[olug] Max range on WAPs

[Rob Townley]

On Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 10:08 PM, Obi-Wan <obiwan at jedi.com> wrote:
> My mom just got a new laptop with 802.11n networking.  Their current
> 802.11g WAP works fine around their house & yard, but it won't work
> in my grandma's house about 150 yards away.  Both houses are on the
> same farm, so there's no legal problems with sharing Internet access.
> Mom is grandma's caretaker and spends lots of time there.
>
> Do any of you have any recommendations for a new WAP or antenna or
> something that will help the laptop stay online in the other building?
>
> Alas, I can't remember off hand which brand/model of WAP they currently
> have in place.
>
> --
> Ben "Obi-Wan" Hollingsworth                             obiwan at jedi.com
>   The stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the
>     Giver of all good things, so if I stand, let me stand on the
>       promise that You will pull me through.  -- Rich Mullins
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>



<FirstOption>

     For Linux reference, those defcon kids did ssh and vnc using a
125 mile (maybe now 250? miles) unamplified wifi link.  So
wlanparts.com should be a good place to get Linux compatible wifi
gear.
http://www.boingboing.net/2005/07/31/defcon-wifi-shootout.html

     Dual antennas on both ends, use dd-wrt's built-in option to
increase the amp / signal power.

</FirstOption>
<SecondOption>

 There is such a thing as unlicensed / license-exempt WiMAX in the
5GhZ range for long distance wireless. As long as both ends are from
the same vendor, it should work and total cost may be about $300.00 or
so.
 http://www.unlicensedwimax.com/

</SecondOption>
<ThirdOption>

  Use existing copper.

  Several years ago, i tested a ethernet over powerline setup and
found small packet pings may work flawlessly, larger pings would be
dropped and normal traffic was spotty.

  In the last 6 months, i have happened to notice forum postings with
an increasing satisfaction with HomePlugAV type equipment, but YMMV as
there are many standards.  They advertise it can push HD video over
different types of existing home wiring.  The good thing in your case
is that most of these signals can and do leak to your neighbors.

  Last month, IEEE approved new standards for ethernet over telephone,
ethernet over coax, and ethernet over AC electrical lines.  The idea
is that a single SystemOn-a-Chip SOC would be compatible with all
three, but most devices only support 1 of those 3 at a time.


  If there are four unused copper wires in the telephone link, some
people have luck pushing standard 10Mbps Half Duplex ethernet over it.
 Same telephone number at both places, use black and yellow.
 If separate telephone numbers, cross connect the unused copper in the cabinet?


  Do both houses have a coax cable?
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet_over_coax


  Assuming both both houses have electricity so there is a copper link already.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_line_communication



  This wiki entry shows there are many competing standards.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_line_communication
  http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/1901/

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HomePNA
  http://www.homeplug.org/home/

</ThirdOption>
<FourthOption>

  Another reason in addition to packet capture to keep those very very
old 10Mbit hubs with fiber ports ( i have one you could have).

</FourthOption>

Whatever solution you end up using, stress test with iperf and ntop
as small pings may work flawlessly, but normal traffic may get
dropped.