Wireless internet to metal pole building?

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

......Is there any chance my existing phone line or co-ax cable for my tv antenna would work to run the computer signal thru?

Coax
You won't save any money. If you used these you'd need at least 2. A master and target device. ~$400

http://www.smarthome.com/30000.html

Phone, may be cheaper, contents of kit are vague.
http://www.smarthome.com/6407e.html

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

A plug for a phone line is referred to as an RJ45. For ethernet it's RJ11. They look nearly identical, the RJ11 is wider.

You've got that backwards. Phone is RJ-11, 4 wires, Ethernet is RJ-45 and is 8 wires, RJ-48 is similar. You can actually plug an RJ11 wire into an RJ-45 hole (not that it would work), but not visa versa.

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Where does your phone line come in in relation to the the home computer?

Let's assume you have the internet access start at the shop, they should drop the modem/router next to where the phone enters to ease integrating the two.

The cat5 will run out to the house and terminate at the phone drop as well.

Then you'll need to run some cat5 to the home PC.

Total from modem/router to home PC is limited to 100 meters max.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

Alltell with good coverage.

Somehow doing it with radio repeaters sounds good, as our ground is frozen now and I dont believe our present phone line and tv antenna lines are run thru conduit...rather they were probably just buried.

The house definitely needs to be wireless, as my wife and daughters would want to use their laptops there, but I could get by with poor or no wireless in my shop, as I typically use the computer in just one location. Is there any chance my existing phone line or co-ax cable for my tv antenna would work to run the computer signal thru? I could live without either one of them if it allowed a simple hookup to my computer.

Just because you haven't gotten enough advise already, and I'm sure everything is clear as mud....

Based on some stuff that you've said, the top of the metal building is the best place for the main feed/antenna, you don't need wireless in the metal building, but you do in the house.

Have the wireless brought to the metal building. put a wireless router inside the metal building. Most wireless routers have wired switch ports, so you can use on of those for the PC in the building. Then purchase a directional antenna and mount that outside the metal building pointing at the house. Depending upon the antenna, you can probably get good enough reception inside the house.
Here's a link to a place that sells outdoor directional antennas for wifi. It's just the first link that popped up from the search. I'm not necessarily recommending it. It's for you to see what your options are. I'd probably go with a minimum 12-15dB antenna.
http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/antennas_2400_out_directional.php

Depending upon the signal strength between the external antenna and the PCs in the house, you may or may not need a WAP in the house to receive and distribute the signal.

Another key is that the wireless router that you get needs to be decent. It's a good idea to search on various models and see if folks have issues with them before you buy.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by masraum

Just because you haven't gotten enough advise already, and I'm sure everything is clear as mud....

Based on some stuff that you've said, the top of the metal building is the best place for the main feed/antenna, you don't need wireless in the metal building, but you do in the house.

Have the wireless brought to the metal building. put a wireless router inside the metal building. Most wireless routers have wired switch ports, so you can use on of those for the PC in the building. Then purchase a directional antenna and mount that outside the metal building pointing at the house. Depending upon the antenna, you can probably get good enough reception inside the house.
Here's a link to a place that sells outdoor directional antennas for wifi. It's just the first link that popped up from the search. I'm not necessarily recommending it. It's for you to see what your options are. I'd probably go with a minimum 15dB antenna.
http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/antennas_2400_out_directional.php

OK Steve, the above sounds like a real possibility. It is just a tad clearer than mud Cheap is good, I wonder if I could hard wire a multiport router in the shop to outlets in a few rooms, then plug my laptop in the shop to the various ports in different rooms should I choose to use a different room. Meanwhile the wireless signal from the router will be broadcast off a roof mounted directional antenna to my house 200 feet away. If something like this will work, it sounds doable.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by masraum

You've got that backwards. Phone is RJ-11, 4 wires, Ethernet is RJ-45 and is 8 wires, RJ-48 is similar. You can actually plug an RJ11 wire into an RJ-45 hole (not that it would work), but not visa versa.

Yes you are correct, I transposed it. But seeing how this is OT rather than admit I am wrong I'll just insist that I am correct no matter what valid references you point out.

I'll even ignore my opening admission when you quote me later.

Then when I'm out of ways to dismiss you I'll just call you a poopy head.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Yes you are correct, I transposed it. But seeing how this is OT rather than admit I am wrong I'll just insist that I am correct no matter what valid references you point out.

I'll even ignore my opening admission when you quote me later.

Then when I'm out of ways to dismiss you I'll just call you a poopy head.

