-- Increase Network Signal Strength & Range Between Two Homes --

[Gonathan85]

Hello wireless networking community! I come to you with a question about increasing the signal strength and range of a home wireless network that exists between two houses. Information about our current network is listed below, including a satellite picture of the two houses.



There is a Linksys E2000 wireless router at the marked location in home 1. I have a Linksys AE1000 wireless usb adapter plugged into my computer at the marked location in home 2. Windows usually shows 1/5 bars signal strength on the computer in home 2. If I connect my iPhone 4s to the network, and leave the room (where the AE1000/computer reside) in home 2, and head down the hallway to the family room (to the west), my phone disconnects from the network. INSSIDER shows a RSSI of -80 to -90, and a Max Rate of 54 on the computer connected through the AE1000 usb adapter.

I'd like to be able to connect to this network with a solid signal throughout home 2. What hardware/software changes do I need to pursue to make this happen? Judging by the scale of the satellite image, the distance between E2000 router & AE1000 adapter is currently ~100 ft. Also, according to a rough estimate, I'd like to be able to have solid signal strength through home 2, which is maximum ~200 ft. from the E2000 router at any given time.

Thanks!

 

[bill001g]

The only way to really make it work is to use outdoor bridge equipment. You then place a wireless router acting as a AP in the second house to provide the signal to the devices.

The bridge equipment is less than $75 side. Both Ubiquiti and Engenius sell varies options. Mostly the larger units go farther.

You would cable 1 bridge to the main router and the second bridge in the other house to a AP. Any inexpensive router can act as a AP. I would suspect total cost of about $200 plus some small costs to mount stuff to the houses.

This should give you a very strong and stable connection.

 

[Gonathan85]

The only way to really make it work is to use outdoor bridge equipment. You then place a wireless router acting as a AP in the second house to provide the signal to the devices.

The bridge equipment is less than $75 side. Both Ubiquiti and Engenius sell varies options. Mostly the larger units go farther.

You would cable 1 bridge to the main router and the second bridge in the other house to a AP. Any inexpensive router can act as a AP. I would suspect total cost of about $200 plus some small costs to mount stuff to the houses.

This should give you a very strong and stable connection.

Hi Bill,

This makes sense to me. If I set up 1 bridge on the main router, can it continue to act as a wireless AP inside Home #1? I've been reading up on bridge equipment, and want to make sure I'm going about this in the right way.


Thank you!

 

[bill001g]

The main router function would not change. It does not know you connected a bridge to it for all it knows you have a long ethner cable running to the other house with a switch on the end of it.

 

[RealBeast]

HERE is a good picture of an outdoor bridge under the title "View Point to Point Wireless Installation Diagram Below" near the bottom of the page. But as bill001g advises, go with the Ubiquiti or Engenius that you can buy through Amazon or Newegg.

 

[Gonathan85]

The main router function would not change. It does not know you connected a bridge to it for all it knows you have a long ethner cable running to the other house with a switch on the end of it.

This make sense! Thank you for the reply.

HERE is a good picture of an outdoor bridge under the title "View Point to Point Wireless Installation Diagram Below" near the bottom of the page. But as bill001g advises, go with the Ubiquiti or Engenius that you can buy through Amazon or Newegg.

This does help, thank you! Now that I can envision how the hardware is set up, I can look into hardware specifics, and software settings.

 

[RealBeast]

It is a nice solution and is really not very expensive, you just need to get a line of sight between the devices and preferably well up off the ground level. A pair of THESE would do the job nicely. They come with everything you need except some extra Ethernet cable and poles to mount them on.