Cant get highspeed...but neighbours can!

I happen to live in one off those dumb areas that has no cable wires ran
to it and the phone line is on a bridge tap so I have no options for
broadband either than to work a deal with a neighbour up the road who
has wireless. They dont want to modify or add any external antennas to
their router, and their house is ~ 500 feet away. I do have line of
site, but earlier I had no luck with an old satellite dish and a wifi
dongle. I was looking at a Belkin 11dbi directional antenna. Problem is,
it only has 5 feet of cord, and wifi cable seems to be made out of gold
because it is very expensive if I can even find it at all. I have a
pretty standard realtek 54mbps wirelss card in my computer. What do you
think my chances are with this antenna and maybe some modification
(satellite reflector?) Ive had experience with a can-tenna and I thaught
it sucked compared to other home made antennas.

Any input is appreciated...


------------------------------------------------------------------------
View this thread: http://www.wirelessforums.org/showthread.php?t=36908
http://www.wirelessforums.org

On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 01:02:59 -0500, harmankardon35
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed)>:

>I happen to live in one off those dumb areas that has no cable wires ran
>to it and the phone line is on a bridge tap so I have no options for
>broadband either than to work a deal with a neighbour up the road who
>has wireless. They dont want to modify or add any external antennas to
>their router, and their house is ~ 500 feet away. I do have line of
>site, but earlier I had no luck with an old satellite dish and a wifi
>dongle. I was looking at a Belkin 11dbi directional antenna. Problem is,
>it only has 5 feet of cord, and wifi cable seems to be made out of gold
>because it is very expensive if I can even find it at all. I have a
>pretty standard realtek 54mbps wirelss card in my computer. What do you
>think my chances are with this antenna and maybe some modification
>(satellite reflector?) Ive had experience with a can-tenna and I thaught
>it sucked compared to other home made antennas.

Long antenna cables are a bad idea because of signal loss.

You might want to first try picking up the signal with a laptop,
starting at the neighbor's house, and see how far toward your house that
works in order to get some idea of what kind of gain (range improvement)
you'll need at your house.

Best cheap high-gain setup I know of:
Hawking HWU8DD Hi-Gain USB Wireless-G Dish Adapter
http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/...=60&ProdID=280
Cable can be extended with active USB extender cable(s).

Featured in my "Wi-Fi on a Boat"
http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_on_a_Boat

If that doesn't work, try a good high-gain outside antenna and outdoor
wireless Ethernet client bridge powered over Ethernet.

But if your neighbor's Wi-Fi is behind much of a wall, you may simply be
out of luck.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

Then buy a second router and put it at the neighbor's house. Set it up as
an access point and use a directional antenna on it. You may need a similar
setup back at your house in order to complete the bridge. It's you that
needs the connectivity. It's your wallet that's going to take the hit.

As for homemade gear, bear in mind your neighbor may not share your
fascination with it.


> I happen to live in one off those dumb areas that has no cable wires ran
> to it and the phone line is on a bridge tap so I have no options for
> broadband either than to work a deal with a neighbour up the road who
> has wireless. They dont want to modify or add any external antennas to
> their router, and their house is ~ 500 feet away. I do have line of
> site, but earlier I had no luck with an old satellite dish and a wifi
> dongle. I was looking at a Belkin 11dbi directional antenna. Problem is,
> it only has 5 feet of cord, and wifi cable seems to be made out of gold
> because it is very expensive if I can even find it at all. I have a
> pretty standard realtek 54mbps wirelss card in my computer. What do you
> think my chances are with this antenna and maybe some modification
> (satellite reflector?) Ive had experience with a can-tenna and I thaught
> it sucked compared to other home made antennas.