Long Distance Wifi Network

I found this forum through a Google search for setting up a long-range
wifi network. I would appreciate any help that could be provided.

I am looking to set up a wireless network between two houses in the
mountains. One house has Verizon DSL through a Westel VersaLink 327W
DSL modem/router/WAP. The house where I would like to access the wifi
network is a guest house that is approximately 500 ft straight line and
about 30 feet down the mountain from the main house. There is a line of
trees between the houses, but I can see one house from the other. I
would like to connect several computers by wifi in the guest house. I
have a Linksys WRT54G router that could be used at the receiving end if
this would help.

I have been searching the web for examples similar to what I am trying.
Would two of these antennas ('JEFA Tech 12dBi 2.4GHz Mini Directional
Antenna' (http://jefatech.com/product/MD24-12)) work for what I am
trying to do? Would I need adapters for the routers on each end? If so,
what kind of adapter? Any help would be greatly appreciated.


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jsquared71 wrote:
> I found this forum through a Google search for setting up a long-range
> wifi network. I would appreciate any help that could be provided.
>
> I have a Linksys WRT54G router that could be used at the receiving end if
> this would help.

Since you already have a Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router, use it as your
access point and use a Linksys WAP54G Access Point in bridge mode for the
receiving end. I've used that set up for way over 1,000 feet before.

There are various ways to do this.

What version of the linksys do you have? You might be able to install
replacement firmware on it and use it as a wireless ethernet bridge in
the distant house.

Or maybe better this way:

Put your chosen antenna on the Westel AP (if it takes external
antenna) and then buy a wireless ethernet bridge for the other end and
put an antenna on it.

Recommended bridge: Buffalo WLITX4G54HP

These antennas will need to be mounted to get line of sight between
them. The ones you mentioned seem about right for the distance, (I
have the same antenna) but to be more certain and understand the
setup, you go do some link calculations: http://www.zytrax.com/tech/wireless/calc.htm#system

Be sure to use low loss cable (LMR400 is best for over 10') or else
put the bridge in a weatherproof box with the antenna. At your chosen
site: http://jefatech.com/product/ll400

Finally, if you don't need wireless at the remote cabin, fine, connect
directly to the bridge. If you do, then run an ethernet cable from
the bridge to your linksys and place it inside for good coverage of
the cabin.

Assuming that your existing router/modem takes external antennas, then
you need one new device (bridge), two antennas, two cables. Lightning
protectors and grounding too. Possible weatherproof box instead of
one antenna cable.

Most longer cables will be N female to N- male to fit your antenna.
At the router end, it's best to use a short pigtail to adapt it to
your router which will be either RP-TNC or RP-SMA. You can buy the
long cable with the correct connector, but LMR400 is thick cable and
can break off your connector on the router. Thus the thinner pigtail
as an adapter.

Steve

Steve

jsquared71 wrote:
> I found this forum through a Google search for setting up a long-range
> wifi network. I would appreciate any help that could be provided.
>
> I am looking to set up a wireless network between two houses in the
> mountains. One house has Verizon DSL through a Westel VersaLink 327W
> DSL modem/router/WAP. The house where I would like to access the wifi
> network is a guest house that is approximately 500 ft straight line
> and about 30 feet down the mountain from the main house. There is a
> line of trees between the houses, but I can see one house from the
> other. I would like to connect several computers by wifi in the guest
> house. I have a Linksys WRT54G router that could be used at the
> receiving end if this would help.
>
> I have been searching the web for examples similar to what I am
> trying. Would two of these antennas ('JEFA Tech 12dBi 2.4GHz Mini
> Directional Antenna' (http://jefatech.com/product/MD24-12)) work for
> what I am trying to do? Would I need adapters for the routers on each
> end? If so, what kind of adapter? Any help would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am assuming that there is already power from the main house to the guest
house (can be a sepate circuit, but hopefully only one electric meter for
both locations).... If not, then forget it, this won't work for you... I had
a wap/router in the house (hooked to a cable modem instead of dsl), and when
I wanted both wired and wireless in the guest house (800 ft away, but
already had electric cable underground from the house for power, but thru
trees that had a lot of foliage in the spring/summer- not good for
wireless), i got a pair (two in a box) of the netgear ethernet powerline
bridges (ethernet powerline bridge $99 at best buy
http://www.netgear.com/Products/Powe...tAdapters.aspx)
and put a second wap/router in the guest area (linksys wrt54g $48 at
walmart, plugged into the router part, dhcp server turned off, etc)... That
way had both wired and wireless in both the main house and the guest house.

Notice you left off where you were at... remember when you configure
wireless you have to account for what the foliage will be like year round,
rather than just what it is today