Outdoor wi-fi antenna

Discussion in 'hardware' started by CG_30454, Jan 29, 2012.

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  1. CG_30454

    CG_30454 Registered Member

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    I will explain the issue the best I can. I live in rual Georgia. I have DSL at my house. My sister lives about 800 FT across a field. She can barely get a signal from my router maybe 1 bar if she is lucky. I have a WRT54G about 6 or 7 years old. She is not able to get DSL because her line going to her house is hooked to the old box down the road. I was thinking if I get a Wi-Fi antenna that goes outside whould that help? They are about $75.00 for antenna and wire. And if I put it on my end connected to my router it (the router) has 2 removeable antennas. Would I need 2? Maybe it would be bbetter to connect the antenna to her computer. BTW my router does have DD-WRT.
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2012
  2. twl845

    twl845 Registered Member

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    Is the field on your or her land? If so maybe you could nail an antenna to a tree or a pole half way across.
     
  3. jonyjoe81

    jonyjoe81 Registered Member

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    for this situation it's best for your sister to get a USB adapter either the Alfa AWUS036H or the AWUS036NEH, there are cheaper brands like the 1000gxt 1000mW Realtek RTL8187L USB Wireless Wi-Fi Adapter (cost about 20.00 comparable to the alfa 36h).
    these adapter come with a small omni antenna but there are more powerful antennas like the hawking corner antenna which she can point to your house, also bilcowifi ($25.00)has a nice 20 dbi Directional Cantenna(but it will need a $6.00 "RP SMA Male Type To N Male Connector" adapter to connect to the usb adapter).

    A good setup would be alfa 36neh with the 20dbi cantenna. It's what I use on my laptop to connect to distant router. It works excellent. I always get 4 to 5 bars in my signal strenght , where with built-in antenna I get no signal or a very weak 1 bar that won't connect. The alf36neh is not as powerful as the alfa 36h but it does remain connected non-stop, the 36h has a habit of disconnecting from time to time but its still better than built-in antennas.

    More than likely your router is putting out decent signal (unless it's behind a cement wall) and your sister is the one that needs the antenna to connect.

    With wifi, it's all about the antenna on the recieving computer that makes the difference. You can make your own cantenna by getting a coffee can and punching a hole in it and sticking the small omni antenna (that comes with the adapter) into the hole. This will get the same reception as the hawking corner antenna (cost about 40.00). All these antennas should work from indoors, no need to put outside, I never do.

    I tested many usb wifi adapters but the three I recommend are the only ones that have given me good reception, other adapters you find at the store just don't have the range or reliability.
     
  4. CG_30454

    CG_30454 Registered Member

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    I have tried several USB wi-fi adapters. I think I need an outside only because pine trees have been planted and in a few years they will block the signal. She has a TV tower I can mount a wi-fi antenna on. I may get a directional because of the tree issue ina few years I know I may need one on my end by then. I will replace my router soon more than likely a buffalo one from new egg that has DD-WRT. One more question. Do I need 2 antennas if I use one on my end? Because there are 2 on the router I was told both do not transmit one recives but I am not sure if thats true. Sorry I cannot spell tonight. I do not feel like fixing my typo's. :) Thanks for the replies. It is all on my land.
     
  5. Hiker

    Hiker Registered Member

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  6. culla

    culla Registered Member

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    i made one from a wok it works quite well
     
  7. Bill_Bright

    Bill_Bright Registered Member

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    I think you need to understand that what you are trying to do is likely illegal. You are in a contract with your ISP to provide Internet access to your house, not your sister's house. Even though she is your sister, two separate houses would suggest two different addresses. Therefore, it would appear she is committing the crime of "theft of services" and you are conspiring with her to do this.

    If that is the case, and a representative of your ISP happens to visit your home and figures this out, the legal ramifications could be significant and harsh as surely the value of these services would amount to many $100s in just a short time - that's felony material.

    If this field is a family farm and both homes are on the farm land, then perhaps the better (legally) solution would be to get a commercial ISP connection that allows you to install in multiple "out-buildings". It will surely cost more than the single connection to your home alone, but hopefully cheaper than two separate contracts.

    I don't mean to dash any hopes, but I would rather do that than see you unknowingly break the law and not say anything.
     
