long distant wifi

I am new to this forum but I have a problem I am trying to share my wifi from my router to a computer in my work shop the problem is it is approx 200 yds from my house with buildings between them. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.. the house has aluminum siding and the work shop is a metal building.

 

You can try a Wireless N router, but it's pretty much not going to happen.

 

Not really going to do this with a standard router. I managed to set up a wifi link between two buildings approx 1/2 a mile apart using two wireless access points with very large directional antenna's mounted high up so as to get a good line of sight between them. I set them up to act as a bridge (I used netgear WG602's as they are cheap and have this function. I can't remember what the antenna's were, but you should be able to find some on the net a relatively low cost.

 

I was thinking using directional antenna's and some sort of bridging system would be the answer but I am not sure how to set a system up in this manner I can get line of site from rooftop to rooftop so how would be the best way to set it up. Thank you all for your quick reply s..

 

You need to make sure you get routers that support "wireless point-to-point bridging with client association allowed" That is why I used the Netgear WG602's as they support this and it was easy to set up as the settings are so intuitive.

 

Wireless bridge/repeater and setup one or more as needed. Make sure you use routers/AP's with high gain antennas often times cheap models can be boosted significantly with 3rd party software like my buffalo router has one of those MIMO high gain antennas and it has crazy good reception, I can get a full signal anywhere in my house and probably a really good signal a good distance away from my house.

Also there are other things that I have not tried but people say they work like the one that goes into an electric socket and I guess transmits the signal thru your electric system or something like that its not wi-fi I dont think but rather a direct connection but you can send that direct connection to a Access point or a router.

 

Wouldn't it just be easier to get some ethernet cable that's designed for underground use? Since you're going about 200 yards, or approximately 600 feet, and according to this article ethernet will only function with full reliance over about 100 meters (i.e., about 328 feet) - although the article indicates that some networks can deal with a run of up to 200 meters (i.e., about 656 feet), you might need to put in an extender (although that one's a little pricey at $710).

On the other hand, if you used Thick Ethernet, 10 base 5 cable (RG-58 type coax, 50 ohm impedance), you could get a maximum distance of 500 meters (about 1,640 feet), at least according to this webpage or this webpage. From this webpage it looks like RG-58 coax goes for about $25 for 100 feet, so you'd need about $150 worth. In addition, you'd probably need two of these media converters to switch from the 10 Base 5 to your normal 10 Base 2. They run about $23 a pop, so that's about $46 for a pair. Add another $20 for various bits and pieces, you could probably get a basic underground 10 Base 5 ethernet link running the 200 yards for about $220-$250 (plus a lot of sweating, shoveling, and planning to avoid signal drainage into the ground which is, after all, just a big ... ground ).

 

Super Cantenna! Available from Circuit City.

It might work.

I might be listing one for sale soon in the BST section, so keep an eye out if you discover this might work for you.

 

Here is a link for some outside antennas http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/antennas_2400_out_directional.php

If your routers are supported with the full version of dd-wrt you will have the bridging feature.

The powerline adapters work, but I do not recall the distance. They normally sell of around $80ea. require 2, 1 on each end. But they must come off the same feeder. So if your shop is fed from your house your ok. Otherwise you will/may loose the signal going through the transformers.

 

Best solution would be to run fiber with media converters. Would be a bit costly though.

 

Actually, now that I think about it, what about just calling up your ISP (or whomever owns the cable that brings internet service to your house) and asking them how much they would charge to run an extension line (i.e., not a separate line, just an extension of your existing line) out to the workshop?

 

Try looking into a Ubiquiti Powerstation 2. Those are meant to be mounted outside, and are directional.

 

I would mount a directional antenna to the router at the internets location. Then have another directional antenna attached to a wireless access point on the other end. Connect to that access point. You should easily go miles with a direct line of site.

 

I wonder where such a location exists - where the area is devoid of RF adsorbent/reflective stuff like trees, hills, people, houses, water vapor, or laptops

 

The Nullarbor Plain, WA, AUS
(pronounced sort of like null-á-bor)

 

I have been searching the web for equipment needed this company makes claims of more than a mile with this set up http://www.wirelessnetworkproducts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=534
but they are asking a very high price for the equipment..
I think it can be done alot less expensive.

 

You have a few choices here to get 200 yds, of which some or none might work.

1) Run an ethernet line underground yourself. Use PVC pipe and Cat5e or Cat6 cables. Requires some manual labor though.
2) The Super Cantenna @ Circuit City is a $50 or so directional antenna that might work. One at either end, or one at each end, may boost the signal enough to make it work. It may require you to purchase another router though as it takes up an antenna or two to work.
3) Wireless repeaters. Linksys routers + repeaters tend to work well, and if you can get a repeater in a building that sits in between the house and other building, that might work. However, it will slow down the internet more than the first two options would.

 

I've set up equipment to travel across a city. If you can see it with your eyes (or binoculars) you should be able to reach it...If you cant see it, build up higher on an antenna.

Use this http://www.dragonwaveinc.com/products-horizon.asp and a large directional antenna. I promise you will get signal.

 

You could always get a piece of solar panel, and an outdoor enclosure, and stick a router in there and then nail it up on a tree. If that's too unsightly, you could always disguise it as a bird-feeder.