Long-Range Wifi

Ok, so I recently bought a 21dBi ~2.4Ghz Parabolic antenna and a RP-SMA Male to N-Type Female Cable to go with it. So my antenna is now able to be connected to a WLAN card with an SMA connector. I have an old Asus WL138 V2. It only outputs about 25mw or so, I can't remember exactly, but it's very underpowered. I'm trying to reach a town that is about ten miles away and with my Asus card, I'm not picking anything up, other than an ad hoc connection I set up with my laptop to make sure it was working at all. So basically what I'm getting to is, what is the best USB or PCI WLAN card with an antenna adapter? I've read that the 500mw and 1000mw Alfa usb adapters work well. Will my perfomance suffer dramatically if I buy a generic adapter with the same chipset and power output?
I know that's alot, but I would appreciate any help very much.

(P.S.- My laptop with a dell 1390 picks up a wireless network with no signal but tells me it's an open B network, I've walked around outside trying to identify the source, but it's somewhat inconsistent. :\ I know it's possible.. )

 

The problem is that you have to have a parabolic antenna on both ends of the connection. The signal being sent from the town just isn't very strong, given FCC limitations, so no matter how good your antenna is on your end, it will not read anything from a non-directional, low-power source 10 miles away.

Look into the inverse square law.

 

You know I've heard of people being able to transmit a wifi signal as much as half a mile away (that's with an unobstructed view), but 10 miles??? The problem is, your laptop couldn't even send a signal back so it would be rather useless. Why not just get mobile broadband?
Either way I wish you the best of luck...

 

Long Range WiFi Antenna Test From Mountantop is where I got my logic. I'm not on a mountain top and my antenna is slightly less powerful, but I was hoping for at least 1/5 the distance? D: If I were to attach a WRT54g router with dd-wrt firmware and the antenna (buying a new one) and attach it to an ethernet port at my dad's restaurant in town... Would I be in trouble with the FCC? I would not broadcast the SSID. I just moved in with my dad and he lives in a bad location.. and he won't pay for satellite.. lol. Wishful dreaming?

 

Do you have line-of-sight to the restaurant? That's the only network that it would be legal for you to connect to. We don't condone hopping open wifi access points unless it's public or specifically open to you.

 

No, I don't have line-of-sight with it. I'm also at the bottom of a hill. Lots of grain bins and stuff reflecting the waves as well. It's not a very ideal situation. :\

 

If you don't have line-of-sight you won't get connected. 2.4GHz doesn't bounce like the lower frequency FM and AM transmissions, it gets absorbed by lots of materials. The mountaintop part of the article you were following was the critical piece.

 

Yes, you can get in trouble with the FCC, IF someone complains.
You are only allowed to attach an approved antenna for that frequency. In other words, no hacks, no homemade. Keep in mind you are possibly within range to cause yourself and others harm with that much power.


Find another house or something in the middle that can give you a line of sight to each end point.

 

Do not forget .. different countries different laws not everyone is in usa.

And yes on that distance you need line of sight and focused directional antennas. So won't work for you.

 

Call me dumb, but what could it do? Cause cancer?

So, it comes down to placing a WAP somewhere between, maybe two or so , between; possibly attaching my antenna to one of them; Then I have blazing fast 54 mbps wireless G internet! Woohoo. The world would be a much better place without the inverse square law.

 

plus the restaurant needs to have the same thing as you. I am sure your sending your signal to it but its definitely not reaching you. I have heard g easily going 1-2 miles but 10 damn man. It's possible but you definitely need direction and both sides need exactly the same stuff.

 

Best and cheapest option is a cellular data plan
Or satellite internet - not so cheap

 

I agree with that

 

The o.p. mentioned the FCC in a later post.

Cancer (what doesn't cause cancer these days?) or cook you from the inside out.

 

Make you sterile

FCC limits the radio power to 1W (1000mw)

FCC Regulations on WiFi

 

thats true too. there was a MOS in the marine corps where guys in the mos only could have a boy or girl...forget which one it was but the radio stuff they worked with made it where all of them only could have one kind of gender child lol