for dummies...

Hello,
I have been looking for a dummies or something like it on all this wireless stuff. Been all over net and can only find this and that but not a guide that explanes it in newbe. I want to set up wireless/higher speed(am on dialup now). The closes high speed is at mt sisters house about 3/4 mile away as the crow flys. It is through thick woods and a hill. All I have read about setting this up is that you need line of site.
Is there a way to set this up so I can get a signal that is not line of site? I own the land from there to here so how about running a wire from there to here? Anything? This dial up is such a pain in the ... Does anyone have any ideas that will work?
Thanks for all your help,
Rjr

Check out CBT Nuggets Wireless video. It's really good.

Just remember that 802.11b/g work on microwave frequency, which is why we are able to use it unlicensed (because when you cook with the microwave oven it interferes with the signal). Having said that, the trees are a REAL PITA, they absorb 2.4ghz frequencies. See "How a microwave oven works" to find out the significance of this all.

3/4 of a mile = ~3,960ft which is approx 3,660ft over what standard Ethernet can do over CAT-5 (or CAT-5e or 6 for that matter). You would need repeaters, or go fiber optic (I don't remember what thin-net will do but you're limited to 10mbps).

If you can get above the trees, then you can do a point-to-point bridge, then go from there. There are LOTS of companies out there that make this kind of equipment, so choose carefully as it may cost you a lot of time and money if the wrong parts are purchased.

A pair of 30° directional antennas should be more than adequate. Narrower the beam, the better the possible throughput due to less interference. The narrow beams also mean that high-winds + crappy mounting equipment = signal loss.

But remember, this is just my 2¢


-MLFnet

Thanks for the relpy. I was looking at radiolabs and they have a non-los system. Are they any good?
Thanks again for replying.
Rjr