Range of Wireless

SLC Punk · 01-24-2005, 03:18 PM

My wife's work is moving approx 2 blocks away from our house. The IT guy there says that they are going to have a wireless network there and she will be able to connect to their server from our house. Has anyone heard of a wireless router that has that kind of range. I call BS, but I could be wrong...

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GRNTACO · 01-24-2005, 03:43 PM

I've heard some get to 1300'+

SLC Punk · 01-24-2005, 03:48 PM

So what would the connection speed be with those?

GRNTACO · 01-24-2005, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLC Punk

So what would the connection speed be with those?

I'm trying to find where I seen the number. You would think the slower the further.

tulsa_97SR5 · 01-24-2005, 04:02 PM

I think you'll need to do the pringles can antenna. Are they going to supply you with a WAP?

SLC Punk · 01-24-2005, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRNTACO

I'm trying to find where I seen the number. You would think the slower the further.

That's what I was thinking

Quote:

Originally Posted by tulsa_97SR5

I think you'll need to do the pringles can antenna. Are they going to supply you with a WAP?

Yeah I think so....

tulsa_97SR5 · 01-24-2005, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLC Punk

Quote:

Originally Posted by tulsa_97SR5

I think you'll need to do the pringles can antenna. Are they going to supply you with a WAP?

Yeah I think so....

Maybe they have something better than the standard consumer stuff then. I've heard of people not being able to get signal from one end to the other in their own (larger) homes.

SLC Punk · 01-24-2005, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tulsa_97SR5

Maybe they have something better than the standard consumer stuff then. I've heard of people not being able to get signal from one end to the other in their own (larger) homes.

Well I know they are going to have a T1 line, and they usually buy top of the line stuff. They told my wife that they will buy everything to make it work at our house. I am just doubtful that it will actually reach that distance..

tulsa_97SR5 · 01-24-2005, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLC Punk

Well I know they are going to have a T1 line, and they usually buy top of the line stuff. They told my wife that they will buy everything to make it work at our house. I am just doubtful that it will actually reach that distance..

Have them get you a T1 too! something like this would do it, pricey though.

DrBeau · 01-24-2005, 05:42 PM

I do this at work and this is a bunch of BS in the traditional sense. You MAY be able to get wireless if you sit outside your house, within line of site to the directional antenna they have set up pointing at your house. I guess this could also depend on how far a "block" is for you. If they're two houses away from you then this is possible, but using the wireless at their office at your house just doesn't sound feasible. They'd have to set up two wireless directional antennas within line of site of each other at your house and the office. After that you plug the wireless bridge into your home network and then you can use that connection. If you find out how they think they're going to do this I'd love to know.

WATRD · 01-24-2005, 05:48 PM

If you are within 100' for so, odds are good you will have usable signal. Any more and it degrades to the point of being useless with standard antennas.

If you can connect, the speed to the network will be limited by the quality of the signal. The common standards are 11mbs and 54mbs. If the signal quality is degraded, your conncection will step down in speed to increase reliablilty.

I use some hacked firnware in my routers so I can up the output power. Even then, my house is big enough that I have dead spots.

If "a couple of blocks" really means "a couple of blocks", I would venture a guess that you will be out of useable range.

arjan · 01-24-2005, 08:29 PM

I've used one that was not the regular 8.11, which went 1.5 miles. It worked great in the greenhouse, which is usually the worst place for reception of any kind. I don't know which brand is was though.

CynicX · 01-25-2005, 03:25 PM

I seriously doubt it will work unless they have it amplified and an external antenna on the building.....when I wardrive I can only usually get a low - very low signal in my truck and thats when I'm parked directly in front of a house.....I guess if the person that sets it up really knows what he/she is doing then its possible but I to have my doubts about this.....

WATRD · 01-25-2005, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arjan

I've used one that was not the regular 8.11, which went 1.5 miles. It worked great in the greenhouse, which is usually the worst place for reception of any kind. I don't know which brand is was though.