Brilliant. Rather than keep my mouth shut, I'll act like a 5 year old and get into an over the line name calling session with you and start insulting your family and your mother and wonder why everyone thinks I'm a butt. Then I'll tell the whole board to F-off and never come back because I'm righteous and immature.

[Tim Hancock]

Was just looking at routers online and read that Linksys "N" class routers have a range of around 400'. I am thinking that if I have the internet provider mount their antenna to my metal shop roof then hook it up to a "N" class router setting in my south (towards house) window, then it should work in my house and in that room of my shop. Does this make sense to anyone?

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by masraum

Brilliant. Rather than keep my mouth shut, I'll act like a 5 year old and get into an over the line name calling session with you and start insulting your family and your mother and wonder why everyone thinks I'm a butt. Then I'll tell the whole board to F-off and never come back because I'm righteous and immature.

Hah,

Sounds like a plan.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.

May the New Year bring you health and prosperity.

Best,
Scott

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

Was just looking at routers online and read that Linksys "N" class routers have a range of around 400'. I am thinking that if I have the internet provider mount their antenna to my metal shop roof then hook it up to a "N" class router setting in my south (towards house) window, then it should work in my house and in that room of my shop. Does this make sense to anyone?

It may work. It's certainly worth a shot. If it doesn't you can always add the antenna after the fact.

[Don Plumley]

Where I think this is backwards is the primary internet usage is in the home. That's where I'd want my strongest wireless signal. If it were me, I'd have the drop in the home, set up a typical wireless router there. Then point an external antenna towards the shed, have an external antenna pick up the signal there into a wireless access point and broadcast inside the shed with another wireless router (using a different SSID). My $0.02.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

Where I think this is backwards is the primary internet usage is in the home. That's where I'd want my strongest wireless signal. If it were me, I'd have the drop in the home, set up a typical wireless router there. Then point an external antenna towards the shed, have an external antenna pick up the signal there into a wireless access point and broadcast inside the shed with another wireless router (using a different SSID). My $0.02.

I am in my shop (man cave) every evening till about 9:00 pm, I never use the internet in the house although my wife and kids do occasionally .
Besides, our shop roof is taller and does not have any trees blocking the line of site to the internet provider's tower.

[HardDrive]

Wait, wait! I've got one more idea.....

[masraum]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Wait, wait! I've got one more idea.....

And, of course, you can't use one of those without a satellite dish to recieve the signal.



Just suspend your house above the center of the dish. It'll stay warm year round, and you'll have awesome reception ----- of everything.

[Tim Hancock]

This pic is looking south and about 20' to left of the 911 is a window on the south wall of the metal building that faces the house.

[masraum]

That should work. Another option to go along with the type N router and fab one of these for it.

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/Ez-10/

or better yet, this. I've tried this one. It does work. It makes a huge difference.
http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template/

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by masraum

That should work. Another option to go along with the type N router and fab one of these for it.

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/Ez-10/

or better yet, this. I've tried this one. It does work. It makes a huge difference.
http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template/

I like the coffee/pringles can versions.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I like the coffee/pringles can versions.

TECHNICALLY those are illegal in the same way that a radar jammer or pirate radio station is illegal. Federal FCC stuff, but the odds of anything happening concerning them are pretty much nil.

The reflectors that I posted links to are not because they don't involve making or modifying an antenna.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by masraum

TECHNICALLY those are illegal in the same way that a radar jammer or pirate radio station is illegal. Federal FCC stuff, but the odds of anything happening concerning them are pretty much nil.

The reflectors that I posted links to are not because they don't involve making or modifying an antenna.

Hmm, never knew that.

Durn guvrnment, take all the fun out of things.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Hmm, never knew that.

Durn guvrnment, take all the fun out of things.

http://www.g4tv.com/screensavers/features/40546/Pringles_Can_WiFi_Antenna.html

It's also not legal by FCC rules. Legally, you may attach only an FCC-approved antenna to your card/base station. Homemade antennas are decidedly not approved. Some things to think about here before you chow down on the Pringles.

* If the FCC comes knocking at your door, apologize and take the antenna down.
* You may be creating problems for other folks and other wireless devices if you blast your wireless signal over the neighborhood.
* You may be creating problems for community Wi-Fi efforts if you tick off the FCC enough to come out to your town.
* It's highly unlikely, but the FCC could make an example of you. Can you say, "I need a lawyer, fast?"
* Finally, the experts I've talked to say that many commercial antennas can kick the snot out of Pringles can antennas. (They definitely look cooler.)