depends on the fact that when setup to download photos only to your computer, and not to send them to an online photo service, Eye-Fi doesn’t need an Internet connection at all. It just needs to be on the same access point/router as your computer.

So you’ll need to pack a wireless router that you’ve pre-configured with the rest of your gear. Here’s how it works:

Step 1

You’ll need to set up your Eye-Fi and router before your event, when you have an internet connection. Connect the router you’ll be taking with you to an Internet connection, and connect to it with your laptop. Put your Eye-Fi into the reader, the reader into your laptop, and load up the management interface at http://manager.eye.fi

Now configure your Eye-Fi NOT to upload to any photo sharing services, and only to download to your computer.

Step 2

Put the Eye-Fi back in your camera, and remove the Internet connection from your router. Make sure it still has power and your laptop is still connected to it wirelessly and that the Eye-Fi manager software is running.

Do some test shooting. As long as you’re within range of your router, photos taken should download directly to your computer, even though it doesn’t have an Internet connection.

Step 3
Don’t forget to pack your router and laptop for the shoot! When you arrive, plug in the wireless router (without Internet) somewhere central so you’ll have a strong signal wherever you go.

Fire up your laptop and connect to the router you just set up. (Careful not to connect to any other wireless hotspots that might be available.)

Finally, start shooting!

Cool, right? Wireless photo capture for $99 instead of the $1,000+ Canon and Nikon will charge you!

Update: Here’s some tips on maximizing your Eye-Fi’s wireless range when shooting at events, including a portable router recommendation.

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