Need 700' Wifi range. How do you do that? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Skid Row Joe · #16 09-30-2010, 03:40 AM

The kit http://www.jefatech.com/category/a050/ $150

700' is nothing.....

An omni-directional marine type antenna (installed on the top) and a router/repeater (installed inside) create a strong signal (“hot spot”) in and out of the coach. The system was successfully tested ½ mile from the Wi-Fi point with a broadcast strength of a meager 9%. Unsecured, the system could make you the most desirable neighboring RV.

I utilize parts of this system at home and on-the-road. I would estimate that from inside my home, using only the rubber duck 4" antenna with 6' USB port line I can pick up a Wifi signal from 100 yards. I have no less than (10) Wifi signals from inside my home. From the roof of my home, I would estimate (30) Wifi signals, or more. Only (3) are unsecured and free to use out of the (10) or so from inside my home. The antenna pictured above, is fixed in place on the luggage rack. I plan to upgrade my TV antenna to a Winegard "batwing" crank-up/down antenna system, which I will affix the 2' antenna to. Then, easy directional rotating is accomplished from inside the coach. My last coach had the Winegard 'batwing' which is an outstanding antenna. I haven't paid for Internet access in almost (2) years. Anywhere in the country, I just pop-open my laptop inside my coach, and bang, signals everywhere. My kit has a 2' antenna 8.5dBi gain, Omni Directional antenna, which is supposed to pick up a 1/2 mile signal.

They sell a 65" antenna 15dBi gain, Omni Directional Antenna upgrade for $40.00 more, that is supposed to be able to pick up a 1 mile away signal.

Included in the kit is the 4" rubber duck antenna ports into the side of your laptop, and is all most people would need when you want to pick up a Wifi signal in your car from parking lots, etc. Of course it would give a signal boost used in office buildings as well from the repeater too. So, unless you want to go Wifi from your home, boat, or RV with the 2' marine-type antenna, all you need is the 4" rubber duck antenna.

cmbdiesel · #17 09-30-2010, 09:03 AM

Stealing internet.... very xxxxxxxxxx of you. Guess you can't expect much more from the camper crowd.

Very sorry, please strike the "R" word from the record. In it's place, let's just use "criminal".... maybe we could inject other adjectives as well.... if anyone has suggestions for what would properly fill the space being vacated by the aforementioned "R" word, feel free to speak up.

Here's my suggestion:

INAPPROPRIATE
B.C.

mpolli · #18 09-30-2010, 01:38 PM

Hi Skid Row Joe,

Please look at my post #10 and see if you can advise a specific prescription for me. What do I buy specifically?

Thanks

Skid Row Joe · #19 09-30-2010, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpolli

I looked at the Cantenna site and I think that may work. What we have is a house with a standard Wifi router, and a barn about 700' away with a PC. Don't reallty want to run a wire and don't want to pay for a different service there. So need to have Wifi at the barn but also maintain it at the house. It looks like I can get the EnGenious USB device for the PC end. But I am not sure which end I would put the Cantenna on.

I confess to not reading your *#10* post here last night, mpolli.

Wifi signals are FM, LOS (line-of-sight.) I don't see why the JeffaTech kit I bought would not work for you. However, all you can do is buy the $129.95 kit and see. The 2' weatherproof antenna can be mounted up to 25' feet from your repeater in the barn, or can be plugged directly into your computer. The basic kit comes with 25' of USB port line, but 25' is not that much line. The antenna may need to be *tweaked* turned slowly by one person to really hone-in on your signal - before clamping it down. The upgraded kit with repeater and 65" antenna is $40 more, I don't see why you would need that one.

Just a guess - but the included 4" rubber duck USB port would not cover the 700' distance, but again, you won't know until you test it at home.

They ship from Maryland, or Delaware as I recall, and they have an 800 number to call them and ask them what they think. I'm sure you can return it, if it doesn't work. But ask and check the agreement first.

Skid Row Joe

mpolli · #20 09-30-2010, 02:33 PM

So I am thinking the stand-alone repeater is the best solution. It seems I just plug it in and aim the big antenna. Would there be any software set-up with that at all? Just plug the password into a PC and it will work? I am guessing there must be more to it...

I also found this place http://www.streakwave.com that seems to have similar stuff.

Skid Row Joe · #21 09-30-2010, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpolli

So I am thinking the stand-alone repeater is the best solution. It seems I just plug it in and aim the big antenna. Would there be any software set-up with that at all? Just plug the password into a PC and it will work? I am guessing there must be more to it...

I also found this place http://www.streakwave.com that seems to have similar stuff.

You can DOWNLOAD the software from their website I LINKED to. And, the kit includes a CD to install it to your computer. Click on the kits, and it blows-UP the picture to see exactly what each kit comes with, on the JeffaTech LINK on my first post above.

Yes, even though the 2' marine-type antenna is 'omni-signaled' in fact it has 'warmer' directional, honing-in on it. One of you slowly rotate (very slowly) the antenna without being in the LOS FM signal from your house, and when it is at it's apex, lock it down, and enjoy the Wifi signal.

I am not up on other systems, I'm really not a *techie* I just know how fantastic the system I bought is working for me.

Stoney · #22 09-30-2010, 03:36 PM

Big Effing Antenna on the Router!

Matt L · #23 09-30-2010, 03:41 PM

You shouldn't need to have to run any special software on your PC for this to work, thus nothing to download or install. Unless you get some real nonsense for hardware, that is.

I'd probably just use ethernet at the remote site, but of course you can buy a repeater for close to the same prices as an access point ethernet bridge. A repeater is one more piece to secure.

mpolli · #24 09-30-2010, 03:52 PM

The remote site is a barn, so any wire, or any physical thing at all is immediately:

covered in dirt
driven over
chewed on
pooped on
stepped on
destroyed mysteriously...

So that is why wireless is so attractive

Matt L · #25 09-30-2010, 04:05 PM

You're going to have some wires involved with a wireless repeater, but you could armor or encase them.

I'd look at a wireless repeater then. And probably a directional antenna on each side of the long link, if you want reliable operation in inclement weather. You can probably house both antennae inside the house and barn if they are highly directional.

Be careful when comparing the "gain" figures. Of course there is no real gain to be had with an antenna. The gain comes from sending the signal to a subset of sphere. Even a vertical antenna can exhibit this gain, but it's still sending and receiving to and from directions where you have no interest, and will thus generate more noise in the receiver. A yagi or dish arrangement will work the best. A dish will have a larger "footprint" for the signal, but it is only in one direction. While a yagi looks like it points at the footprint, the footprint is actually evenly split between the front and back of the antenna.

cmbdiesel · #26 10-01-2010, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpolli

The remote site is a barn, so any wire, or any physical thing at all is immediately:

covered in dirt
driven over
chewed on
pooped on
stepped on
destroyed mysteriously...

So that is why wireless is so attractive

I'm guessing that you have power in the barn, and it is not run through conduit? I always prefer a copper connection over an air connection, and would personally be considering how tough it would be to lay cat7 and/or coax underground to the barn. If I didn't have power out there, it would be a foregone conclusion that I would be trenching...