Topic: Wireless (Airport-extreme) distance run/ best way?

[ArchivalAudio]

found this one  still a 14dBi outdoor for less at newegg

TRENDnet TEW-AO14D 14 dBi Outdoor High-Gain Directional Antenna
http://www.trendnet.com/products/proddetail.asp?prod=145_TEW-AO14D&cat=92&status=view

newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833980009&cm_re=wireless_antenna-_-33-980-009-_-Product

look like it would work...
I think for various reasons
It might be better to run a wireless outdoor antenna rather then dig up the whole yard and worry about cable runs.

does that make sense?
I really I just trying to use what I know works since my old Apple Airport works fine and my ports are forwarded I am happy with it.

--Ian

[rastasean]

try the antenna with the current router and see what happens. if the signal is still weak and speeds are slow, upgrade the router to one that I linked you to that has inherently more output power than the airport router.

[sparkey]

There is a whole lot of crossover between antenna's and and microphones, when you start looking at pickup patterns of both antennas and microphones.  Directional antenna's come in similar flavors as directional microphones, and I recall speaking with an engineer a few years ago that said signal gain tended to flatten out around 10 or 12db, making ratings above that disingenuous.  I'd take a look at this product:

http://meraki.com/

Mesh wireless is typically pretty spendy and these are reasonably priced.  The other option I'd encourage you to  check out is installing high gain directional antenna's at each location and pointing them at each other.  Don't forget to ping everyone with an update on how you fared!

Josh

[ArchivalAudio]

hey thanx all
one other question? anyone know if reflectix would interfere with a wifi signal?
http://www.reflectixinc.com/basepage.asp?Page=Double+Reflective+Insulation&pageIndex=622
my garage has R13 + reflectix and I just realized the double thermal radiant barrier may cause wifi signal reflection or distortion. any ideas on that one?

--Ian

[Neilyboy]

I am a diy guy. A buddy at work (I work for an internet provider) had issues with his physical internet connection at home. Unfortunately he lived on the side of the street which our company could not service him (sounds odd but we run dsl off copper around here and the remote he was fed from was too far out for our services to reach him). So he was stuck with a junk connection from another company (getting maybe 512k down 128k up). So anyway, His mother lived across the street from him and down a few houses (a bit of a distance away). He ended up building some can-tennas and was able to point them directly at one another. It worked out very well for him. He was able to get our service to his mothers house giving him 8meg down shoot it across the street to his house (via a ddwrt'd linksys) spitting it out ethernet to himself from there.

If I were you I would look around at some DIY stuff to see what options you have on the cheap (as a bunch of those antennas are nothing special, just a bunch of numbers and jargon to sound like they are boosting the signal). You would be surprised what some of these plans online can do for wireless signal.

anyway, i got to run to work but if I get time today ill look for some plans or ask the guy there where he got his plans from

neil

[ArchivalAudio]

^^^ thanx Neil

[ArchivalAudio]

found this Cantenna
here:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=11&sqi=2&ved=0CG4QFjAK&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.turnpoint.net%2Fwireless%2Fcantennahowto.html&ei=kmerTN2VBofAsAONnZGHBA&usg=AFQjCNF182HW9QE6-ww9EMGl2soeeHYPCQ
however I believe I'll still buy one and move my airpor to the back of the house, via eithernet then I'll have less antenna cable to run
but other suggestions are still welcome
--Ian

[DigiGal]

Just saw this Hot Forum Topic at Mac Observer today.

[Extending Wi-Fi Signal Range]    --->  http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/forums/viewthread/79342/

[ArchivalAudio]

Just saw this Hot Forum Topic at Mac Observer today.

[Extending Wi-Fi Signal Range]    --->  http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/forums/viewthread/79342/

Awesome
Thanx DigiGal!

--ian

[rjp]

He ended up building some can-tennas and was able to point them directly at one another. It worked out very well for him. He was able to get our service to his mothers house giving him 8meg down shoot it across the street to his house (via a ddwrt'd linksys) spitting it out ethernet to himself from there.

Cantennas are surprisingly good. Some years back, there was a little coffee shop a few doors down from me - but it didn't have WiFi. As an experiment, I set up a cantenna link from my house, and it worked beautifully - while punching through two buildings and about 300 feet. The Proxim WiFi card I usually use with my laptop has an external antenna connector.

