Getting up to Speed - Setting Up a WiFi LAN

Michigan Swamp Buck
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Getting up to Speed - Setting Up a WiFi LAN Jul 14, 2015 16:47:05 GMT -6 kdog, Doug, and 6 more like this

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Post by Michigan Swamp Buck on Jul 14, 2015 16:47:05 GMT -6

This is a post I made in my thread on License Free Communications, but I felt it should be a thread here. So pardon my copy and paste job below and ignore my other post.

ETA: Never mind that other post. I found that I could delete it. Still learning the ropes here, much better than TOS

I want to setup a wireless LAN in my house including my desktop. I figure I can hook the desktop into a wireless router with a LAN cable to exchange files with the other wireless equipment, or just use a USB WiFi unit to communicate with the router. I'd also like to hook-up an outdoor high gain WiFi antenna to start a meshnet with some of my neighbors.

I don't have a high speed modem, but I should be able to network with other people and connect to theirs or use the slow one on my desktop. That is a not a priority yet. The idea at this point is a wireless LAN for the house basically, but I will want to expand it when I go high speed at some point.

My question is, to anyone who might know is this, what is a good, inexpensive WiFi router that has a plug for an outdoor antenna? I suppose that if the router has removable antennas then I can hook-up a 50 ohm coax with the proper connector to one of the antenna connectors.

I've looked into this a little bit, but I'm way behind in my knowledge of wireless networks. Maybe someone can recommend a good website that explains the basics. I've looked into hard wiring a LAN, that is just a little complex, but I'm sure I could do it between desktops. Wireless is where it is at these days and I have to get with the times. It would sure make file sharing easier between the different systems in the house.

Last Edit: Jul 14, 2015 17:27:50 GMT -6 by Michigan Swamp Buck

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Doug Teniente I still don't know where life is taking me, but I'm still enjoying the ride! Posts: 2,315	Getting up to Speed - Setting Up a WiFi LAN Jul 14, 2015 17:05:29 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Doug on Jul 14, 2015 17:05:29 GMT -6 I'm not the one to be asking, but have to reply as I am thinking much along the same lines, though with a satellite. Curious as to how this will be addressed. And now I'll have a quick reference.
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Michigan Swamp Buck
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Getting up to Speed - Setting Up a WiFi LAN Jul 14, 2015 17:47:03 GMT -6

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Post by Michigan Swamp Buck on Jul 14, 2015 17:47:03 GMT -6

Jul 14, 2015 17:05:29 GMT -6 Doug said:

I'm not the one to be asking, but have to reply as I am thinking much along the same lines, though with a satellite. Curious as to how this will be addressed. And now I'll have a quick reference.

Nice to know I'm not the only one. Thanks for the reply Doug.

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Getting up to Speed - Setting Up a WiFi LAN Jul 14, 2015 19:59:17 GMT -6 minstrel63 likes this

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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2015 19:59:17 GMT -6

I don;t think your inexpensive wifi router will push the antenna, but what would be easier and less expensive would be a range extender like this one extender
I have a 2 story house with a little over 2600 SF and the wifi is at one end and the extender is upstairs about 3/4 distance of the total and works great.

All for $20.00 you simply pair it to the wireless router and plug it in to the wall outlet and viola'. If it takes more than 5 minutes for the whole shebang you did something wrong it is super easy and works great.

BTW CB's rock, with the trucker network specially when traveling in a emergency it can't be beat, but if money permits both CB and a HAM with a repeater book would be a good idea that way you could have a small walkie and cover some distance. I would think you could pass the tech exam blindfolded.

Amazon has Baofeng walkie's that are cheap for emergencies that are 2 meter and 70cm there are a thousands of 2 meter repeaters throughout the US as well, but more importantly it will be the local ARRL club that handles comms during an emergency.

Hard to beat the $29.00 price and they work well.

