Long Range Wifi Network

Shabow · April 14th, 2003, 09:02 PM

I have a 2.4GHz D-Link DI-614+ wireless router and a matching PCI desktop card. I have two houses that i want to link up to one is my dads office and he gets Road Runner cable internet services. The other is my house. Right now I have the back of my computer facing a window that directly faces the window over at my dads office which has a wireless router hooked up next to it. (ie this is about a 100 yard distance) My signal strength right now is about 30%. Orignally the computer was in a fancy computer cabinet down stairs now it is on a card table in a sun room lol. I want the computer back downstairs but i dont feel like stringing 300' of cat5 cable across the yard and dont want to split the cable line. There are almost no obsticles facing the direct connectionand money is not an issue.

So help! please! Thanks

davidamarkley · April 14th, 2003, 09:14 PM

Well, if you're keen with making things out of Pringles cans, you can go HERE Also, you can search for "wi-fi pringles antenna" and you'll get alot of good plans. Also, search for "wi-fi coffee can antenna" <-- It's easier to build and should be fine for the distance you're going for.

David

DVNT1 · April 14th, 2003, 09:14 PM

I don't know if those two wireless devices support external antennas but there are directional antennas just for this purpose.

To do it cheap: http://www.oreillynet.com/%7Erob/pringles/

Off the shelf parts: http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20010628.html
http://www.d128.com/wireless/

misc on antennas: http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...cles_range.htm

Shabow · April 14th, 2003, 09:19 PM

i checked and my router supports a Female N Connector. I have checked out these before but they look a little hard to build but ill try them. If anything i might hafta string some cat5 cable

THANKS!!

Kc2iLq · April 14th, 2003, 09:24 PM

If you do decide to go with an external antenna solution, be careful wiring it up. You can get a 2.4 gig yagi or cubical quad to work without a problem, but you just need to wire it right. Many routers, nics, etc. use inverted N (shielded sma) connectors. You would have to switch cable's shielding to the center conductor and vice versa if this is the case with your router.
Just a word to the wise.

Good luck!

-Kc2iLq

davidamarkley · April 14th, 2003, 09:24 PM

HERE is a pretty good antenna if you don't want to build one yourself. And it hooks up to the female "N" type connector. "N" connectors are the most common ones found on wi-fi equipment so finding pigtails and connectors shouldn't be that hard.

David

Kc2iLq · April 14th, 2003, 09:26 PM

If you go with a pringles can, be extra careful. I once set one on fire by putting a mere ten watts into it. They also tend to get quite soffy in inclemment weather.

-Kc2iLq

kwebb · April 16th, 2003, 09:42 AM

Quote:

"N" connectors are the most common ones found on wi-fi equipment

I have never seen an N connector on an AP or PCI card Post. Too big. 802.11 equipment, if antennas are detachable, usually have Reverse SMA or Reverse TNC connectors. You can always use a pigtail if you have mis-matching connectors with the AP posts and Antennas. Lot of Type N connectors on Antennas. I would think zero on any AP units themselves. Could be wrong. Might be one out there, but I'd be really suprised. The footprint of the AP would have to be pretty big or the connectors would be really tacky.

Quote:

my router supports a Female N Connector.