Re: Wireless distance question

Flatshovel <Flatshovel.2v8g0n@no-mx.wirelessforums.org> wrote:

>I have a question regarding the 24dBi 2.4GHz Wire Grid antenna. What
>kind of range does this antenna have when hooked up to a Linksys WRT54G
>wireless router?

It depends on the dB rating of the antenna at both ends. The best antennas are
parabolic and are rated above 22dB.

> The reason I ask is, I don't have a DSL connection
>where I live but my neighbor down the road does, he lives 1.5miles from
>me. However there is a line of trees in the way down the road, and I
>can't get the antennas placed over the tree line, just slightly below
>the tree line. Just using 2 of these antennas and say 2 Linksys WRt54G
>wireless routers, can I make the link?

Absolutely not. Line of sight is critical at these frequencies and it doesn't
mean almost. In fact, there's a zone around the line of sight that can't be
infringed. The longer the distance, the larger the zone.

>Or do I need to add a power
>booster to each end? If so how much power and what is the FCC legal
>limit on this I have no idea?

Any power booster added to unlicensed consumer gear will a) in almost every
circumstance be illegal, and b) won't do anything except annoy the people around
you.

If you want to know how much distance your antennas can cover _with_ line of
sight, start here http://www.electro-comm.com/rfcalculations.html and use the
simple calculations.

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