Best option for poor line-of-site

Hi..i live in the jungle..my neighbor lives across a stream and through some trees..he's broadcasting wireless. 802.11b/g i think...roughly 500ft away from where id like to catch it. For $15/month he will let me use his 900k dsl...which is my only option..cuz the stupid phone company here stole our phone line and won't re-issue it.

Anyways, I can almost catch intermittent signal with my laptop's built in wireless adapter..if i walk like 120ft down the driveway..and closer to the stream by the trees.

So, i've been looking at high-gain directional antenna's and usb cards with external antenna adapters.

My questions are:
..anyone know of a a 'better' antenna for my situation with rainstorms, a river, and trees blowing in the wind as interference??
..does anyone have a 'best price' for the setup i'm looking for?
..how long can i run a usb cable?
..my laptop has usb 3.0..is there a 3.0 wireless adapter? and would that help for the wire length?

 

There are many products out there that will accomplish the range if you can get proper line of sight. You need an exterior antenna for this considering your weather situation. There are RV Products that will absolutely accomplish what you need but they are not cheap. To know which of the cheaper products out there that might work would be trial and error. I believe your USB 3.0 is backward compatible with 2.0 according to what little I have read. There is a Yagi wifi antenna setup that will work also. Radio labs has some offerings. ♠ WiFi Antenna | High Gain Directional Yagi Wireless Antennaa

There is a router called the WifiRanger and they have a booster setup that will also pull in a wifi signal from quite a distance. https://www.wifiranger.com/
Here is another offering. YouTube - ‪yagi wifi antenna long range‬‏

 

i'm interested in using the usb 3.0 because i could theoretically mount the antenna further away than with using usb 2.0 cable.

My line of sight..is not too "proper from any angle nearby". Apparently a biquad or multi-polarized antenna is best for my situation?

 

Have you browsed for USB 3.0 hardware. If so you will see it is not likely to find what you need. If you care to read. USB ports are not your only option. The WifiRanger router plus the boost has a maximum of 2 miles range. It is not a repeater either. The system uses two different Wifi signals one to transmit and one to receive. It is pricy though. If you put your own system together with a Yagi antenna and an amp you can easily obtain the distance and pick up your signal you want also. This would be cheaper. There are also complete commercial setups with the Yagi.

 

..i did look for about a half hour before i asked my question. But it became quickly apparent to be a deeper and deeper rabbit hole -with the search engines nowadays giving lots of outdated info and all the links being sold their respective top spots...harder to find unbiased opinions. So, to answer your question: i care to read as little as possible..whilst obtaining the best advice possible from the nearest expert. So i graciously thank you.

Perhaps my least expensive route could be to run 100ft of LNR400 to a tree with a biquad or multi-polarized (due to my poor line of site) antenna mounted in it?

Do i assume correctly that just about any of the higher gain, higher powered usb adapters with an external sma connector will work?

Is it true that the usb port will underpower the antenna?? -which is why you advise to use other than usb???

...and finally, do you..or anyone know: any chance using my usb 3.0 port would supply more power to the adapter/antenna?

 

Technically yes- USB 3 is capable of providing 4.5W (5V, 900mA) as opposed to USB 2 providing 2.5W (5V, 500mA).

 

That could technically be sweet! sarcasm? So..do 'we' think that the 900mA will actually be used by the "over-rated" 1000mw usb adapters??

Anyone have an opinion on the ubiquiti networks -bullet2
or...possibly the EnGenius 600mW EOC2611p Outdoor access point / bridge is better?

Im looking at these two because my guess is that it's better to use POE unless usb 3.0 actually powers some other adapter!?

Thanks for the replies btw!

any other input/ideas?

 

Really? no other advice/input?

 

a few wifi questions...

My neighbor (who TRUTHFULLY is okay with me using his wifi...though he doesn't want me to modify anything at his end) lives across a stream and through some trees and bamboo..roughly 200 meters from me. If i walk about 100 meters with my laptop down my driveway *which is still across the stream and through trees) i can get one bar of intermittant signal on my internal b/g adapter.

