Connecting 2 houses?

[Gorrillasnot]

House A: Has a PC connected to DSL via a Wireless G modem/router combo via Cat5.
House B: Has 1 PC and 1 Wii console that needs internet access.

House B is directly across an alley from House A. maybe 75' tops with no obstructions in between. The modem/router at House A is right by a window directly across from a window at House B where a PC will be set up. The Wii will be in another room of the house about 20' from the PC.

What would I need to make this all work?
Would the G modem/router at House A have enough power to broadcast to House B?
If not maybe upgrading to a N router and adapters?

Looking for something simple and cheap if possible.

thanks

 

[kevnich2]

On a purely technical aspect - yes the signal should be able to be reached at house B without any special hardware. 75' isn't bad for wireless. Just make sure house B has permission from house A to use their internet connection. Yes, if you want a stronger signal - I would recommend an 2.4ghz 802.11n router - the signal is usually stronger with it.

 

[KillerBee]

Step 1) Eat 40oz's of Big Chunk Beef Stew

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html

 

[Baconator Model T101]

If it were me I'd take a look at what kind of antenna connector is on the back of your wireless PCI card on the back of your PC in house B.

I'm going to assume it looks like this (RP-SMA Female)
http://wireless.gumph.org/content/3/7/011-rp-sma-female-big.jpg

Without all the hassle of aligning a directional antenna I would think of something like this(RP-SMA Plug)
http://www.l-com.com/item.aspx?id=22218

This would be cheap and well within FCC limits as nicely defined here
http://www.afar.net/tutorials/fcc-rules/

Now are you trying to connect the Wii to the PC in house B or the router in house A?

If the Wii is trying to connect to the router, its location in house B, relative to the router(i.e. 75' + number of walls) would be important.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now that the cheap and easy solution is over, other possibility's off the top of my head include.

[ New N dual-band/dual radio router ] for better through-output plus future expandability
[ Uni-directional antenna on the adapter/PC in house B ] maybe patch type antenna
[ New PCI card in house B PC in addition to directional antenna ] thinking 5GHz and more output power wise
[ More powerful USB adapter connected to the Wii? ]
[ Running actual underground cable house A to house B ]

Now things get interesting. FCC limits, coax attenuation, connector mismatches, 5GHz frequency attenuation, driver issues, tools to crimp the connectors(not your standard sizes as I found out) antenna polarity, alignment and...uh some yard work

---- To me those actually sound like fun to work out : )




*****Forgot how to post pics inline in the post, sorry for the links only*****

 

[yinan]

Just run a cable.

 

[Gorrillasnot]

Yep house A and B are owned by the same person, so permission is not an issue.

The Wii just needs internet access so it would need to be fed by the router in house A I think.
Distance for the Wii is about 85' from the router in house A going through 2 interior walls.
both houses are wood with lots of windows facing each other if that makes much difference.

Would this scenario likely work?
House A: Place the wireless G DSL modem/router close to the window.
House B: Place a repeater (or DD-WRT router set up as a repeater) by the window directly across from the window in house A.
PC in house B would be in the same room as the repeater so I would think it would connect ok and the repeater should boost the signal to the Wii as well right?
If this would work would it work with G equipment (I have some already to give to the owner of houses A and B) to keep costs down?

I have thought about running a cable but it would have to be above ground. There is a alley separating house A and B which would make burying the cable expensive and a hassle.

 

[kevnich2]

One thing I've learned with wireless is that it's trial and error. Start with something simple and see how it works - may surprise you and work just fine with just the wireless G router considering the distance. I wouldn't go buying a bunch of equipment until you try a few simple things first to see how it is. Wireless is very environmentally sensitive. What works in one area may not work in another area.

 

[Baconator Model T101]

You would want the router in house A to be as near the window as possible of course but best would be the router up against the glass. If the router has external antennas they should be facing the glass.

The problem is a lot of people don't want to have a window partially blocked with computer equipment :0

Using a second router sounds correct but I'm mostly into antennas, so not familiar how that works......yet

Let's see if this picture works. Failed last time
http://www.isociel.com/images/rp-sma-female-big.jpg

 

[evilspoons]

Look into using a router running DD-WRT (or for a more user-friendly experience, Tomato) as a repeater. Very simple to use and you can easily put a directional antenna on the repeater router to pick up the signal from the first house. The Wii's antenna... not so much.

 

[Modelworks]

two yagi antennas is how I would do it. One at each house.
Something like this will do the job fine.
2x yagi antenna
http://www.data-alliance.net/Detail.bok?no=252

2 x wifi bridge
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833180035

Under $100 to set it up.

DSL ---> Router---> bridge 1--->Antenna 1 ---->Antenna 2 --->bridge 2---> pc&wii

 

[TwiceOver]

Do it right the first time, it'll cost you, but you won't ever have to futz with it:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-071-_-Product

 

[bobdole369]

I wouldn't even try anything special., 75' is not far. Put up the router in the window and put the wii in another. If you can see it, you'll make it.

Else a pair of DD-WRT or something like this: http://www.buffalotech.com/products...et-converter-access-point-bridge-wlae-ag300n/

 

[Gorrillasnot]

Thanks to everyone for all the help and ideas.

I think I am going to try placing the modem/router in house A close to the window and then setting up a DD-WRT or Tomato router in the window at house B as a repeater.

If this works can the PC in house B be hooked up to a lan port on the repeater and the Wii to wireless or would they both need to connect wirelessly?

Below is a pic I made to show the layout of what I'm working with.

 

[evilspoons]

I'm 98% certain the PC can plug in with a cable using a Tomato setup - I just haven't done it myself.

If the Wii wasn't involved (or if the damn thing had an ethernet port) you can use Tomato as a bridge only (no wireless repeating) and then it just becomes a remote switch of sorts that can connect to any wireless network in range.