Outdoor/multi building WiFi

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cjmack

167 posts

Master Geek

#67559 3-Sep-2010 17:16

Hi,
I am moving house soon, and there is an internet connection supplied. However, there is only 1 ethernet port available to me, and as I will be working in the premises next door to the house, I would like to use the internet/network all over the venue.

What I would like to do is setup a WiFi network that can reach the entire complex, a max distance of 200m. The other issue would be receiving the signal on the laptop. Is a laptop capable of operating this far from an AP/bridge? The area I need to cover would most likely suit a directional antenna.

I currently have a Linksys WRT54GL running Gargoyle firmware. A repeater/AP/bridge that plugs into this would be best, otherwise a wireless connection back to it may also work.

I don't have a big budget, so communication directly to the laptop would be best, I don't see myself investing in another bridge/repeater for the other end of the complex.

Any help or suggestions would be great, thanks!

richms

28060 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#376356 3-Sep-2010 18:38

Do they give you more than one IP address to use? If so, disable WAN and DHCP on the linksys and plug the lans together.

Get another broadcom device, put an open distribution on it and put that in the middle of the next door area, configure the 2 as a wds bridge, that way the other one will connect into the lan as well.

Loads of tutorials at the openwrt forums on that config.

Add a directional antenna in the house towards the workspace accesspoint if it doesnt reach.

The asus wl520gc is a dirt cheap device that can take open wrt in the small versions because of its limited flash, but thats all you need for wds and accesspoint.

Richard rich.ms

wade563

1 post

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

#380990 17-Sep-2010 04:42

Here's a good tutorial on repeating your signal over extended distances using DD-WRT:

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Universal_Wireless_Repeater

codyc1515

1598 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#381024 17-Sep-2010 08:14

Have you tried the Robin-Mesh firmware?

It's meshes the network together using two or more routers and the OLSR protocol.
You can get the firmware from SVN at: http://svn6.assembla.com/svn/RobinMesh/downloads/firmware/development/

Alternatively, You could always purchase two of our low cost mesh routers.
They are available pre-flashed with the Robin-Mesh firmware at www.open-mesh.co.nz.

webwat

2036 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#381212 17-Sep-2010 12:44

Directional antennas are great but no guarantee of getting good receoption inside the building, unless you can put another directional antenna in the second building for a wifi repeater or adhoc wireless to an ethernet outlet in that building.

Time to find a new industry!

raytaylor

4008 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#382941 21-Sep-2010 23:21

How far away is the other building?
Outdoors, line of sight, you can usually get wifi from a good laptop to AP about 300m.
Through one wall, about 50m.

Put your access point in a window with an external antenna - see trademe for something like 6dbi or more, or even better is a 10dbi directional one- dont go higher.

Ray Taylor

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ringbearer

112 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#382946 21-Sep-2010 23:35

Have a look at the Ubiquiti NanoStation Loco. I installed them for a few clients, over distances of 10-100m. They are great little units, very easy to configure, and very reliable.
We purchase them from gowifi.co.nz

cjmack

167 posts

Master Geek

#383783 23-Sep-2010 21:15

Thanks for the replies.

I have looked into the exisiting system a bit more, and there are spare data ports in each building. I am looking at patching a spare data port in my house from my router through to the building(s) I'm working in. Not as handy as wireless, but still works.

It would mean the internet would travel like this Office/modem > My house/Router > office > Other building

A bit hairy, but it should work!

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sbiddle

30853 posts

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Retired Mod

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Biddle Corp

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#383786 23-Sep-2010 21:26

If you want any sort of range 5GHz equipment is best as the spectrum is far less congested.

Get some of the UBNT gear - it's fantastic.