How to expand wireless range

Hello,

I have a Pre-N Belkin Wireless Router setup in one of my client's office,
the wireless range is great inside the office building. The problem is they
would like to access the internet from another building which is only about
50 - 75 yards away from the Pre-N Router, they do not have any means of
running Ethernet from one building to another so wireless seem to be the way
to go for now. They can receive a signal from the other building but it's
weak and intermittent.

The Pre-N Router is located in the office in a way that has a clear path to
the other building.

Is there any other router/access point out on the market that I can use to
boost the signal?

Any help you could give me with this problem will be greatly appreicated.

Thanks
William

Bill

On Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:49:27 -0400, "Bill" <> wrote:

>Hello,
>
>I have a Pre-N Belkin Wireless Router setup in one of my client's office,
>the wireless range is great inside the office building. The problem is they
>would like to access the internet from another building which is only about
>50 - 75 yards away from the Pre-N Router, they do not have any means of
>running Ethernet from one building to another so wireless seem to be the way
>to go for now. They can receive a signal from the other building but it's
>weak and intermittent.
>
>The Pre-N Router is located in the office in a way that has a clear path to
>the other building.
>
>Is there any other router/access point out on the market that I can use to
>boost the signal?
>
>Any help you could give me with this problem will be greatly appreicated.
>
>Thanks
>William

Bill,

I'd setup a WiFi bridge from your current LAN to the other building, and
position both ends of the bridge to maximise the signal. Maybe use directional
antennas on both ends of the bridge.

I wouldn't count on using N to go building to building 150' - 200'. N, or MIMO,
uses special antennas and radios to dynamically focus signal in a specific
direction. If you're looking at a point to point connection, a bridge, and
directional antennas, would be a better solution.

Start with the current router, run Ethernet to the bridge in the current
building. Then run Ethernet from the other bridge end to a WiFi AP there,
properly positioned to serve the other building. Then use a different channel
for the bridge, as for the 2 WiFi LANs.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

Chuck

Hi
Extending preN might be hard since there is No add-on hardware thus far
developed for preN.
These pages describe the variety of methods to extend wireless, you might
find something useful by reading them.
Wireless Bridging - http://www.ezlan.net/bridging
Extending Distance - http://www.ezlan.net/Distance.html
Wireless Router as an AP - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html
Hi Gain Antenna - http://www.ezlan.net/antennae.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).


"Bill" <> wrote in message
news: ...
> Hello,
>
> I have a Pre-N Belkin Wireless Router setup in one of my client's office,
> the wireless range is great inside the office building. The problem is
> they would like to access the internet from another building which is only
> about 50 - 75 yards away from the Pre-N Router, they do not have any means
> of running Ethernet from one building to another so wireless seem to be
> the way to go for now. They can receive a signal from the other building
> but it's weak and intermittent.
>
> The Pre-N Router is located in the office in a way that has a clear path
> to the other building.
>
> Is there any other router/access point out on the market that I can use to
> boost the signal?
>
> Any help you could give me with this problem will be greatly appreicated.
>
> Thanks
> William
>

Jack \(MVP-Networking\).

On 12-Jun-2007, "Bill" <> wrote:

> Any help you could give me with this problem will be greatly appreicated.

Try adding reflectors, aluminium kitchen foil works well.
Numerous forms of reflector can be found on Google with
a bit of searching.
I'm using a 7.5 inch thin walled plastic flowerpot, ali foil
held with elastic bands, and a USB wireless adapter,
with great success.
You can use reflectors at both ends of the link if needed.
Some use larger fine mesh food covers with the USB
adapter co-axially located using garden hose fittings to
hold the adapter.
If you disable zero config and let the adapters software
manage the adapter, you usually get a superior control
panel, with both signal strength and signal quality
readings.
Static IP addressing seems to greatly improve link
reliability.
Reflections can degrade links. Multipath reflections
cause effects similar to portable analog TV ghosting.
By using reflectors you boost the signal from the line
of sight direction, whilst reducing reflected off
path signals.
Access points without reflectors radiate in all
directions, what you need is a focused point
to point link. So before throwing money at the
problem I'd try a bit of experimentation.
Google for Pringle can antenna. Then follow
a few of the links. BBC's Click on Line recently
covered large area networks for remote
isolated communities using tin cans as reflectors.

ato_zee@hotmail.com