how to get wireless signal to go 300'

[david fraleigh]

I have a workshop that is 300 feet from my house.. I want to set up a
computer in it and access the same wireless signal that is currently
in my house.. Currently I have a wireless G router and I am wondering
whether I should switch to the newer wireless N system or whether I
should stick with wireless G and try to make directional antennas out
of cans (as described on the internet).. (I haven't read about
anybody making "homemade" directional antennas that work with the
Wireless N system so I assume that the complexity (of 3 antennas)
involved is too great).. My question is whether the wireless N signal
can extend to 300 feet.. there is a clear "line of sight" between the
two buildings ... My other question is whether I might be better off
trying to run a cable between the two buildings.. I have plenty of
two wire electrical cable (which I presume is not the right stuff) and
also have 6 wire telephone cable. (I don't like the thought of
leaving it lying on the ground so might want to bury it 6" or so)..
Does anyone have any thoughts as to how I can best approach this
situation..

[Lloyd E. Sponenburgh]

david fraleigh <david_fraleigh@hotmail.com> fired this volley in
news:1337cb7e-ed48-46e9-bfe2-5d745a528bd6@f63g2000hsf.googlegroups.com:

> I have a workshop that is 300 feet from my house.. I want to set up a
> computer in it and access the same wireless signal that is currently
> in my house.. Currently I have a wireless G router and I am wondering
> whether I should switch to the newer wireless N system or whether I
> should stick with wireless G and try to make directional antennas out
> of cans (as described on the internet)..

As an aside to this -- I must live in an extremely RF-quiet area, even
considering the cell tower a mile from my house.

I live on 20 acres, with my shop a minimum of 500' from the nearest
neighbor's home. Yet, I routinely receive a wireless-G signal from one
of them at sufficient signal strength to sustain 10mb/s. I am _certain_
neither one of them has any technical expertice at all (neither could
drive a wheelbarrow without a co-pilot), and there are no directional
antennae aimed at my barn.

Hmmmm....

LLoyd

[Bill Kearney]

"david fraleigh" <david_fraleigh@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1337cb7e-ed48-46e9-bfe2-5d745a528bd6@f63g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>I have a workshop that is 300 feet from my house.. I want to set up a
> computer in it and access the same wireless signal that is currently
> in my house.. Currently I have a wireless G router and I am wondering
> whether I should switch to the newer wireless N system or whether I
> should stick with wireless G and try to make directional antennas out
> of cans (as described on the internet).. (I haven't read about
> anybody making "homemade" directional antennas that work with the
> Wireless N system so I assume that the complexity (of 3 antennas)
> involved is too great).. My question is whether the wireless N signal
> can extend to 300 feet.. there is a clear "line of sight" between the
> two buildings ... My other question is whether I might be better off
> trying to run a cable between the two buildings.. I have plenty of
> two wire electrical cable (which I presume is not the right stuff) and
> also have 6 wire telephone cable. (I don't like the thought of
> leaving it lying on the ground so might want to bury it 6" or so)..
> Does anyone have any thoughts as to how I can best approach this
> situation..

You'd likely have to bury it more than 6" deep, check with local building
codes.

Do you have clear line-of-sight between the buildings? As in, no trees or
other vegetation that will leaf out later in the season? If so then you're
a good candidate for using a pair of routers with directional antennae.
It's better to use two routers separate from anything else you have
providing wireless in the current structure. The directional antenna to go
point-to-point isn't going to offer decent coverage in the existing
structure. The link can be 802.11g (or even B) instead of 802.11(draft)n.
A pair of 802.11g routers can be had for the price of one draft N unit.
Then it's just a matter of setting up the gear. Your most important point
to consider is keeping the RF cabling VERY, VERY short, using good quality
cabling. The longer the cable, the less signal strength (in layman's terms)
you're going to get between the devices. So plan on putting the router very
close to the antenna.

