RadioBanter - WIFI DXin

In article ,
DJboutit wrote:

I am looking to do some WIFI DX here in the setup I am looking to get 12 to
15 db gain antenna 30ft to 40ft singal booster/amp. How much range would I
expect to get with this setup also where can I get this stuff kinda cheap
online.

A guy I spoke with a while ago, runs a number of point-to-point
networks of 7-10 miles, using standard (nonamplified) 802.11b cards
(typically around 30 milliwatts) and parabolic/Yagi gain antennas in
the 18-21 dBi range. He said that this combination leaves him with
plenty of fade margin... he was not complementary about people who
create such links by just "blasting away" with high-power transmitters
and low-gain antennas.

On a miles-per-dollar basis, I think you'd get the best results by
using high-gain antennas, with the cards / access points mounted right
at the antenna. Run an Ethernet cable up the mast, and use the extra
two pairs in the cable to carry DC. This will minimize signal loss in
the coax, which adds up very fast at 2.4 GHz, and may save you the
high cost of low-loss 2.4-gig coax or hardline and the even higher
cost of a good amplifier.

Amplifiers are rather expensive, and there are some significant
regulatory issues involved in their use. It's not difficult to push
your ERP up above the level that Part 15 allows... when you do, you
have to start playing by Part 97 rules (assuming that you have a ham
license) with all of the frequency and usage restrictions that come
with this Part. Some vendors will not sell higher-powered 2.4-gig
amplifiers except to people who can prove that they have ham licenses.

http://www.wlanparts.com/ is one source for such antennas.

http://www.maxrad.com/ is another, although their products seem
to be commercial-premium-quality and are priced accordingly.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
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