Can I do this???...Wired LAN to Wireless LAN through 2 houses

[zlady]

Hi all,
I'm sitting at my parent's house which is the place we all go when we want to play LAN games. There are 8 computers here connected via a Linksys 8 port switch and a Linksys Wireless AP/Router/Switch so the computers all share internet access and there's the wireless connection for computers with wireless adapters. It just so happens that my fiance and I are buying a house two doors down from my parents. I have an idea and I'd like to know if it will work. We have 8 computers that will be located in our house but they all have wired network cards in them and are already connected to each other using a Linksys Broadband Router/Switch (and we DON'T want to buy all new wireless cards).

So, can we (without replacing wired cards with wireless ones):

1. Connect our LAN in our house to the LAN in my parent's house? Will it really reach that distance (maybe 30 yards but through another house)? What piece of equipment would I have to add to connect to the Wireless AP (if that's what I'll be doing)? Would gaming performance be ok?

2. Use the broadband internet access at my parent's from our house? Would performance be ok?

Thank you to anyone who can respond!

Zlady

 

[JackMDS]

To connect the two networks, all you need is a one unit like the Linksys WET11, or D-Link 900AP+ in client mode. (about $90).

You plug it to a port on your Wired Router or switch, and with the right configuration the two networks will be connected.

Problem would be 30 yards. If you have unobstructed line of view it will work, otherwise you will have to install a good external Antenna.

On Wireless Modes here:

Wireless Network - Configuration Modes.

External Antennae here: 2.4GHz aux. Antennae.

 

[ktwebb]

Through a house? Like Jack mentioned you'd need an external antenna but you would also most likely need to elevate the antenna as well to get line of sight. Perhaps if the house is made of rice paper.

 

[zlady]

It's amazing just how far we would go for our LAN and internet access. I'm trying to figure out how to make just one wall out of rice paper, haha. Thank you both for your response. That was exactly what I needed to know!

Zlady

 

[dmcowen674]

Get one of the new dual band 802.11 a and 802.11b/g boxes. The 802.11a is on 5 GHZ band which will penetrate through houses easier. You should make the distance. I am sure the 802.11b would not make the distance though with objects in the way.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Get one of the new dual band 802.11 a and 802.11b/g boxes. The 802.11a is on 5 GHZ band which will penetrate through houses easier.

This is not so.

Most of the evaluations show that while the Bandwidth is better. Distance and penetration is the same or less than 802.11b.

 

[wyvrn]

You can make your own external antenna from from cheap materials like a pringles can. A useful link to get you started. Do this at your own risk, of course.

Another link from O'reilly's.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: JackMDS

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Get one of the new dual band 802.11 a and 802.11b/g boxes. The 802.11a is on 5 GHZ band which will penetrate through houses easier.

This is not so.

Most of the evaluations show that while the Bandwidth is better. Distance and penetration is the same or less than 802.11b.

:Q . That would suck. I haven't had a chance to test the 5 GHZ version yet but just ordered a $1,000 worth for a client, guess I'll find out soon enough how it works. Just trying to shoot the signal across the street (Business building to business building). I'm confident I'll get the signal there no matter what though otherwise Wireless would be useless.

 

[ktwebb]

Shorter wavelengths the higher up the spectrum you go. 5 Ghz does not penetrate as well as the lower frequencies, for WLAN use 2.4 Ghz and 900 Mhz. You should be ok if you have line of sight. Wireless is certainly not useless however it's always smart to find out a little bit about a technology before you dive in head first.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: ktwebb
Shorter wavelengths the higher up the spectrum you go. 5 Ghz does not penetrate as well as the lower frequencies, for WLAN use 2.4 Ghz and 900 Mhz. You should be ok if you have line of sight. Wireless is certainly not useless however it's always smart to find out a little bit about a technology before you dive in head first.

While the above is true, it is also easier to hit the target with the higher freqs than with lower freqs that tend to scatter, hence needing the focalized directional antennas to help hit the target. It's all about trade offs with RF and finding the right balance that works best.

 

[JackMDS]

I do not think that the 802.11a has any apparent ?functional? technological advantage over the 802.11g.

As you know an efficient Antenna has to be designed to reflect the wavelength of the transmission, since the 801.11a frequency is higher the antenna can be smaller and small size is somewhat more flexible.

However, the "a" idea came mainly as a commercial idea to try to capture the higher bandwidth market before the 802.11g comes out. Linksys already pulled out from the 802.11a "only" market (they will do combos), and by next year I doubt that you will see any.