Then once you've got the point-to-point set up you can use the wired jacks
on the distant end to connect computers. If you want more wireless out in
that building too then you'd hang an access point off the wired ports.

-Bill Kearney

[seaweedsl]

On May 6, 6:48 am, david fraleigh <david_frale...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> I have a workshop that is 300 feet from my house.. I want to set up a
> computer in it and access the same wireless signal that is currently
> in my house..

Should be easy if you have line of sight.


>Currently I have a wireless G router and I am wondering
> whether I should switch to the newer wireless N system or whether I
> should stick with wireless G


Stick with G.

> and try to make directional antennas out
> of cans (as described on the internet)..

Instead, first try putting a homemade reflector on the stock omni
antenna to make it directional and locate the router itself where you
want the antenna. This is cheaper, easier and avoids the antenna
cable (what Bill is warning about) that a cantenna requires.

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/index.html
http://users.picknowl.com.au/~gloaming_agnet/ant2.html

Steve

[seaweedsl]

For some reason, this would not post as one, so here' part 2:


>My other question is whether I might be better off
> trying to run a cable between the two buildings..

Cable is always the most certain connection if you are willing to do
the work. You can still hang an Access Point off of it at the shop if
you want.

Powerline networking is 3rd option to consider, more reliable than
wireless if your wiring supports it.

>I have plenty of
> two wire electrical cable (which I presume is not the right stuff) and
> also have 6 wire telephone cable.

There are others (Jeff ) on this forum that can tell you how to do
this with above cables. I doubt it's worth it unless the other cables
are already installed to the garage.


> Does anyone have any thoughts as to how I can best approach this
> situation..

Assuming line of sight, do a test -
1) Put a reflector on your existing router and put it in line of sight
to shop- a window facing it, for example.
2) Take a laptop, connect it wireless to same router and walk over to
the shop. Watch the signal and note when the connection drops.

If it makes it all the way to the shop where you can use the
connection, then the solution is simply a router/reflector in your
home's window. If it does not make it, then I'd go with cable or
consider powerline networking.

[seaweedsl]

>My other question is whether I might be better off
> trying to run a cable between the two buildings..

Cable is always the most certain connection if you are willing to do
the work. You can still hang an Access Point off of it at the shop if
you want. wireless there.

Powerline networking is 3rd option to consider, more reliable than
wireless if your wiring supports it.

>I have plenty of
> two wire electrical cable (which I presume is not the right stuff) and
> also have 6 wire telephone cable.

There are others (Jeff ) on this forum that can tell you how to do
this with above cables. I doubt it's worth it unless the other cables
are already installed to the garage.


> Does anyone have any thoughts as to how I can best approach this
> situation..

Assuming line of sight, do a test -
1) Put a reflector on your existing router and put it in line of sight
to shop- a window facing it, for example.
2) Take a laptop, connect it wireless to same router and walk over to
the shop. Watch the signal and note when the connection drops.

If it makes it all the way to the shop where you can use the
connection, then the solution is simply a router/reflector in your
home's window. If it does not make it, then I'd go with cable or
consider powerline networking.

[William Andersen]

Try the G first, you might be surprised at the performance.
I recently got a freebie Linksys BEFW11S4 which is only 802.11b to use in my
shop, 100' from the house. I put it on the overhead shelf of my PC desk, so
it's about 15' from there to a window facing the shop; I use my wireless
laptop anywhere in the shop with no problem.

>I have a workshop that is 300 feet from my house.. I want to set up a
> computer in it and access the same wireless signal that is currently
> in my house.. Currently I have a wireless G router and I am wondering
> whether I should switch to the newer wireless N system or whether I
> should stick with wireless G and try to make directional antennas out
> of cans (as described on the internet).. (I haven't read about
> anybody making "homemade" directional antennas that work with the
> Wireless N system so I assume that the complexity (of 3 antennas)
> involved is too great).. My question is whether the wireless N signal
> can extend to 300 feet.. there is a clear "line of sight" between the
> two buildings ... My other question is whether I might be better off
> trying to run a cable between the two buildings.. I have plenty of
> two wire electrical cable (which I presume is not the right stuff) and
> also have 6 wire telephone cable. (I don't like the thought of
> leaving it lying on the ground so might want to bury it 6" or so)..
> Does anyone have any thoughts as to how I can best approach this
> situation..