In this era of ludicrous wifi explosion of epic proportions...i find myself in the myriad of soooo many options that i have been researching the entire day on the subject! Time to ask the experts before i dole out my cash!

So....it seems i could either:

1)mount a bi-quad antenna to the roof and attach it to a usb wifi adapter..and try to catch the signal from right where i want it?
-paired with an Alfa AWUS036H or the Engenius EUB9603H? they seem to be the 2 best-of the-best?

2)run 100 meters of ethernet to an AP/antenna in a tree?
-would the ubiquiti bullet 2, ubiquiti nano station2, or EnGenius EOC2611P be best?? Any other recommendations?

3)Am i wrong altogether and all i need is a repeater that is POE to "catch" the wireless broadcast and send that to a cpe type router??

Is there an option 4 thats better?? I'm looking for the lowest cost solution. Also, i already have plenty of cat5/6. So, it's seeming like option 2 could be the best..though i certainly feel like i could use further input! And all recommendations shall be appreciated! Thanks!

 

My advice...

Get 2 power over ethernet systems.
Run ethernet cord out as far as reasonable from each house to a pair of Buffalo HP routers (some have a 7dbi antenna) running Tomato as a repeater (run dual cat5 in case one goes bad). Then a third router in the house.

Total cost? Under $400.
Less depending on what and where you buy.

 

Get an external, weather-proofed self-powered (solar is probably an option) WiFi repeater/AP. There are plenty of these devices out there that have multiple antenna options.

You might even be able to find one that you can use to grab your neighbors Wifi and then re-broadcast it 'locally' so that your in-house wifi adapters can pick it up and use it. If you find one of these then your home computer(s) are protected. Worst case (lightning) all you'll loose is the outside box. With no electrical connection to your indoor equipment you should be safe.

Don't even try to run such a thing directly from your computer. Running current from your computers USB ports outside is a sure-fire recipe for a near-term dead computer.

In any case, be sure to pay attention to lightning protection as well as weather and electrical grounding.

Where to find these things? Bing search for equipment meant to be installed at RV parks. I've seen remote repeaters/access points start at approx US$ 100- and go up from there.

If you cheap out and kimchee-rig something out of cables and consumer grade gear you'll be wasting MORE $$ and putting your computer at significant risk.

Would you rather spend, say, $150- on a proper solution or rig something up that is likely to blow out your $1000- (more?) computer?

 

Again your problem is you can not test the equipment to know what is practical for your situation. I understand not wanting to spend money you do not need to spend. OK you keep taking about cheap and also keep talking about expensive products that may or may not fit the situation or the bill. Here is on the cheap. If it works, and it should then you can have a good idea of what will work for something fancy and pretty later. You want to build the 17dbi 20 element antenna. You will need a small piece of wood. Some 14gage solid core copper wire. A small piece of coax cable. A USB wifi adapter that has a removable antenna. The correct fitting for this type. Once you see the directions and the pictures you will get the idea. This will not be as pretty as spending 100+ dollars but will work. High Gain Yagi Wi-Fi Antenna (Part 1)

 

LOL to the Kim-chee comment! -cabbage is pretty cheap huh? -haha

I figure then, i will use a POE device connected via 100 meters cat6 to my router--> then wireless to my laptop. Thanks for that advice..i hadn't thought of how it would be a nice lightning pole straight to my laptop!! wow!

Pretty sure i'm ordering the EOC-2611P -because, on a different wireless forum a user posted that he was, with 100% stability, catching a weak transmission from almost a half mile through trees with this AP. And, it has the client/bridge mode which is exactly what i was seeking.

New -for $82.57 delivered to my door -im pretty hopeful i will have no other costs. I can't really see why i should have chosen to go with an RV product for almost 2X the cost...?

And...yagi?? -i thought yagi's were poor for use in situations with limited line-of-sight?? If the signal isn't what i'm hoping for from 100 meters with the Engenius AP, shouldn't i ideally be building a biquad and attaching it to a dish-antenna??? -sounds like logic to me.

Not so sure about your recommendations my friend..but please correct me if it is me being foolish still...thanks!