  8. CG_30454

    CG_30454 Registered Member

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    Well if it was illegal they would not sell the antenna. And as for my ISP. I have asked them many many times to move her line to the newer cabnet where the DSL ports are. They refuse to do this. They did it once for me because I talked to the main lineman that's in charge for the area. But it seems they have changed things and there is no "local" number anymore. I have asked a man working at the cabnet one day if there were any open ports and he said yes. I will check and see if this is illegal though for her to share my DSL.
     
  9. Bill_Bright

    Bill_Bright Registered Member

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    No. That is not true at all. There are many legitimate reasons to use one of those antennas. For example, a personal office over a detached garage might need one. Same property, same address, same person the ISP has a contract with.

    Well I sense and understand your frustration. Nevertheless, a service provider, (Internet, phone, power, water, gas, or whatever) not being cooperative does not mean we can rip them off. So yeah, it would be a good idea to check with your ISP so you don't get yourself in trouble, as well as your sister.

    I know for some folks who live out in the boonies, access can be difficult. Perhaps with no local number, a note to the corporate office might help. I can see them not wanting to run a line out to the house as that can be expensive, but if just talking about making changes in the CO - central office, it seems silly they would not do that for new customer.
     
  10. kalisun

    kalisun Registered Member

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    This is a very good outdoor access point..has a range of 2 miles and good for the price..

    Ubiquiti PicoStation M2-HP 2.4GHz Hi-Power 802.11n Outdoor AP PICO2M-HP

    good luck!
     
  11. CG_30454

    CG_30454 Registered Member

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    Thanks for all the replies. They would not have to run a line. Just move her line to the new cabnet. Or do something at the cabnet or whatever it's called. I have tried the corporate office got an e-mail and they told me strait out no it was not possible. I told them it was done for me before they sill thought I was the dumb one and said it was not possible. I bet that old man that helped me out before retired when at&t took over. Bellsouth was way better at helping. AT&T took over and things seem to go crazy. They are my only choice for DSL hughes net is a ripoff don't even want to go there but AT&T owns all the lines in my area and the rual phone company in another part of the county they have to rent the lines. Also a local ISP used to offer home DSL but could not compete with AT&T so they quit doing home DSL. AT&T is so greety talk about me ripping them off? But it does not make it right for me to rip them off. But they do know I have a router and I am sure they know most routers go outside of the owners yard sometimes.
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2012
  12. jonyjoe81

    jonyjoe81 Registered Member

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    I consider myself an expert on wifi through trial and error and my need in always getting the best range and connectivity, and 800 feet line of sight through trees is childs play to me at most such short distance would amuse me.

    800 feet is nothing for the alfa 36h adapter (its the champion at long range) even through trees, if your sister can see your house she can connect to it, with a cantenna which has at least a 2000 feet range at the low end.

    If your router has a repeater function then you can use one antenna as a receive, the other to send. But that isnt needed unless your not getting good reception, but 2 cantennas at 800 feet would be overkill. Its best not to mess with a router settings if you dont have to.

    With wireless routers you already sharing your wifi with all your neighbors, thats why everyone puts passwords on them. But I never heard of a service provider go after someone who refuses to put a password on there router which there are numerous people out there. I wouldnt worry about the service provider, just get the right equipment and you will be connected.
     
  13. CG_30454

    CG_30454 Registered Member

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    jonyjoe81,

    You are correct because the ISP's know that routers reach up to 1000 FT. If there were no tree's she would get maybe 2 or 3 bars she has before. And they know people use them in there home and there nieghbors can get signals sometimes. So I am with you. If anything ever happens I have the e-mails where at&t refused to do a simple job. They tried to get her to get dial up now that is really treating customers bad trying to sell them a ripoff like that.
     
  14. Bill_Bright

    Bill_Bright Registered Member

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    Whether the ISPs go after people who illegally use another's service or not is not the point. They can if they learn about it and decide to pursue it. The fact it is extremely difficult to detect if folks are sharing their service has nothing to do with the legality of it.

    Just like someone who taps into your TV cable, the cable company will likely never know, unless you report it, or they stumble on it when servicing the line.

    You are not sharing, you are exposing your network. And the use of passwords is not to block sharing, it is used to block hacking into your network and computer, to block them using your IP to send spam or launch DDoS attacks under your assigned IP address.
     
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