[olug] Max range on WAPs

[Sam Tetherow]

Benjamin Watson wrote:
> 802.11g has the worst range of all of the 2GHz technologies due to the
> uber modulation used to cram 54Mbps into the 2.4GHz spectrum.
> 
> 802.11a is 5GHz but pretty much requires line of sight due to high
> frequency absorption.
> 
> I've witnessed 802.11b go well over a mile using "rubber duckies" with
> line of sight.  I think some guys at DefCon set a Guiness record
> getting 802.11b to go nearly 30 miles at the Salt Flats in Utah using
> Pringles cantennas and other makeshift antennas assembled with
> hardware store components.
> 
> 802.11n achieves high speed by using multiple channels when there is
> no outside channel interference (e.g. using channels 1 and 6) vs.
> using a single channel like 802.11a/b/g.  802.11n also can leverage
> dual band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) for a speed boost.  If the 5GHz stuff
> doesn't make it through, it falls back to 2.4GHz.
> 
> 2.4GHz (802.11a/b/n) does not require line of sight as it can go
> through walls, trees, etc.  That being said, line of sight will make
> things better (better signal strength).

By most any definition 2.4 is line of sight.  The only unlicensed 
non-line of sight gear is 900 MHz.  2.4 and 5.8 have been billed as near 
line of sight if it uses OFDM (802.11a/g/n) as it can handle reflections 
well enough to bounce signals around corners.

Yes 2.4GHz will got through walls so will 5GHz.  Both will go through a 
limited amount of trees as well.

Sam Tetherow
Sandhills Wireless

> 
> If distance is your goal, find something that is _capable_ of
> operating in "B only".  You sacrifice speed, but connectivity is king
> in this instance.  I'd recommend trying an N router next.  Most of the
> N routers have several modes of operation, like the "B only" option
> mentioned above.
> 
> Your big problem is going to be the physical location of your AP.  If
> it is inside house A, it had to go through at least 2 walls to get
> inside house B.  If you could put it outside (with weatherproofing of
> some sort) or get the antenna outside, then the signal need only pass
> through 1 wall for each house.
> 
> Ben
> 
> On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 1:05 PM, Trent Melcher <trentm at q.com> wrote:
>> Let me check with my neighbor on what equipment he has and get back with
>> you.  His house from mine (line-of-site) is at about 1000 ft and I can see
>> his AP from my laptop inside my house,  signal strength is about 35% which
>> isn't too bad for that distance.  Granted there are no trees between us and
>> both our houses are on hills so it may just be luck that I can connect to
>> the internet from his AP at that distance.
>>
>> Trent
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: olug-bounces at olug.org [mailto:olug-bounces at olug.org] On Behalf Of
>> Obi-Wan
>> Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2010 10:09 PM
>> To: olug at olug.org
>> Subject: [olug] Max range on WAPs
>>
>> My mom just got a new laptop with 802.11n networking.  Their current
>> 802.11g WAP works fine around their house & yard, but it won't work
>> in my grandma's house about 150 yards away.  Both houses are on the
>> same farm, so there's no legal problems with sharing Internet access.
>> Mom is grandma's caretaker and spends lots of time there.
>>
>> Do any of you have any recommendations for a new WAP or antenna or
>> something that will help the laptop stay online in the other building?
>>
>> Alas, I can't remember off hand which brand/model of WAP they currently
>> have in place.
>>
>> --
>> Ben "Obi-Wan" Hollingsworth                             obiwan at jedi.com
>>   The stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the
>>     Giver of all good things, so if I stand, let me stand on the
>>       promise that You will pull me through.  -- Rich Mullins
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