I build the first one out of a Chef-Boy-Ar-Dee ravioli can (the only thing I could find at the grocery store that was close to the optimum size), and the second one from the tin that came with a bottle of Glenfarclas single malt Scotch. Needless to say, the latter was more enjoyable to consume. The whisky-tin antenna had a narrower beam pattern than the Ravioli Special.

[ArchivalAudio]

He ended up building some can-tennas and was able to point them directly at one another. It worked out very well for him. He was able to get our service to his mothers house giving him 8meg down shoot it across the street to his house (via a ddwrt'd linksys) spitting it out ethernet to himself from there.

Cantennas are surprisingly good. Some years back, there was a little coffee shop a few doors down from me - but it didn't have WiFi. As an experiment, I set up a cantenna link from my house, and it worked beautifully - while punching through two buildings and about 300 feet. The Proxim WiFi card I usually use with my laptop has an external antenna connector.

I build the first one out of a Chef-Boy-Ar-Dee ravioli can (the only thing I could find at the grocery store that was close to the optimum size), and the second one from the tin that came with a bottle of Glenfarclas single malt Scotch. Needless to say, the latter was more enjoyable to consume. The whisky-tin antenna had a narrower beam pattern than the Ravioli Special.

cool thanx
But I think my wife would be happier if I just got a nice manufactured antenna...
though it does sound very promising
that  my idea will  (or should ) work

--Ian

[keytohwy]

Archival, I think I have a Hawking + Apple adapter in a box somewhere.  If you wanna work something out for it, let me know.

I have two Time Capsules and use the WDS software built into extend range, but still share same ports, etc.  Works like a champ.  Remember that your new Mac is 802.11n, and the Airport you have is 802.11g, so you are already stepping down a notch.  I'd suggest grabbing a couple of Airports and getting on with it.  Price being a factor, I know you are exploring other options.  Again, let me know if you want me to dig for the Hawking.

keytohwy

[ArchivalAudio]

Archival, I think I have a Hawking + Apple adapter in a box somewhere.  If you wanna work something out for it, let me know.

I have two Time Capsules and use the WDS software built into extend range, but still share same ports, etc.  Works like a champ.  Remember that your new Mac is 802.11n, and the Airport you have is 802.11g, so you are already stepping down a notch.  I'd suggest grabbing a couple of Airports and getting on with it.  Price being a factor, I know you are exploring other options.  Again, let me know if you want me to dig for the Hawking.

keytohwy

hey that would be cool!
 I think you are talking about this:
Hawking SMA JACK TO APPLE CONNECTOR ( HACSA )
which is $13.23 at amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DIESX/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

let me know PM me - I'll be gone for the weekend...

are you saying that it would be cheaper to get a newer airport and go WDS, with the same effect?

when I look using iStumbler and apple network utility it appears that I am 802.11n
 thanx for more info
--Ian

[ArchivalAudio]

Archival, I think I have a Hawking + Apple adapter in a box somewhere.  If you wanna work something out for it, let me know.

I have two Time Capsules and use the WDS software built into extend range, but still share same ports, etc.  Works like a champ.  Remember that your new Mac is 802.11n, and the Airport you have is 802.11g, so you are already stepping down a notch.  I'd suggest grabbing a couple of Airports and getting on with it.  Price being a factor, I know you are exploring other options.  Again, let me know if you want me to dig for the Hawking.

keytohwy

hey that would be cool!
 I think you are talking about this:
Hawking SMA JACK TO APPLE CONNECTOR ( HACSA )
which is $13.23 at amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DIESX/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

let me know PM me - I'll be gone for the weekend...

are you saying that it would be cheaper to get a newer airport and go WDS, with the same effect?

when I look using iStumbler and apple network utility it appears that I am 802.11n
 thanx for more info
--Ian

keytohwy
that would be yes can we work something out

I sent you a PM
--Ian

[ArchivalAudio]

so are you statting that I sould just get a new aiprot?
like this refurb one for $129
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC340LL/A?mco=MTc4MzI5NzM#overview

would it be a stronger signal and perhaps be a better solution?

wouldn't I still need an extender antenna?

--Ian