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Getting up to Speed - Setting Up a WiFi LAN Jul 14, 2015 21:30:12 GMT -6

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Post by Michigan Swamp Buck on Jul 14, 2015 21:30:12 GMT -6

Jul 14, 2015 19:59:17 GMT -6 @marlingrace said:

I don;t think your inexpensive wifi router will push the antenna, but what would be easier and less expensive would be a range extender like this one extender
I have a 2 story house with a little over 2600 SF and the wifi is at one end and the extender is upstairs about 3/4 distance of the total and works great.

All for $20.00 you simply pair it to the wireless router and plug it in to the wall outlet and viola'. If it takes more than 5 minutes for the whole shebang you did something wrong it is super easy and works great.

BTW CB's rock, with the trucker network specially when traveling in a emergency it can't be beat, but if money permits both CB and a HAM with a repeater book would be a good idea that way you could have a small walkie and cover some distance. I would think you could pass the tech exam blindfolded.

Amazon has Baofeng walkie's that are cheap for emergencies that are 2 meter and 70cm there are a thousands of 2 meter repeaters throughout the US as well, but more importantly it will be the local ARRL club that handles comms during an emergency.

Hard to beat the $29.00 price and they work well.

I had read something about an extender, but I really need to know the basics first to determine what is needed and how to integrate the system I'm envisioning. Concerning a router with enough power, I believe WiFi is limited to one or two watts output. That would need to be considered when purchasing a router. There are antennas that concentrate your forward signal strength as well as WiFi repeaters (what these extenders are) to extend their limited range.

I have a Baofeng, in fact, I'm using the FM receiver feature right now to listen to the "Ground Zero" radio program. It also works well as a scanner for the local EMS, Fire, and some local police broadcasts, as well as marine, businesses, NOAA weather, FRS, MURS, ham repeaters, and many others. It really is a good survival radio, but not the topic I bring up here. I've got a good understanding of 2-ways, it's WiFi I need more knowledge of.

Last Edit: Jul 14, 2015 21:33:38 GMT -6 by Michigan Swamp Buck

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Getting up to Speed - Setting Up a WiFi LAN Jul 14, 2015 22:32:44 GMT -6

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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2015 22:32:44 GMT -6

Michigan Swamp Buck,

So i guess I missed it in the OP just how far of a distance do your wifi will need to reach? I have done somethings in the car wash business that was good for a 1/2 mile but even that wasn't cheap but it was commerical equipment.

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Getting up to Speed - Setting Up a WiFi LAN Jul 14, 2015 22:57:48 GMT -6

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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2015 22:57:48 GMT -6

Michigan Swamp Buck,

Not sure if this is what you are looking for, but we have used Cradle Point router for years, that does have an antenna port that we hook up an outside antenna to and run it out the window
(we got the antenna from the 3G Store which has all kinds of stuff!! ours has the antenna which screws into an adapter that goes into the modem)
Don't know about the overall distance on it being as we have all our stuff in one room

Yesterday however, we upgraded to a wireless Mifi Jetpack (Verizon) and it claims to pick up to about 50 ft away and can hold up to 10 devices
Of course, the down side to this is the limited data plans
(not feasible for streaming movies I'm afraid -- good speed, but it will eat that data up)

But it was nice not having to fool with downloading software on the computer, which can be a pain in the azz at times

It does have to be charged like a smart phone daily, depending on how much it is used
No wires, no modem, no software just a cute tiny little black object that goes unnoticed sitting on the table and it's portable, which suits us fine being as we travel all the time

I sure could have used it the past 2 weeks for my phone (Sprint) being as I could not even check my messages

ETA: the mifi jetpack model that we got DOES NOT have an antenna port...bummer
Did not even think about that until later on

Last Edit: Jul 14, 2015 23:12:10 GMT -6 by Deleted

Michigan Swamp Buck
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Getting up to Speed - Setting Up a WiFi LAN Jul 15, 2015 7:55:41 GMT -6

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Post by Michigan Swamp Buck on Jul 15, 2015 7:55:41 GMT -6

Jul 14, 2015 22:32:44 GMT -6 @marlingrace said:

Michigan Swamp Buck,

So i guess I missed it in the OP just how far of a distance do your wifi will need to reach? I have done somethings in the car wash business that was good for a 1/2 mile but even that wasn't cheap but it was commerical equipment.

