Picking up wi-fi from ap[roximately 400 ft. away.

[Retired_andLove]

I need to pick up a signal from a router that is approx 400 ft from from remote setup. Need suggestions for directional antenna and proper router to use. Source building is a cement structure. Roof is metal membrain.

[Rufas]

accsys wrote:
The Ubiquity system in ***Link Removed*** is inexpensive and easy to set up.

I've been using Ubiquit for a couple of years with great results.

I have a newer setup in our motorhome. I'm using my old setup at my MIL's to remotely monitor her thermostat. I'm accessing a neighbor's wifi about 1/10 a mile away without issues.



My old router is an old Cradlepoint MBR 1000

[Gulfcoast]

Looks good... let us know how it works.

[Retired_andLove]

cable would be a easy option but I don't have that luxury. This is what I'm looking at.Bear extender

[Isaac-1]

I have used various directional wifi antennas on a variety of projects over the years, in fact this message is being posted using one on a partly obstructed connection of about 1200 ft. In my experience Yagi's don't work well if there are any obstructions at all. Best are mesh dishes, but they are relatively large 18x24 inches or so. For smaller directional antennas most of the sector antennas perform fairly well and are somewhat directional, but the best small antenna for this sort of thing is the backfire antennas sold by L-com. they are about 6-8 inches across.

[GordonThree]

If you go with just doing antenna, you'll want one on both sides

[rwbradley]

Just a few comments
Cat5, Cat5e and Cat6 ethernet is only good to 270' (100m). Beyond that, the signal degrades very quickly and by 400' you may end up with too many errors and as usage from all devices on the network goes up, you will have more issues with all devices on your network (not just the long cable).

As stated 400' is not that long for WIFI, with brick and metal that adds some issues to overcome though.

There are 2 common types of directional antennas
1) panel antenna, they are not as powerful but really easy to aim and work better at picking up a weak signal than standard onmi-directional antennas
2) Yagi antenna, they are quite powerful but have a narrow aim.

I did a multi part write up on this topic on my blog
that may be helpful understanding the logic regardless of brand or specific solution.

Writeup

[AllegroD]

accsys wrote:
The Ubiquity system in this video is inexpensive and easy to set up.

X2

[MrWizard]

Do you mean MPJ aka Marlin P Jones electronics surplus ?

http://www.mpja.com/email_specials.asp

[wa8yxm]

400'... Practically next room (I'm nearly about 150 yards)

go to amateurlogic.tv, download and watch episode 3. the ep should open with George and Tommie enjoying a glass of the grape (Non fermented in case you are wondering)

In a much, much (like 2 or 3 months ago) episode they re-visit that device.

NOTE: when I made mine I DID NOT, re-cut the Linksys antenna, I use it just as Linksys built it Just slipped the can over it (My Wi-Fi Adapter is a Linksys WGA-54G which, is then cat-5ed to my router which thinks it is a modem) then cat-5ed twice more to this laptop)

Alternative.. MFJ enterprises (I think that's the name) Sellers of my watch (it's a very accurate watch.. very very very very accurate most of the time) They sell a Wi-Fi Antenna or two. This can be used with something like a WI-FI Ranger's external unit and a power inserter. I would put it in a PVC house though if I used that antenna..

[MrWizard]

DIY
Cantenna or Wi-Fi stick mounted on parabolic dish

[accsys]

The Ubiquity system in this video is inexpensive and easy to set up.

[RoyB]

WALMART has several extenders mixed in where they sell routers etc...

This works like a repeater and picks up your router and puts it out again on another antenna that you distant device can pickup...

This may slow down the connection abit depending how cheap you buy haha...

Roy Ken

[GordonThree]

Retired andLoveIt wrote:
I need to pick up a signal from a router that is approx 400 ft from from remote setup. Need suggestions for directional antenna and proper router to use. Source building is a cement structure. Roof is metal membrain.

400 ft isn't anything special. the concrete and metal building is.

Put an antenna on the outside of the building, or another wireless access point. Outdoor AP aren't very expensive, power and data will go over one cable.

Outdoor AP

[Fizz]

Make you own antenna.

When WiFi was young and everybody wanted in, a lot of us here found and used this web site.
it's long gone but somebody made it into a PDF.
Page 14 is the one to read and use.
I pulled in signals from 1/4 mile away, line of sight.

DIY WiFi antenna