Long Range wi-fi extender?

[jymbee]

Internet access has finally reached our rural location via the local cable company. When installed I would also like to be able to use wireless in an outbuilding about 300 feet away from the point where the indoor router will be installed. Done a lot of searching and there seems to be a myriad of options out there but not easy getting past all the techno/sales jargon.

Perhaps someone here has direct experience with a similar situation and can point me in the right direction?

 

[newbury]

I have a similar "problem".
A great deals depends on the line of sight.
Can you see the outbuilding from where the indoor router will be installed?

Do you have to go through trees?

MY BIL has an office and about 140 yards away, across a street and through one tree, is his house. About 3 years ago he set up a TP-link outdoor range extender and gets fairy good reception. Works well.

Search on here ther are a few GREAT threads on range extenders.

 

[aczlan]

Get a pair of Ubiquity NanoStation Loco M2 access points and set them up as a wireless bridge (directions here). I have a pair of those linking to my inlaws house (~1/4 mile away) and they have been rock solid since 2011.
Then you just need an access point inside the outbuilding.

Aaron Z

 

[SirReal63]

I would run fiber optic from the router at the house to the outbuilding.

 

[jymbee]

Good line of site but there are some trees close to the outbuilding. I think some low branch trimming could open that up however. I'll look into the extender you mentioned. Thanks for the input!

I have a similar "problem".
A great deals depends on the line of sight.
Can you see the outbuilding from where the indoor router will be installed?

Do you have to go through trees?

MY BIL has an office and about 140 yards away, across a street and through one tree, is his house. About 3 years ago he set up a TP-link outdoor range extender and gets fairy good reception. Works well.

Search on here ther are a few GREAT threads on range extenders.

 

[Gafn]

How much money do you want to spend?

line of sight - trees impact performance
More trees - you need more power to punch through if it is possible....

I have setup several long range network with the EnGenius product line.
They are a bit higher price than most, but they also push more power - the one in the link below pushes 800mw, most only push 200 - 400mw.
This is a good product, I had an issue with one of their first generation outdoor cases, it developed a leak in a casting seam, worked with EnGenius directly, fantastic customer service.... they replaced the version I had, and have now changed the design of the casting.
I normally setup 2 of the units, creating a 5 GHZ bridge between the two, and then enable both devices to be 2.4GHZ access points. You can make a wifi figure 8 of about a 1/2 mile in length.
It also helps to upgrade the antenna on certain devices at the other end...

You may not need a long rang repeater - you may just need a better antenna on the device you are using out in your shop.... (cheaper way to go) - see the 2nd link. The tech support group is fantastic

Amazon.com: EnGenius Enterprise-Class Long-Range High-Capacity Wireless-N Outdoor Access Point (ENH210EXT): Computers & Accessories
2.4 GHz 15 dBi Omnidirectional Antenna - N-Female Connector - HG2415U-PRO

 

[jymbee]

Ah, I think that these gizmos might be what I had read here on TBN in the past but could not find again. I especially like the detailed directions complete with pictures and arrows. :thumbsup: Seems quite economical as well. Thanks much for the info.

Get a pair of Ubiquity NanoStation Loco M2 access points and set them up as a wireless bridge (directions here). I have a pair of those linking to my inlaws house (~1/4 mile away) and they have been rock solid since 2011.
Then you just need an access point inside the outbuilding.

Aaron Z

 

[jymbee]

Probably more than I'd like to spend, but definitely something to keep in mind if other options come up short. Might also be useful info for some friends who are in need of a more powerful range extender of some type. Thanks!

How much money do you want to spend?

line of sight - trees impact performance
More trees - you need more power to punch through if it is possible....

I have setup several long range network with the EnGenius product line.
They are a bit higher price than most, but they also push more power - the one in the link below pushes 800mw, most only push 200 - 400mw.
This is a good product, I had an issue with one of their first generation outdoor cases, it developed a leak in a casting seam, worked with EnGenius directly, fantastic customer service.... they replaced the version I had, and have now changed the design of the casting.
I normally setup 2 of the units, creating a 5 GHZ bridge between the two, and then enable both devices to be 2.4GHZ access points. You can make a wifi figure 8 of about a 1/2 mile in length.
It also helps to upgrade the antenna on certain devices at the other end...

You may not need a long rang repeater - you may just need a better antenna on the device you are using out in your shop.... (cheaper way to go) - see the 2nd link. The tech support group is fantastic

Amazon.com: EnGenius Enterprise-Class Long-Range High-Capacity Wireless-N Outdoor Access Point (ENH210EXT): Computers & Accessories
2.4 GHz 15 dBi Omnidirectional Antenna - N-Female Connector - HG2415U-PRO

 

[Industrial Toys]

I share internet with a neighbour a quarter mile away using Engenious Wireless Links. We have wasted a good part of our lives trying to figure out the configuration. Then had equipment failures. How are the Ubiquity for ease of set up?

My Internet comes in on a seventy foot tower some five hundred feet from my house. It used to go via radio to my neighbour and back to me, as I can't see my own tower.

Now I use RG 59 coax with media converters to Eithernet and I couldn't be happier! Plug and play, no reduction in speed, robust and reliable!Meanwhile my neighbour still struggles with that stupid Engenious stuff!

 

[aczlan]

I share internet with a neighbour a quarter mile away using Engenious Wireless Links. We have wasted a good part of our lives trying to figure out the configuration. Then had equipment failures. How are the Ubiquity for ease of set up?

I found them pretty easy (but I am a computer guy). Directions are here: https://wiki.ubnt.com/How_to_bridge_internet_connections (the new config website looks a little different but its pretty much the same steps).

Aaron Z