Wifi to shop 200 yards away

[Charles McKinley]

Hi All

I found a few similar threads but nothing exactly matching this and all over a year old.

My parent just got DSL and my dad's shop is 200 yards from the house. I would like to get wifi out there so he can use the computer as he works on stuff, bee boxes, parts diagrams, ect.

A cable in addition to the cost would be a problem with the two drive ways (one paved) between the house and the shop. There is direct line of site from window to window.

from the other thread I found this:
http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WA5210G-Outdoor-Wireless-directional/dp/B004PFQX7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390187185&sr=8-1&keywords=tp-link%2C+TL-WA5210G

A friend of mine suggested buying two routers as access points connected to external antennas as a bridge. This would cost about the same as above.

A friend of mine gave me this antenna: http://icecat.us/us/p/wifi-link/wlg-2450-24/antennas-24ghz-square-grid-parabolic-antenna-24dbi-1998343.html

Could I connect it at the house and just an external antenna on the wifi router at the shop?

This is all way outside my area of expertise but I'm trying to learn.

Thanks in advance,

[Bill ThompsonNM]

I use 'power line Ethernet ' to connect my shop to the house. The equipment is quite good now and different brands even work together. You should be able to get two units, one to plug in the house and connect to the wifi router there, a second to plug into an outlet in the shop. Mine even goes through two panels and works fine.

If you want wifi then add a wifi access point connected to the powerline Ethernet or just buy a combo unit with it built in.

Alternatively, you could buy something like an Engenius outside wireless access point, connect it to the house network and probably get a fine signal in the workshop. Mine covers my 5 acres quite well!

[David Masters]

I've looked at this a little since like your dad, I have a garage shop that is remote from my house. My shop is on an entirely different electrical system than the house, so a Powerline Ethernet solution isn't possible. I've been looking at an outdoor extender/repeater combination from Hawking to push my network out there. Until I decide and implement something, I've been using my cell phone as a personal WiFi router when I've had to access the Internet from the shop.

Dave

[Charles McKinley]

Thanks for the responses,

Like David the shop is on its own eletric service. Dad doesn't have a smart phone to connect to. David I will look at the Hawking extender.

Bill I will look at the Engenius access point.

Has anyone else tackled this?

TIA

[Matt Meiser]

I used wireless for about 5 years then installed fiber between the house and shop. I used consumer grade hardware running aftermarket firmware and directional indoor antennas. It was OK, but not great at just over 120'--real world it was about 1/2 the speed of my 100mbps fiber (today I wouldn't do anything but gigabit if I was going wired but I use that link for "offsite" backups too.) I would suggest a pair of directional outdoor devices from someone like Engenius or Ubiquiti carefully aimed at each other. You won't find these at Walmart or Best Buy but Amazon and NewEgg are good sources.

I just got one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-UniFI-Outdoor-Access-802-11b/dp/B0066DV06I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390240992&sr=8-2&keywords=outdoor+access+point for Christmas and even testing it sitting on my deck it was covering at least the front 1/2 of my 10 acres well. And of course parts of the neighbors' properties as well so strong security is a must. The directional ones aimed at each other should easily handle the distance you require.

[Greg R Bradley]

The large external antenna that you were give appears to be exactly the unit I used 2000-2006 for several long distance wireless coverage installs. I'm using one installed 40' high to cover a 4 acre yard 450-875' from the antenna for remote access. Don't think you have to worry about range with that one but who would want such a thing mounted on their house?

I'm not familiar with consumer grade WiFi but assume the consumer stuff may be as good as the commercial from 2000. I would expect you could connect the antenna to your router and aim it at the window of the shop. A consumer wireless repeater in the window should get you coverage. There might be a performance boost using a directional antenna on the repeater but you could always add that later if desired.

[Phil Thien]

Ubiquiti Nanobridge.

[Jessica Pierce-LaRose]

Last time I helped a friend do something like this, we just ran ethernet cable eve-to-eve in the fashion of overhead telephone wires, which would probably be against code and a bad-idea if he lived somewhere where this sort of thing matters. But at 200 yards, you're also at the length where you would most likely need active stuff at either end of the wire to boost the signal.

[David Lawhorn]

Ubiquiti Nanobridge.

+1 for Ubiquiti

[Ed Aumiller]

Just put a wireless router in a window facing shop... laptops in shop pick it up fine...
Also son's house is over 300' away and his wireless router is in his basement & I can use his if I want to with no problem...

[William Adams]

Or have a snack: http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448

[Scott T Smith]

I experimented with this a few years ago on a 600' hop from my house to my woodshop, and built an antenna from an old satelite dish and another from a pringles can. Both worked acceptably well when wired into some Linksys routers.

In order to get more speed, I ended up burying a Cat5E gel filled cable between the two buildings, and using a HPNA setup on it. HPNA basically converts ethernet to a DSL signal to send over the line, and then converts back to ethernet at the opposite end. Thus far no problems.

[Curt Harms]

Or have a snack: http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448

The original cantenna :cool:.

[Etienne Ringuet]

Look at routerboard.com (mikrotik) they make enterprise grade hardware at great prices.

Looks like this model (http://routerboard.com/RBSXT2nDr2) would probably work for you, it's $50 and it can be used outdoors.

[Ralph Butts]

I have a very similar situation. About 350' from the house to shop and about 200' of it is unpaved driveway. Separate service negates piggy backing power lines. i just purchased http://hawkingtech.com/products/hawking_products/outdoor_wireless_solutions/HOWABN1.html and http://hawkingtech.com/products/hawking_products/outdoor_wireless_solutions/HOW2R1.html
A multifunction access point and repeater for external usage. It was not as attractive price wise as the Ubiquiti. I am hoping to get both ends up and wired within the next 2 to 3 weeks depending on the weather and my work schedule. I have seen them used in several environments for work transmitting high bandwidth video with a good deal of success. Hopefully I will feel like I got my money's worth once they are operational.