Resources for router range extenders

novicegeek

novicegeek

Member
Hey all,

I'm looking at getting a range extender (or something to that effect) to allow our elderly neighbors an opportunity to experience some of the World Wide Web (yeah, there's still some out there who haven't).

I thought I could get a range extender to hook up to our wireless router. As it turns out, I really don't know much about these contraptions.

Is there a site (or two, or more) I can visit on the Internet to learn about these things?

I'm basically wanting to learn more about them, so I can make an informed decision when it comes to buying, setting up, etc.

Your suggestions are appreciated.
 
If you are willing to share internet to them, then your best bet would be to run an ethernet line to their home and hook up a router with a different internal IP address so that each network can't be seen by the other. Your neighbor won't get good signal even if using a range extender.
 
How far is it between your house and your neighbors? Are there any obstacles like another house, trees, etc.?
 
It'd probably be cheaper for them to just get a basic Internet plan from an ISP. A lot of providers offer a $15/mo package for basic access and can usually waive installation fees.

You also wouldn't have to deal with a flaky repeated uplink and poor wireless bandwidth for your entire SSID.
 
I appreciate the information and options. There's another house between us, so that might be a problem. But I'm still interested in learning more about networking and routers, because I'm the computer troubleshooter for my household.

So if you've got any places I can go to learn more (like some online tutorials - or even books) that would be appreciated.

Again, I appreciate all your expertise.
 
If there is a house between the two, you aren't going to get any wireless network to work, you'd need line of site between the two houses.
 
I can pick up my neighbors houses on my laptop. What you are looking at is WDS (Wired Distribution System) With WDS, hardware should be of the same kind, but I guess range extenders are an exception. If you place a range extender in your house I would place it as far as I could to the side of the house where these elderly people live.

Of course you could go all professional and install a WIFI antenna on the roof and aim it at their house. Keep in mind that your ISP's TOS may restrict you to loaning out your Internet connection. Funny thing is I see a lot of these new Comcast modem/router units with a separate hotspot in a DMZ emitting from these households for hot spot access to Comcast customers. Once you connect you are presented with a captive portal and you use your Comcast username and password to log in.

If you were to place a range extender on the far side of the house where the neighbors live give the EZ Parabolic Reflector a try. Make it twice the size. I have made one and it does reflect the energy in one direction and there's at least a 2 db boost on the RX side. http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/

That is pretty much the cheap poor man's route. The pro route involves buying a WIFI directional antenna, LMR-400 coax cable and mounting an antenna in their direction. LMR-400 Ultraflex could also be used, but it cost more.

A cell phone USB card could bring Internet to their residence. Or you could tether from a cell phone. Would be slow and high lattency though. I've used a cell card back in '08 so not sure what the performance is now.

Some reading materiel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_distribution_system

This is for Linksys. http://kb.linksys.com/Linksys/ukp.aspx?pid=80&vw=1&articleid=25153

This looks like a good unit. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833281028
 
Agent Smith said:
I can pick up my neighbors houses on my laptop. What you are looking at is WDS (Wired Distribution System) With WDS, hardware should be of the same kind, but I guess range extenders are an exception. If you place a range extender in your house I would place it as far as I could to the side of the house where these elderly people live.

Of course you could go all professional and install a WIFI antenna on the roof and aim it at their house. Keep in mind that your ISP's TOS may restrict you to loaning out your Internet connection. Funny thing is I see a lot of these new Comcast modem/router units with a separate hotspot in a DMZ emitting from these households for hot spot access to Comcast customers. Once you connect you are presented with a captive portal and you use your Comcast username and password to log in.

If you were to place a range extender on the far side of the house where the neighbors live give the EZ Parabolic Reflector a try. Make it twice the size. I have made one and it does reflect the energy in one direction and there's at least a 2 db boost on the RX side. http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/

That is pretty much the cheap poor man's route. The pro route involves buying a WIFI directional antenna, LMR-400 coax cable and mounting an antenna in their direction. LMR-400 Ultraflex could also be used, but it cost more.

A cell phone USB card could bring Internet to their residence. Or you could tether from a cell phone. Would be slow and high lattency though. I've used a cell card back in '08 so not sure what the performance is now.

Some reading materiel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_distribution_system

This is for Linksys. http://kb.linksys.com/Linksys/ukp.aspx?pid=80&vw=1&articleid=25153

This looks like a good unit. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833281028
Click to expand...
That won't work with a house between both locations. If someone wanted to share wireless to another house, consumer routers and range extenders aren't going to cut it. You'd want a higher powered transmitter with directional antennas meant for long range communication.

A device like the Ubiquity NanoStation installed outdoors at both locations would work, but again it needs line of site.

http://www.ubnt.com/airmax/nanostationm/
 
Did I not say,

Of course you could go all professional and install a WIFI antenna on the roof and aim it at their house.
Click to expand...
???

But I have picked up my neighbor's and surfed the Internet before.
 
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