That might have been 802.11A or whatever the semi-common third option is... I can never remember the designation. There is an alternative to 802.11b and 802.11g that has greatly increased range. The problem is that version is not compatible with the b and g equipment that is so common, so if you buy the gear, you are stuck with not being able to access the much more common b and g networks elsewhere.

Jeffires · 01-25-2005, 08:09 PM

We have a 802.11b WAP that won't reach across the house or if it does it's low. Either the equipment is more expensive or it is a different standard. I can't see how b or g could reach that good and still have good transfer speed. I'm interested to know because I have been working setting up WAPs and such lately.
Jeff

DrBeau · 01-25-2005, 08:16 PM

WATRD, you might be thinking of 802.11a. It runs on the 5Ghz band instead of the 2.5Ghz band that b, g, bluetooth, cordless phones, and a bunch of other stuff run on. I work with computers everyday and can tell you hat none of the usual "conventional" wireless technologies can do this 2 block stretch.

WATRD · 01-25-2005, 08:33 PM

Could be, I don't have any experience with 802.11a. I use one 802.11g router, one g access point and two repeaters to get a good or excellent signal throughout my entire house, so I have a hard time picturing a two block range on either b or g. I can't speak to a.

And, I stand corrected. I see that they now offer cards that are compatible with a,b and g, so you CAN have one card and move from your a system to the more popular b and g systems.

DrBeau · 01-25-2005, 08:47 PM

Also, just to let you know, most any b/g WAP or card is actually just a g card. Meaning its one radio. So if you have more than one computer using the wireless at the same time and any ONE of them is using b, they're all using b. So i guess what I'm trying to say is that make sure if you upgrade to g that all your clients are g as well. I don't knwo why I brought this up but I thought it might be nice to know.

tulsa_97SR5 · 01-26-2005, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbeau

WATRD, you might be thinking of 802.11a. It runs on the 5Ghz band instead of the 2.5Ghz band that b, g, bluetooth, cordless phones, and a bunch of other stuff run on. I work with computers everyday and can tell you hat none of the usual "conventional" wireless technologies can do this 2 block stretch.

That 3com wireless bridge I linked to below says it uses 11g for up to a ten mile range. $1200 each though....

SLC Punk · 01-26-2005, 11:17 AM

I feel the same way, I just don't see it working from that far away. Her office is probably 1/4-1/2 mile away

DrBeau · 01-26-2005, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tulsa_97SR5

That 3com wireless bridge I linked to below says it uses 11g for up to a ten mile range. $1200 each though....

That bridge actually has a built in directional antenna and requires you have two of them pointing at each other in Line-of-site. I'm sure its 10 miles with two identical ridges and 2 mile without one of these and another I'm sure has something to do with antenna theory and the like. Also, with those 10 miles you will NOT be getting 54Mbps. If you ever notice, when you use your laptop around in different parts of your house it'll say Excellent or Good or Low or whatever for the connection. If you look closer you'll see that at excellent your at 11Mbps (this is on 802.11b, but it holds true for all of them), good will say 8Mbps or so, Low is 2-4Mbps and so on. We have a wireless bridge set up in at least three sites at work and this is jsut how it is. One thing that 3com info says that holds true is that it'll be faster than a T1. T1 = ~1.5 Mbps. You have to have a pretty bad connection with 802.11b to get those speeds. I hope this info helps.

DrBeau · 01-26-2005, 04:46 PM

Also, companies piss me off sometimes with they way they describe the way a product works.

Darx · 01-27-2005, 10:24 PM

Unless they put some insane boosting db antenna on the roof or wherever I doubt it.

I'm on wireless using my neighbors connection. But he's the next house over. Using my d-link di-624 with a 7db gain antenna just for good measure.

yabedude · 01-27-2005, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLC Punk

My wife's work is moving approx 2 blocks away from our house. The IT guy there says that they are going to have a wireless network there and she will be able to connect to their server from our house. Has anyone heard of a wireless router that has that kind of range. I call BS, but I could be wrong...

There are plenty of WiFi transmitters/receivers that will reach much farther than you'd imagine. Several miles in fact. HAMs are now beginning to tap into that spectrum and local clubs, in conjunction with emergency operations in cities throughout North America, are installing devices that work to cover a huge area. I was amazed when I found out about this.

