I am going to be working at a summer camp for the summer, and I am trying to figure out how to get WiFi reception. The camp where I'll be has an access point that is more than 1,000 feet away. I was wondering what setup I could use to get reception at a range of >1,000 feet through trees. My laptop has an Expresscard/34 port, and I am looking for suggestions of a WiFi card and antenna (and possibly an amplifier?).
With the gear you have. AMplifiers are not the way to go. You need a good antenna. Trees are rough becasue the leaves contain lots of water and water absorbs 2.4gHz signals very well.
Are you looking for a new internal card for your laprop, or pcmcia or even a usb? You will need one with an external antenna connector (a jack).
Are you looking for dirt cheap or willing to spend a bit of dough? I can google a few suppliers if you wish.
For best signal, you will have to have a direct view of the accesspoint you are wishing to connect to. This is called 'line-of-sight' or LOS.
Being that you don't own the access point, you will have to work with your end only to improve your ability to receive and get to that access point.
The access point if a more commercial outdoor unit will probably put out a good amount of power (at least 100mW or more). This means if you improve your power to it, it certainly can help.
Antenna will be the biggest factor in getting this range. Next is power.
I suggest you get a high power USB device such as EnGenius Eub-362 EXT. It puts out 200mW and has an RP-SMA connector to allow you to change out the antenna. You probably should consider a high gain directional antenna with a pigtail cable. This still might not be enough... so look next.
Another option is to go with an outdoor client bridge such as an EnGenius EOC-2610. This unit puts out 600mW and comes with a built in 10dbi antenna. It also has an RP-SMA connector to choose an external antenna instead. I'd personally opt for one of those 24dbi grid antennas you can get for around $50 and an RP-SMA to Type N pigtail. This unit is power over ethernet so all you'd have running to it is your cat 5. At $99 I'd get the 2610 first, then if the 10dbi antenna still isn't enough, then go buy the 24dbi grid. You may not need even need it. Also, higher above ground is always better.
Hello new to the site, gotta continued question for RFMAN,
At our campground resort we have wifi but it is a poor signal and sometimes dogs down, we can reach it from our RV but it depends what campsite we are at... The products that you are proposing not being familiar with them is what it sounds like I need to buy...to receive their signal better in our RV.
Our laptops already have wifi built in but they are typical laptop wifi junk, is this a replacement for these built-in wifi cards?
If so I am going to order these ASAP, because again from what I read this fits our application perfectly..
Laptop With >1,000 Foot Range (Through Trees)? 
Gonna ne really difficult 
Linear Mode
