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Currently I have no internet connection at home. I can't get cable where I am at, because there is no cable service at my location. Of course, I could go with a phone modem, but they are Soooooooooooo slow! They don't offer higher-speed phone connections either....only 56k standard.
My question: my parents have internet cable, and they live only 350' away...line of sight. Could I set up a Wi-Fi router there, in their house, feeding from their cable modem, and pick up the signal at my house? Is it too far? What router do you think would work? In a web-search, I see so many routers, and types of routers, that it is just totally confusing. There are "g" types, and "n" types. Which is better? What brand and model should I look for? Is there a special antenna I could use? What do I need on my end, at the PC?
Currently I have no internet connection at home. I can't get cable where I am at, because there is no cable service at my location. Of course, I could go with a phone modem, but they are Soooooooooooo slow! They don't offer higher-speed phone connections either....only 56k standard.
My question: my parents have internet cable, and they live only 350' away...line of sight. Could I set up a Wi-Fi router there, in their house, feeding from their cable modem, and pick up the signal at my house? Is it too far? What router do you think would work? In a web-search, I see so many routers, and types of routers, that it is just totally confusing. There are "g" types, and "n" types. Which is better? What brand and model should I look for? Is there a special antenna I could use? What do I need on my end, at the PC?
Thanks!
Bud
Yes you can do that. I have a friend that "logs in" to an unsecure network server from almost a 1/2 mile away !! The trick is to get all the antenna gain and directionality you can manage. A wireless "G" router operates at 2.4 GHz so you'll need a "real" antenna...not just the little stubby rubber thingy that they come with. He, built his own, as would I, but I'm guessing you don't have a lot of RF experience. Thing is they can get to be expensive. ( 50$ to 75$ at each end of the communications link) just for the antennas. If that's not too cost prohibitive for you I'd be happy to help you choose the hardware etc.
Any chance you can run a coax cable from your place to theirs ?? (you could get cable tv as well as internet hint hint
Yes you can do that. I have a friend that "logs in" to an unsecure network server from almost a 1/2 mile away !! The trick is to get all the antenna gain and directionality you can manage. A wireless "G" router operates at 2.4 GHz so you'll need a "real" antenna...not just the little stubby rubber thingy that they come with. He, built his own, as would I, but I'm guessing you don't have a lot of RF experience. Thing is they can get to be expensive. ( 50$ to 75$ at each end of the communications link) just for the antennas. If that's not too cost prohibitive for you I'd be happy to help you choose the hardware etc.
Any chance you can run a coax cable from your place to theirs ?? (you could get cable tv as well as internet hint hint
Actually...I do have some experience with rf. I thought of putting a tin-foil reflector behind the antennas, which would probably add a couple of db, but the router I played around with only has a couple of flimsy dinky-looking "rubber duckies" on it, and I think it is a low-power unit. (like 20-50mw) I don't mind spending the money on good antennas...$75 is not too much. Yes, I could put up coax to their house, but it would probably be around 500', because it can't go exactly line of sight. What kind of coax would you use? I have enough RG-8U to reach, but I think that is the wrong impedance. We don't need the cable TV, because we recieve TV via satellite...internet access is the problem. I really need high-speed access.
(500kbs if possible).
You mentioned building your own antenna: how did you hook it up to your router? If a router has no connector for an external antenna...then what do you do?
I'm not stuck on going wireless...if you think coax or cat-5 would make more sense, then I'm willing to go that route. If I put up 500' of coax, would I need to boost the signal at my house? In that scenario, what kind of amp would I need to look for?
Ok, given what you just mentioned I'd forget the RF link thing. I always go for the most simple robust solution...within reasonable finacial limitations of course. With that in mind, and if you can string cable of some sort ,like you said I'd go that route. 500' is not too far..you'll need a biydirectional line boaster at each end. They are available in configurations that go WAY WAY beyound 500'.....Outdoor grade CAT 5 is much cheaper than a low loss RF cable at 2 1/2 GHz. And RF connectors ( type N etc) aren't cheap either.
RJ45 connectors (Ethernet type stuff) is cheap...do you know anybody with a crimping tool ??
Although the by-directional line drivers aren't a give away item you won't have to worry about weather (2.4 Ghz losses increase with rain), or the hassle of installing all this antenna hardware. with these things you could just string the cable, plug the cables together, and you're up and running. If you consider the coast of antenns and wireless link hardware the cat 5 drivers are actually a less expensive approach.
There are many companies that make these things...Black Box...is a big supplier of this type of stuff.
Ok, given what you just mentioned I'd forget the RF link thing. I always go for the most simple robust solution...within reasonable finacial limitations of course. With that in mind, and if you can string cable of some sort ,like you said I'd go that route. 500' is not too far..you'll need a biydirectional line boaster at each end. They are available in configurations that go WAY WAY beyound 500'.....Outdoor grade CAT 5 is much cheaper than a low loss RF cable at 2 1/2 GHz. And RF connectors ( type N etc) aren't cheap either.