You wife may very well be able to receive the signals, but will she be able to transmit back to the access point? She may need to upgrade to a more powerful card herself in order to get two-way communications.

I had a link to a site that sold a PCMCIA WiFi card that could output at 3W, but can place my mouse on it at this moment.

01-24-2005, 03:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
GRNTACO Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: On a trail in WA. Posts: 1,439	I've heard some get to 1300'+ __________________ Ben

01-24-2005, 03:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
SLC Punk Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 5,875	So what would the connection speed be with those? __________________ -Travis 1997 4Runner SR5 V6 4X4 Supercharged Desert Dune SOLD :( 1992 Celica All Trac (AWD-Turbo) #223 of 271 US spec for 1992 FOR SALE 2005 Tundra Double Cab Limited 4X4 2.5" lift 265/70R17 Dueler Revo's 4Runner and Celica Webpage

01-24-2005, 04:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
tulsa_97SR5 Contributing Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: tulsa, OK Posts: 1,329	I think you'll need to do the pringles can antenna. Are they going to supply you with a WAP? __________________ Brian 85 sr5, 5spd - back on the road, doing DD duty for now 86 2wd reg cab - future project 90 sr5, 97 - gone

01-24-2005, 05:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
DrBeau Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North County, San Diego, CA Posts: 1,249	I do this at work and this is a bunch of BS in the traditional sense. You MAY be able to get wireless if you sit outside your house, within line of site to the directional antenna they have set up pointing at your house. I guess this could also depend on how far a "block" is for you. If they're two houses away from you then this is possible, but using the wireless at their office at your house just doesn't sound feasible. They'd have to set up two wireless directional antennas within line of site of each other at your house and the office. After that you plug the wireless bridge into your home network and then you can use that connection. If you find out how they think they're going to do this I'd love to know. __________________ -Beau No, I am not actually a doctor...yet. ----------- 1998 4Runner SR5- 4x4, V6, AT, Factory E-Locker- Mods: Satoshi Grill, Alpine HU, E-Locker Mod -otherwise Stock (for now) To come: Music!, Rear Storage/Audio box/Sleep area, York OBA

01-24-2005, 05:48 PM	#11 (permalink)
WATRD Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Duvall, WA Posts: 5,109	If you are within 100' for so, odds are good you will have usable signal. Any more and it degrades to the point of being useless with standard antennas. If you can connect, the speed to the network will be limited by the quality of the signal. The common standards are 11mbs and 54mbs. If the signal quality is degraded, your conncection will step down in speed to increase reliablilty. I use some hacked firnware in my routers so I can up the output power. Even then, my house is big enough that I have dead spots. If "a couple of blocks" really means "a couple of blocks", I would venture a guess that you will be out of useable range. __________________ -Rob Slightly Modified 2001 Tacoma - WATRD.COM WATTORA is becoming NWToys! Tread Lightly! certified Tread Trainer Search 100+ Toyota tech sites, including this one: Toyota Tech Search

01-24-2005, 08:29 PM	#12 (permalink)
arjan Contributing Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mission, British Columbia Posts: 1,558	I've used one that was not the regular 8.11, which went 1.5 miles. It worked great in the greenhouse, which is usually the worst place for reception of any kind. I don't know which brand is was though. __________________ 2006 4Runner V8 Sports Edition Red 1997 4Runner 3.4L Bushwacker Flares, 5spd, E locker

01-25-2005, 03:25 PM	#13 (permalink)
CynicX Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,371	I seriously doubt it will work unless they have it amplified and an external antenna on the building.....when I wardrive I can only usually get a low - very low signal in my truck and thats when I'm parked directly in front of a house.....I guess if the person that sets it up really knows what he/she is doing then its possible but I to have my doubts about this..... __________________ 06 Subaru WRX

