Please help me improve long distance signal.

MicrosoftMan · #1 (**permalink**) 05-17-2008, 10:47 PM

Hello, I am new. I like your forums.

I was wondering if someone might help me come up with a good solution to this wireless predicament. I am trying to connect to my home network from the office ( about 600 feet with foliage and other structures blocking the line of sight ). Using a Windsurfer antenna I am able to both view and connect to the network as long as I keep the USB adapter at the office close to the open window. It might just be me, but it doesn't seem practical to have to have my window open whenever I want wireless.

My current setup is one D-Link WBR-1310 at the house and a couple computers at the office all connecting via USB adapters I have lying around (D-Link DWL-120 & D-Link DWL-122 revA2 as well as a netgear laptop card). I was wondering if it would make a big difference to purchase an access point for the office? Would an access point be able to better retrieve the weak signal than a USB Adapter?

Or for that matter, maybe you guys could recommend another type of antenna to build? I have an aluminum bowl-shaped object and some mesh and aluminum foil. I was considering the pringle can antenna but none of my computers at the office have external antennas and if I put the pringle can on my home's router it would seem the other computers in the house would not be able to retrieve the redirected wireless signal.

Thanks for any help.

MicrosoftMan · #2 (**permalink**) 05-22-2008, 07:38 PM

bump! What kind of antennas have you guys had luck with?

Mark Oney · #3 (**permalink**) 05-23-2008, 03:33 AM

The problem is probably the insignificant antenna in the USB adapter. Those are made for connecting laptops in coffeeshops. Get a real AP with a real antenna and go from there.

boycollin · #4 (**permalink**) 05-29-2008, 11:42 AM

one possible solution is to get a wrt54gl linksys router, install dd-wrt software, set it up as a repeater to your house router and put that in the office window.

c24 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 03:14 PM

@MicrosoftMan

You can use a USB stick with an external antenna lead. If you use a base like the one below, you'll be able to connect multiple types of antennae to the USB stick also.

WiFi USB Kits for laptops and PCs

HTH - post if you are looking for other ideas...

confero24.com

c24 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 03:18 PM

Here's a pic..