Frank,

You're putting the cart before the horse in asking for product
recommendations without having first done a basic plan for the system.

There is a great deal of relevant information in the wikis below --
please access them before asking questions. (If and when you find
something that's not covered, I'll probably add it to the wikis, rather
than just answering your question -- saves a great deal of my time in
the long run.)

You'll need outside antennas where you don't have clear line of sight
through windows. That's one of the things you should address in your
basic plan.

You can make your own antennas -- that's one of the things covered in
the wikis. I can't recommend anything more specific until you've done
your basic plan and are thus able to articulate your specific
requirements.

You can use USB, but that makes host computers an essential part of the
wireless network and may mean placing electronics outside, which is
harder than just the antenna.

I recommended Hawking because it's "relatively inexpensive" (as you
asked), because it generally works reasonably well, and because it's one
of the few vendors with a full line of matching high-gain antennas.

If you cheap out on the system, the result will probably be unreliable
operation, which I doubt the community will appreciate or even tolerate.
I strongly advise using solid commercial products instead of cheap
home-brew solutions.

Good luck,
John

On 13 Aug 2006 08:58:23 -0700, "frankdowling1@yahoo.com"
<frankdowling1@yahoo.com> wrote in
<1155484703.788640.65960@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups. com>:

>John ,
>
> why the Hawking ?
> The only router I really ever had trouble was with the Hawking G.
> In the end they were recalled in Canada and the wonderfull Best Buy
>Hawking rebates were ignored and never issued.
> Tech support was just a delay tactic.
> What other products from other vendors would you recommend.
> Could USB adapters such as the zyadas chipset adapters / antennas be
>used.
> Would the antenna be best placed outside or would it make much of a
>difference ?
> Any ideas for antennas that could be made out of off the shelf
>components ?
>
>
> thank you
>John Navas wrote:
>> For the outdoor antennas I suggest:
>> * Hawking HAO14SDP Hi-Gain 14dBi Outdoor Directional Antenna Kit
>> -or-
>> * Hawking HAO14SD Outdoor Hi-Gain 14dBi Directional Antenna Kit
>>
>> Any decent wireless access point (or router configured as an access
>> point) and wireless client bridge with external antenna connectors can
>> be used, but I'd personally stick with one vendor if you're buying new;
>> e.g., Hawking HWBA54G Wireless-G Multi-Function AP/Bridge (which
>> supports both modes).
>>
>> On 12 Aug 2006 23:43:52 -0700, "frankdowling1@yahoo.com"
>> <frankdowling1@yahoo.com> wrote in
>> <1155451432.108998.293420@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups .com>:
>>
>> >John ,
>> >
>> > what would you recommend for "with relatively inexpensive consumer
>> >grade
>> >gear: "
>> > winter weather might be a factor ( or perhaps dew points) if the
>> >gear is outside for better reception and transmission.
>> >
>> >
>> >John Navas wrote:
>> >> On 12 Aug 2006 19:08:29 -0700, "frankdowling1@yahoo.com"
>> >> <frankdowling1@yahoo.com> wrote in
>> >> <1155434909.733928.179820@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups .com>:
>> >>
>> >> >A group is looking to set up a community wireless network in a semi
>> >> >rural area.
>> >> >Coverage would be around 5 square miles or so.
>> >> >Although the houses are spread out they are in nodal areas of some
>> >> >sort.
>> >> >Any ideas of how to best do this on a limited budget ?
>> >> >Of what to do and not to do .
>> >> >Resources.
>> >> >The climate is fairly extreme especially in the winter .
>> >>
>> >> Mesh network overview:
>> >> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_mesh_network>
>> >>
>> >> The crude way is to construct a tree network from a centralized Internet
>> >> backhaul, which can be done with relatively inexpensive consumer grade
>> >> gear:
>> >> ^
>> >> |
>> >> +-------+-------+
>> >> |+-------------+|
>> >> ||Internet Pipe||
>> >> |+------+------+|
>> >> | | |
>> >> |+------+------+|
>> >> ||Access Point ||
>> >> |+-+--------+--+|
>> >> +--+--------+---+
>> >> | |
>> >> +------------+--+ +-+-------------+
>> >> |+-----------+-+| |++------------+|
>> >> ||Client Bridge|| ||Client Bridge||
>> >> |+------+------+| |+------+------+|
>> >> | | | | | |
>> >> |+------+------+| |+------+------+|
>> >> ||Access Point || ||Access Point ||
>> >> |+-+-----------+| |+-+---------+-+|
>> >> +--+------------+ +--+---------+--+
>> >> | | |
>> >> | +------------+--+ +--+------------+
>> >> |+-----------+-+| |+-+-----------+|
>> >> ||Client Bridge|| ||Client Bridge||
>> >> |+------+------+| |+------+------+|
>> >> | | | | | |
>> >> |+------+------+| |+------+------+|
>> >> ||Access Point || ||Access Point ||
>> >> |+-+---------+-+| |+-+---------+-+|
>> >> +--+---------+--+ +--+---------+--+
>> >> | | | |
>> >>
>> >> Line of sight is needed for each wireless link.
>> >>
>> >> Different channels with minimal overlap (1, 6, 11) should be used to
>> >> minimize self-interference.
>> >>
>> >> External directional high-gain antennas may be needed for access points
>> >> and client bridges, depending on distance.
>> >>
>> >> Multiple access points may be needed in a given location to handle
>> >> clients in more than one direction.
>> >>
>> >> Depending on the number of clients, you may need a fast Internet
>> >> backhaul (e.g., 6 Mbps DSL)
>> >>
>> >> You should start with an accurate planning map of siting locations,
>> >> marked with clear line-of-sight paths.
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
>> >> John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
>> >> Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
>> >> Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>
>>
>> --
>> Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
>> John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
>> Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
>> Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>