Long range Wifi net ideas??

[Falstaff]

I set up a long range link for my FIL who can't get internet at his home (unless he wants to pay Comcast to 50K to bring a line into his property). However, his neighbor about 1/4 mile away has Comcast and for the last couple years we've been able to hit his wireless router with a high gain Yagi directional antenna with decent performance. The problem that came up is that the low loss coax from the PC to the roof is very stiff and after repeated moves of the PC itself, it broke the connector on his wireless adaptor PCI card.

So I can just get him a new card but I think it'll break again, so I was wondering if I'd introduce too much loss by fashioning a more flexible pigtail on the antenna coax (so he doesnt break it again)?

Also was thinking if a linksys router could be used to allow him to have more than 1 wireless device use the high gain antenna to bridge over to the neighbor's router? Or would a wireless bridge product work for this application?

[choprzrul]

http://www.countrymilewifi.com/how_to_setup_a_long_distance_wifi_bridge.html

http://www.radiolabs.com/products/antennas/2.4gig/2.4grid.php

[weinerd]

It it a BNC on the card? just don't be lazy and actually undo the BNC, move the computer, redo the BNC.

Why isn't the cable modem hooked up to a router, then from the router to a wireless bridge that remains stationary? Run the coax off the stationary bridge. Try to set up the bridge a close as possible to the antenna so the wire run is short. Is there a specific reason the PC is the access point?

[I_Love_My_.38]

I think it was lifehacker where I read that you can make a wifi signal extender out of an old router...

[chaoticmind]

You can affix a pigtail as long as it is the same impedance as the cable run.

If you want to connect multiple computers, you can indeed use one of the older model linksys routers as a wifi bridge. Reprogram it with DD-WRT and it can be configured as a wireless bridge with a built-in switch. You could then connect up to four computers to it.

[chaunbot]

get a wireless PTP antenna. like 75 bucks :d


have a look here, http://www.ubnt.com/nanostationm one of those models will suite your needs. they are POE so you can run it outside with CAT 5 cable and be done with it.

good luck

[TWoods450]

old router + ddwrt = wireless bridge

[Jeepers]

old router + ddwrt = wireless bridge

+1 just pick up a old wrt54g 20-30 bucks flash it with DD-WRT and set it up as a bridge/or repeater, you would also have 2 inputs so you could also run a second Yagi or cantenna ...

[sharxbyte]

honestly for a good connection, you would either need signal boosters in sequence (and the signal deteriorates slightly even then) or run a fiber optic cable underground the entire way... Cat5/6 (Ethernet cable) can only go bout 700 feet... The longer it is, the more likelihood of lost packets or collisions... basically errors.

[nipsip]

http://www.usbwifi.orconhosting.net.nz/

[NiMiK]

get a wireless PTP antenna. like 75 bucks :d


have a look here, http://www.ubnt.com/nanostationm one of those models will suite your needs. they are POE so you can run it outside with CAT 5 cable and be done with it.

good luck

+1 on that. I have 2 of the RocketM Ubiquiti's sitting right here collecting dust that I've used for testing. I have other gear that can go pretty far that's rated at over 4 watts with lol. I have some licensed 1 watt access points i need to get rid of too. Indoor units but you can mount them in a weather proof enclosure and be done with it.

[ExtremeX]

+1 on ALL ubnt products.

I got a bunch of various items from them including their new security cameras.

I use them for everything wireless.

[automatikdonn]

get a 10baset to Ethernet converter, and a spool of coax and run a hard line yourself. cheapest, and most reliable connection.

[automatikdonn]

1/4 mile = 1321 ft of cable http://www.showmecables.com/product/...1000-Feet.aspx x2

http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CH4Q8wIwAg x2

I know this is not the cheapest solution, but most defiantly the fastest and most reliable.

[ExtremeX]

That sounds like a lot of work... a couple 2.4 or 5ghz Nanostations from Ubiquity for $79 each and ur up and running....

I have a 6 mile long point to point connection using them and its as stable as you are going to get. Ive pulled overnight file copies without any issues, rain, rog, sun, never an issue.