RJ45 connectors (Ethernet type stuff) is cheap...do you know anybody with a crimping tool ??
Although the by-directional line drivers aren't a give away item you won't have to worry about weather (2.4 Ghz losses increase with rain), or the hassle of installing all this antenna hardware. with these things you could just string the cable, plug the cables together, and you're up and running. If you consider the coast of antenns and wireless link hardware the cat 5 drivers are actually a less expensive approach.
There are many companies that make these things...Black Box...is a big supplier of this type of stuff.
Personally, I would avoid going the cabled route in this instance. There are too many potential issues with cable damage, ground loops and induced currents, unlike a system within a single building.
Example. Your computer has a grounding plug on it. It leads to the neutral on your mains box and then to a grounding rod. Your parents have the same setup. A bolt of lightning passes overhead (doesn't strike, just passes overhead). The charge in the ground rapidly changes in response to the massive change of voltage overhead. Your ground rod is at a different potential voltage than that of your parents. Since the connection is through your NICs and the cable, your NICs now turn into toast. If lightning actually strikes nearby, the situation is much worse.
Then there are questions like, do you bury the cable and have it subject to getting chopped while gardening or doing lawn maintenance, or do you run it in the air and expose it to weather, sun and birds and squirrels and passing cable repairmen?
A cable connection can be made, but it isn't as straightforward as one within the same building.
FWIW, there is another issue that wasn't addressed. Cable tv systems are MUCH smarter now than they used to be. If you are piggybacking on someone elses cable tv, using a direct connection, the chances of one of the automatic audits picking up the change are good. That means theft-of service, and fines, fees and/or cutoff of service.
im sorry this is too funny. obviously the OP is trying to pirate internet..im not surprised if your sat TV is also pirated. any logical person who reads this will find it too absurd.. that if you can set up coax cable into your parents cable connection to your house... how in the world that your cable company does not reach your "area"...... if you live THAT close to your parents house.. this is ridiculous... although im a pirate too... when i was renting my apartment.. i was able to pirate an internet connection somewhere around my area..
Moderator cut: illegal
Last edited by Keeper; 06-10-2008 at 07:20 PM..
Reason: do not post illegal actions
Agreed...I followed the link...it's one of about 50 products that are available for extending the reach of an 802.11 WiFi system.. They are perfectly legal products and approved for use by the FCC as long as the transmitted RF power is within the legal limits. There is NO limit on antenna gain however. !!!
,,,
Last edited by ShadowCaver; 01-10-2009 at 10:24 PM..
Reason: off-topic material...
I think I have a feel where Keeper is coming from. There is a slippery slope. Stealing cable programming is illegal, we all know it. Some of us might wonder how some of the programming that has zero value can be considered stolen, but that is beside the point.
Wifi hot spots and free access to the net by using someone else's connection is both legal and illegal, depending on the situation. Walk into any major motel or Starbucks and you'll have legal free access to the net. Wardrive and pick up aunt millies unprotected system, and it is illegal.
If Bud is trying to access his parent's computers and is willing to pay for the access point, lives close, and the parents are willing, there is nothing illegal in setting up a network. If those parents also have an internet connection and are willing to share it with their children while they are on their property, that also is not illegal. If Bud's place is 350' away from his parents, it seems to me that Bud probably is living on their property in a detached dwelling, or has a mortgage to them, or some other familial arrangement. On my own property, I have the potential for a similar setup - a new home on one side of the road, and and old home on the other, about 300 feet away, line of site. If someone said I couldn't connect my computers because of the distance and an intervening easement for a road, I'd happily escort them off my property. However, I do willingly pay for two power drops. I can't safely, legally, or effectively run power from one dwelling to the other. See the similarities?
I have no problem helping Bud with the question asked, but have serious problems with statements like "Any chance you can run a coax cable from your place to theirs ?? (you could get cable tv as well as internet hint hint" Aside from the tech issues, that is an idea that would backfire, even if it were legal.
Providing links that go to standard equipment to do the task of networking would be acceptable, while providing links to sites that promote pirating and hacking into systems wouldn't. Pretty standard TOS for any website that wants to keep a clean nose.
There are tons of above board sites that provide information on building directional antennas, I think the old tech-tv even had stories on cantennas and their offspring.
Linksys makes a WRT300N that is supposed to be outstanding.
Any idea on the accuracy of that info?
I'm not an expert, but I did just get my network setup here at home.
I'm using the WRT150N and am a little disappointed at my range, but I think I need to tweak it. It just went up day before yesterday.
I have the 300N downstairs and I use the USB node up here....the WUSB300N....I had a problem with the WMP300N....the PCI card was conflicting with something else causing the PC to crash....so I figured id use the USB adapter.
Ive never had any issues with the 300N router....I use it with my HD Tivo, My Xbox 360 and my PC's.....it handles all of it very well and the wireless seems to be flawless. I installed the same setup at my parent house and they love it....no more wires.
Oh and I use my iPod Touch with it also....
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hint hint