[Peter Pan]

david fraleigh wrote:
> I have a workshop that is 300 feet from my house.. I want to set up a
> computer in it and access the same wireless signal that is currently
> in my house.. Currently I have a wireless G router and I am wondering
> whether I should switch to the newer wireless N system or whether I
> should stick with wireless G and try to make directional antennas out
> of cans (as described on the internet).. (I haven't read about
> anybody making "homemade" directional antennas that work with the
> Wireless N system so I assume that the complexity (of 3 antennas)
> involved is too great).. My question is whether the wireless N signal
> can extend to 300 feet.. there is a clear "line of sight" between the
> two buildings ... My other question is whether I might be better off
> trying to run a cable between the two buildings.. I have plenty of
> two wire electrical cable (which I presume is not the right stuff) and
> also have 6 wire telephone cable. (I don't like the thought of
> leaving it lying on the ground so might want to bury it 6" or so)..
> Does anyone have any thoughts as to how I can best approach this
> situation..

forget N, stick with G, and maybe not even a wireless link... what is your
garage/workshop walls made from? How does it get it's power? Mine is about
300 ft from the house, (was 30x30 made into a 16x30 garage and 14x30
workshop) but the anodized side panels (on a metal frame) blocked any
wireless signals, when I ran power to the outbuilding (direct burial power
cable from the house, needed lots of amps for the welder/compressor/etc) i
got a few wap/routers and used powerline networking stuff (netgear, about
$130 at staples
http://www.netgear.com/Products/PowerlineNetworking/PowerlineEthernetAdapters.aspx)
to tie the wap/router in the house to the wap/router in the outbuilding
(gave me both wired AND wireless in the outbuilding)... Plus was (you didn't
say where you are, but in northern idaho it snowed a LOT during the winter,
and a lot of green stuff grew in the summer, water as in snow or green leafy
stuff absorbs/blocks signals, and you need a certain amount of clearnce aka
fresnel zone), so the thing worked year round, instead of only at certain
times....

[bi241@scn.org]

On May 6, 7:48 am, david fraleigh <david_frale...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I have a workshop that is 300 feet from my house.. I want to set up a
> computer in it and access the same wireless signal that is currently
> in my house.. Currently I have a wireless G router and I am wondering
> whether I should switch to the newer wireless N system or whether I
> should stick with wireless G and try to make directional antennas out
> of cans (as described on the internet).. (I haven't read about
> anybody making "homemade" directional antennas that work with the
> Wireless N system so I assume that the complexity (of 3 antennas)
> involved is too great).. My question is whether the wireless N signal
> can extend to 300 feet.. there is a clear "line of sight" between the
> two buildings ... My other question is whether I might be better off
> trying to run a cable between the two buildings.. I have plenty of
> two wire electrical cable (which I presume is not the right stuff) and
> also have 6 wire telephone cable. (I don't like the thought of
> leaving it lying on the ground so might want to bury it 6" or so)..
> Does anyone have any thoughts as to how I can best approach this
> situation..

wired option: a bulk pack of 500' CAT5 Ethernet cable costs less than
a hundred bucks, but consider the cost of installation,

wireless option: 802.11G/B single input/single output is best for long
range wireless and antennas set up. 802.11N or MIMO are not suitable
for this purpose

with two Linksys WRT54G v3.0 routers running on DD-WRT, 250mW of TX
power with 9dBi omni antennas (one router as AP, another as client) i
can do a 300' link with no clear line-of-sight. it's a complete indoor
set up, behind walls, trees and all..

cheers!!