[olug] Max range on WAPs

[Charles Bird]

if your going to bridge and the signal is still too weak, and if the units
have two antennas, then I would recommend one output on each be terminated
to pringles can or similar waveguide/directional antenna. Without a
reflector, these ghetto links can do approx 1 mile line of sight, with
reflectors one can do approx 20 miles if aligned, and line of sight, I would
say 12 miles using n, pringles cans + 18" reflectors.(just trying to sound
smart)
The thing with pringles cans is that you are limited with cable length from
the transmitter to the antenna, usually alot of attenuation at play, and
just a little is alot when your talking 250mw.

Personally, I'd get some HAM radios and packet radio, maybe some 28.8 or
less! Whooohoo
Then setup a http proxy and name it "farmcat", with a orange haired farmcat
popup at random.



On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 12:18 AM, Will Langford <unfies at gmail.com> wrote:

> Best Buy / Walmart etc might have accessories to do what you're needing.
>
> In general, I think the specs on 802.11b say you get ... 150-300 feet line
> of sight.  I imagine the higher transmission rate of the newer protocols
> are
> even shorter.
>
> I've seen in-store repeaters or amplifiers, or higher gain antenna's that
> can go on certain linksys routers, etc.  Ya might have luck figuring out
> some of that stuff.
>
> Back in 1998 with 802.11a, I spent $750 on a couple 1mile line of sight
> antenna's so my cousin and I could have a network down the street from each
> other (back in the days of 28.8/56k).  Worked pretty good when the
> antenna's
> were in the windows.  Signal had to cut through the corner of a neighbor's
> house and through good ole Florida metal window screens.  I still think I
> have the antenna's even, heh.  Zoom (as in the old modem ppl) branded and
> everything, too.
>
> One other option that is quite evil is to look into possibly building or
> buying a couple pringles-can-esque 'cantennas'.  Might be a relatively
> cheap
> way to get 802.11<something> the distance you're talking about.  Being out
> in the boonies, ya should feel less guilty about building something that
> might have a fair bit of RF leakage, as well.
>
> -Will
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