01-25-2005, 08:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
Jeffires Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Posts: 682	We have a 802.11b WAP that won't reach across the house or if it does it's low. Either the equipment is more expensive or it is a different standard. I can't see how b or g could reach that good and still have good transfer speed. I'm interested to know because I have been working setting up WAPs and such lately. Jeff __________________ -Jeff- '91 4WD P/U 3VZE A340H , 197K K&N air ] Optima ] Flex-a-Lite fan ] FloPro exhaust ] ISR Mod ] Warn M8000 ] Powertrax lockers ] Swaybar Discos ] KC Lighting ] Premier MP3 - Pioneer highs/mids - RF DVC 12/ RF 360a² ] Garmin GPSMap60C Photo Album MySpace La Nouvelle-Orléans 'da Ragin Cajun

01-25-2005, 08:16 PM	#16 (permalink)
DrBeau Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North County, San Diego, CA Posts: 1,249	WATRD, you might be thinking of 802.11a. It runs on the 5Ghz band instead of the 2.5Ghz band that b, g, bluetooth, cordless phones, and a bunch of other stuff run on. I work with computers everyday and can tell you hat none of the usual "conventional" wireless technologies can do this 2 block stretch. __________________ -Beau No, I am not actually a doctor...yet. ----------- 1998 4Runner SR5- 4x4, V6, AT, Factory E-Locker- Mods: Satoshi Grill, Alpine HU, E-Locker Mod -otherwise Stock (for now) To come: Music!, Rear Storage/Audio box/Sleep area, York OBA

01-25-2005, 08:33 PM	#17 (permalink)
WATRD Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Duvall, WA Posts: 5,109	Could be, I don't have any experience with 802.11a. I use one 802.11g router, one g access point and two repeaters to get a good or excellent signal throughout my entire house, so I have a hard time picturing a two block range on either b or g. I can't speak to a. And, I stand corrected. I see that they now offer cards that are compatible with a,b and g, so you CAN have one card and move from your a system to the more popular b and g systems. __________________ -Rob Slightly Modified 2001 Tacoma - WATRD.COM WATTORA is becoming NWToys! Tread Lightly! certified Tread Trainer Search 100+ Toyota tech sites, including this one: Toyota Tech Search

01-25-2005, 08:47 PM	#18 (permalink)
DrBeau Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North County, San Diego, CA Posts: 1,249	Also, just to let you know, most any b/g WAP or card is actually just a g card. Meaning its one radio. So if you have more than one computer using the wireless at the same time and any ONE of them is using b, they're all using b. So i guess what I'm trying to say is that make sure if you upgrade to g that all your clients are g as well. I don't knwo why I brought this up but I thought it might be nice to know. __________________ -Beau No, I am not actually a doctor...yet. ----------- 1998 4Runner SR5- 4x4, V6, AT, Factory E-Locker- Mods: Satoshi Grill, Alpine HU, E-Locker Mod -otherwise Stock (for now) To come: Music!, Rear Storage/Audio box/Sleep area, York OBA

01-26-2005, 11:17 AM	#20 (permalink)
SLC Punk Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 5,875	I feel the same way, I just don't see it working from that far away. Her office is probably 1/4-1/2 mile away __________________ -Travis 1997 4Runner SR5 V6 4X4 Supercharged Desert Dune SOLD :( 1992 Celica All Trac (AWD-Turbo) #223 of 271 US spec for 1992 FOR SALE 2005 Tundra Double Cab Limited 4X4 2.5" lift 265/70R17 Dueler Revo's 4Runner and Celica Webpage

01-26-2005, 04:46 PM	#22 (permalink)
DrBeau Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North County, San Diego, CA Posts: 1,249	Also, companies piss me off sometimes with they way they describe the way a product works. __________________ -Beau No, I am not actually a doctor...yet. ----------- 1998 4Runner SR5- 4x4, V6, AT, Factory E-Locker- Mods: Satoshi Grill, Alpine HU, E-Locker Mod -otherwise Stock (for now) To come: Music!, Rear Storage/Audio box/Sleep area, York OBA

01-27-2005, 10:24 PM	#23 (permalink)
Darx Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Escondido, CA Posts: 709	Unless they put some insane boosting db antenna on the roof or wherever I doubt it. I'm on wireless using my neighbors connection. But he's the next house over. Using my d-link di-624 with a 7db gain antenna just for good measure. __________________ Matt

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