Boosting WLAN signal...

[xbi0s]

I want to boost my 802.11g signal, or boost it from the receiving end. The reasoning being, my GF lives a block to my north and my buddy lives half a block from my house, I wanna be able to allow them to use my signal.

What are some reasonable setups from my end and their end to accomplish this?

[coin]

what router are you using, some if them have custom firmware that allows you to boost their output, the problem is probably going to be with return traffic from their PCs back to your router. Check out the other threads on cantennas or try to get Wireless NICs with high or adjustable outputs.
N.B. raising the output strength of a card or router will decrease its lifetime.

[>HyperlogiK<]

can't you buy custom antennas with amplifiers built in? I'm sure I saw one in maplin.

[infinitevalence]

Just make sure you read the fine print for your contract, you may be getting your self into trouble shareing your lan with other poeple.

[four4875]

you would need a high gain omni or maybe get away with a sector antenna. and then they might need antennas mounted to the outside of their houses as well, would be alot of work, especially if you dont have a line of sight to their houses.

[chittnp]

if your using a linksys wrt54g, you can install the alchemy firmware from sveasoft, but the fcc has limits on how strong a signal a device can emit in the 2.4 Ghz spectrum. I would suggest using the modded firmware in conjunction with high gain antennas

[Maviryk]

You could make a parabolic dish using some mesh, not sure how efficient it would be over a few blocks though.

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template/

[wa77ss]

Does that work ? I would think the metal reflects the signal instead of harnessing it . It looks very easy, too bad I already bought the pricey Linksys wireless range extender. = (

[AMD Phreak]

You could put a wrt54g in an outdoor enclosure on the roof of your place with a high gain omni antenna. Couple this with 3rd party firmware which allows you to boost power (hyperwrt or similar). On the remote ends use something like pannel antennas tied to WRT54G's but run those in client mode which is done using 3rd party firmware again. Point the pannels to the omni and you should be fine at the distances you stated. If you need more of a directional signal you can use yagi antennas but they are more expensive.

[four4875]

if your using a linksys wrt54g, you can install the alchemy firmware from sveasoft, but the fcc has limits on how strong a signal a device can emit in the 2.4 Ghz spectrum. I would suggest using the modded firmware in conjunction with high gain antennas


the FCC limits the EIRP, or effective isotropic radiated power, which is radio output plus antenna gain, i think its limited to 36 db in the states for point to multipoint setups. so might want to keep that in mind when considering a plan of action.

the freeantennas thing is a really simple parabolic reflector, which reflects the direction and sorta concentrates it all i nthat direction. they are somewhat effective, i used one on my AP to get the signal through the aluminum siding on the trailor, and it made quite a difference. but it wont stand up for outdoor / somewhat long distance links.

[Herr Rogers]

Yeah. Pretty much what everyone is saying is correct. If you're looking to transceive, than the AP and the client both have to use antennas. Since there's probably a lot of buildings on your "block", therefore more resistance, you should REALLY consider putting the antenna on top of your home. Then, your buddies would need to get antennas for their PCMCIA cards. They need a pigtail, and then an antenna. With lots of experimenting, and by using different types of antennas, it is possible. Your speeds will be ueber crappy though if you are all browsing at the same time. And you mentioned one of them is a dude so he's probably streaming.... ;)

[wa77ss]

I had to get a wireless range extender just to get my signal to go from upstairs to downstairs. But I also live in a old house that has plaster walls. I hear plaster really gives radio signals a beating. And it is still a low signal.... =(

[Ddruid_SMP]

the FCC limits the EIRP, or effective isotropic radiated power, which is radio output plus antenna gain, i think its limited to 36 db in the states for point to multipoint setups. so might want to keep that in mind when considering a plan of action.

I used to know all this off the top of my head, IIRC the ruling is as follows:

For Point-To-MultiPoint: The max tx power before the antenna is 1watt w/total eirp not being greater than 36db. It is 1:1 for antenna gain above 6db. ie for a 9db omni the max tx power is 27db.

For Point-To-Point: Again max TX before antenna is 1watt, but for every 3db of antenna gain above 6db, you only have to lower tx power by 1db or 3:1. The max limit is 52db which is a 30db antenna and 22db tx power. ie: (30-6)/3 = 8, 30 - 8 = 22.

The AP is considered point-to-multipoint (if it's a sector it falls under different rules since it's intentional), but the clients are ptp.