Need EASY network - 210' clear line of site

I am setting up a new (first) wireless network.

I have Direcway satellite broadband with their DWS6000 modem using an
Ethernet connection to a desktop using XP Home. This is my office. My
computer is by a window on an outside wall. The distance to the highest
point is 10' from my computer.

I have a clear line of sight to my house where I have a desktop also by
a window on an outside wall. The distance to the highest point is 12'
from that computer.

I plan to purchase a Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with
SpeedBooster for the office desktop and a Linksys WMP54GS Wireless-G
PCI Adapter with SpeedBooster for my home desktop. My desktops are
relatively new with 2.5+ Gig processors, 512 Kb memory, and 60+ Mb hard
drives. No multitasking, no intensive graphics, etc. I am in a very
rural setting with no interference from other networks.

I want to use the network to share the satellite internet service so I
can cancel the dial-up at home, and to share files like Money
occasionally.

I plan to use high-gain directional antennae on both ends.

Please comment on:

1. Specific antennae suggestions and vendors.

2. Connections from the router and adapter to the external antennae
a. Removal of included antennae, connectors needed , coax suggested.
b. Since the router has two antennae, what to do with the second
output.

3. Any problems with the setup and hardware that I may not know. I have
replaced drives, added memory and PCI cards, but haven't "hacked."

4. Any Linksys downloads or third party software I should get.

Many thanks.

"Lee Hickok" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
>
> 1. Specific antennae suggestions and vendors.

Skip antennas, they don't work that well. Use a MIMO router such as the
Belkin Pre-N or the D-Link 624M.

JB wrote:
> "Lee Hickok" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
>
>>1. Specific antennae suggestions and vendors.
>
>
> Skip antennas, they don't work that well. Use a MIMO router such as the
> Belkin Pre-N or the D-Link 624M.
>
>
I've not tried a MIMO device yet, but antennas don't work well? You
weren't serious, were you?

"Rôgêr" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:d9mdnYv1z9GGKazfRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...

>>
> I've not tried a MIMO device yet, but antennas don't work well? You
> weren't serious, were you?

Very serious. Whether an antenna will work for you depends on your
environment. In mine, I get maybe 50 more feet of coverage with a variety of
high-gain antennas. With MIMO, I suddenly bumped up from 300 to 1500.

I tried Belkin Pre-N. The router was fine; however, I could not get the
desktop Pre-N adapter/card to work. I tried installing it in both
desktops. Several times. The computer would recognize the PCI adapter,
but the installation wizard on the Belkin CD would not recognize the
PCMCIA card that slipped into it. The LEDs on the PCMCIA card would not
light. I downloaded the latest installation software from their site.
Got a second desktop Pre-N adapter/card. Same results. I am very good
at following directions. The Belkin support people always assumed that
I was screwing up some step. I really wished it had worked.

Okay - but MIMO is still the answer for you, I bet. D-Link, Linksys, and a
few others make them, too.

"Lee Hickok" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
>I tried Belkin Pre-N. The router was fine; however, I could not get the
> desktop Pre-N adapter/card to work. I tried installing it in both
> desktops. Several times. The computer would recognize the PCI adapter,
> but the installation wizard on the Belkin CD would not recognize the
> PCMCIA card that slipped into it. The LEDs on the PCMCIA card would not
> light. I downloaded the latest installation software from their site.
> Got a second desktop Pre-N adapter/card. Same results. I am very good
> at following directions. The Belkin support people always assumed that
> I was screwing up some step. I really wished it had worked.
>

JB wrote:
> Okay - but MIMO is still the answer for you, I bet. D-Link, Linksys, and a
> few others make them, too.

Yeah, my crappy old antennas only let me get a few miles range with low
power devices. Guess I'd better switch to MIMO.

"JB" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:OdlYd.474$(E-Mail Removed)...
| Okay - but MIMO is still the answer for you, I bet. D-Link, Linksys, and a
| few others make them, too.
|
Ok what MIMO ?

Roger, while you and JB duke it out, mind dropping some pearls of
wisdom my way? I see yagis and parabolics, 16 dBi or so, for around
$40. Is that the way to go? Which end? Or both? I understand I need a
RP TNC Male (Reverse Polarity) into the WRT54G and a RP SMA Male
(Reverse Polarity) into the WMP 54G. What coax do I need for 10' and
15' to the antennae? Is there stuff off the shelf? Many thanks.

Lee Hickok wrote:
> Roger, while you and JB duke it out, mind dropping some pearls of
> wisdom my way? I see yagis and parabolics, 16 dBi or so, for around
> $40. Is that the way to go? Which end? Or both? I understand I need a
> RP TNC Male (Reverse Polarity) into the WRT54G and a RP SMA Male
> (Reverse Polarity) into the WMP 54G. What coax do I need for 10' and
> 15' to the antennae? Is there stuff off the shelf? Many thanks.

Parabolic antennas are usually very high gain (there are exceptions of
course) and yagis work just fine. But for ease of handling, mounting and
appearance, I'd go with panel antennas. If you're not used to them,
think of them as little gray plastic pizza boxes. Look at
www.fab-corp.com for some ideas.

The connection between the radio and the antenna should be kept as short
as possible because signal loss gets worse with the length of the coax
cable. As much as possible, make the connection between the computer and
the radio reach as close to the antenna as you can. That won't hurt the
signal. It's the length of cable between the radio and the antenna that
can cause problems. I'd use nothing less than LMR240 coax but I'd prefer
LMR400 cable for this type of connection.

I'd prefer to use a panel antenna at each end of the connection. This
narrows the signal down instead of spreading it out 360*. For a distance
of 210' I wouldn't think you'd need a really stong antenna, but I'm not
familiar with your particular radios. At the present I'm using a 9dbi
antenna to connect to my access point that's at about two miles away.
I've used 19dbi and 13dbi antennas here and can't really tell any
performance difference, but the 9dbi is much smaller and easier to work
with.

--
The one time I thought it might be a good idea for Ed Williams to pop up
he doesn't show.