I'd like to get the maximum distance possible when I network with the neighbors. Some high Db antennas claim 35 miles! IMO, that would be an impossible distance under the best possible conditions. Every 3 Db of antenna gain effectively increase the range by 2X, a 6 Db antenna 4X. My nearest neighbors are 1/4 of a mile though and it would be nice to get a mile or more. Once a meshnet is established, each WiFi unit will link to the next and become a node in a larger network allowing the range to extend to the farthest node. This would ultimately create a private internet for those who are involved. In this case, getting people to participate would be the bigger challenge.

Right now, I'd just like to get started to cover the house and around the property. Considering the range of the simplest one watt hand held 2-ways is about a mile around here, that seems feasible. I'm just starting to look into the idea and any advice is appreciated.

Last Edit: Jul 15, 2015 8:00:52 GMT -6 by Michigan Swamp Buck

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Michigan Swamp Buck
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Getting up to Speed - Setting Up a WiFi LAN Aug 11, 2015 13:36:41 GMT -6

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Post by Michigan Swamp Buck on Aug 11, 2015 13:36:41 GMT -6

Here is a website that covers everything I was thinking about.

Home Networking

Here are instructions for creating a "home group" from Microsoft for Windows 8.1.

HomeGroup from start to finish

Here is a PC Magazine article on setting up routers.

Wireless Router

For increasing range, here is a link to an article on "cantenna" design.

So, you wanna build a cantenna?

I think that those will cover what I was thinking about.

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Getting up to Speed - Setting Up a WiFi LAN Aug 11, 2015 15:04:31 GMT -6 minstrel63 likes this

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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2015 15:04:31 GMT -6

There are some good ways to extend range, but it depends on what you want to do. I have an Alfa and it has worked wonderfully for me in trucking and beyond.

Alfa Network

At the time I bought mine, they were marketed more as a specialty thing than it is now, and I believe the older units may have had a bit higher power output, but I'm not positive since I can't find the output listed in any of those now. It used to be a headliner selling point in their material.

Anyway. Using a normal dash or window sticky wi-fi antenna/built in laptop Wi-fi, I had to not only be inside a truck stop's parking lot to use their Wi-Fi, but park with antenna locations and degree of cross traffic between my spot and the nearest one in mind. I hate Wi-Fi in general for more than 50-100 yards after screwing with it for years around the nation.

However, using my Alfa, and in good conditions, I could pull a usable signal from a truckstop's roof Wi-Fi antennas from nearly a mile away. A half mile on a side street or neighboring truck stop wasn't a big deal. "War Driving" for pure curiosity, as I crossed whole states and just had the laptop log headers and ID's to go check out and ponder later, would always fill plenty of pages. Even crossing the middle of nowhere Iowa, or Nevada (oddly enough..and I had to have been ON TOP of sub-surface things in a couple examples..but I digress), I'd get plenty with that antenna.

I recently used it (last summer) to connect my desktop from a converted barn to the main house on the property about 150 yards away, and through 2 windows and a thin wall. No problems with a cheap Linksys router in the sun room of the house. A normal router didn't even register the other one existed at that range.

Hope that helps!

* I also used the Alfa to grab Wi-Fi from businesses in St Louis, to support Occupy protest efforts, and that antenna allowed a solid, working link to points up to 2 blocks away. That was in the heart of Downtown St Louis, and we were in the West end, sub-grade level of Kiener Plaza for reference to see on Google somewhere.

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Getting up to Speed - Setting Up a WiFi LAN

Post by Michigan Swamp Buck on Jul 14, 2015 16:47:05 GMT -6

Post by Doug on Jul 14, 2015 17:05:29 GMT -6

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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2015 19:59:17 GMT -6

Post by Michigan Swamp Buck on Jul 14, 2015 21:30:12 GMT -6

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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2015 15:04:31 GMT -6