Workshop Connectivity Issue

[Compnerd]

Our team this year had to rent out workspace. The workspace is much better than the schools classroom we had last year, however, the workshop has no internet connection. The Bread Company (approx. 300 feet away) has offered to let us use their wireless internet connection. However 260 feet is too far for the wireless signal to travel. We are trying to think up of some ideas to be able to be able to extend that range. Some of the ideas that have been mentioned are "Cantennas" which are basically potato chip cans with a wire inside acting as an antenna. Also, i thought about using a "repeater" which would be placed between the workshop and Bread Co. each of these have their advantages and disadvantages. I have done some research, and found that the signal will travel roughly 150 feet from breadcompany. A normal 102.11g router will broadcast 300 feet if outside without walls blocking the signal. The only signal we pick up is the post office's wireless next door, and that's not a possibility to use. Please post with any comments/ideas.

[Uberbots]

If they are in the same building, just wire a long cable over. If that is not a possibility, you may end up buying a net connection.

you could use this as an opportunity to work with a company... i bet you could get a good deal from the connectivity company if you tried.
we were able to get internet in our space by using a CT law in our favor (free internet for educational purposes or something like that)

[Tom Line]

A cantenna with a reasonably high-gain antenna is a good bet, but it could be pricey. Linksys makes some routers that are compatible with ww-drt firmware that will also allow you to adjust the power output of the router itself - however you will need one on both ends.

It might be cheaper and easier just to get the team to sign up for a couple of months with a broadband wireless card and then run your internet through that. Generally the cost about $59 a month. Have you checked to see if you could sign up for two months of DSL or Cable internet?

[zim2411]

Is the path from your workshop to the Bread company pretty much line of site?

I have a Linksys WRT54G modded with dd-wrt firmware, and it connects as a client to my friend's network about 300 ft away. I can then hook my laptop or any computer into the router via ethernet and get internet access. The signal strength is about 10-15% but the internet actually works fine. On his end he has a Netgear 802.11n router behind a brick exterior wall of his house. On my end the glass window is the only thing blocking line of sight to where his router approximately is. (some branches kinda hang in the way but not really)

[Compnerd]

Originally Posted by zim2411

Is the path from your workshop to the Bread company pretty much line of site?

I have a Linksys WRT54G modded with dd-wrt firmware, and it connects as a client to my friend's network about 300 ft away. I can then hook my laptop or any computer into the router via ethernet and get internet access. The signal strength is about 10-15% but the internet actually works fine. On his end he has a Netgear 802.11n router behind a brick exterior wall of his house. On my end the glass window is the only thing blocking line of sight to where his router approximately is. (some branches kinda hang in the way but not really)

Yes it is actually. It's 268 feet if you draw a straight line... I used google earth to find that out.. But that's something i may try

[zim2411]

If anyone on your team has a Macbook, ask them to bring it and try and connect. They have utterly insane reception. My same friend sitting in his drive way can pick up an access point about 800 ft away. (that is a stock linksys WRT54G, line of sight to house, but router is on the far side of the house.)

[Zultraranger]

Run another wireless router from the bread company to your shop as long as you need it to get enough internet connection to be sufficient in your building.

[ShotgunNinja]

Just bring in a Network Ninja. Steal their bandwidth!

Nah, just kidding. The cantenna idea might work, so try that before resorting to buying a network connection or, worse, buying a Mac and routing ALL networking through that. I'm sorry; but I wouldn't trust website development bandwidth to a Mac's router. (I had a bad childhood experience with a MacinBox in my uncle's basement. The Myst... it was everywhere!)