Getting internet inside of a metal building

[strep3241]

We have a new building with metal sides and roof and we are trying to get internet inside of it. The building is roughly about 300 feet away from the house. We currently have cable internet with a router hooked up to it and 2 computers hooked up to the router.

If I take a laptop inside the building, either I can't pick up the network at all or it is only has 1 bar for strength. But if I step outside on the porch, I can get up to 3 bars. I want to be able to use it inside the building close to full strength.

My question is what is the best way to do this? Is there a way to do this without running an ethernet line from the house to the building? Do they make something that is wireless(some kind of signal booster) that can pick up the internet from the router that I can attach to the building?

I found wireless repeaters on ebay that looks pretty simple to use. Would I have to have the laptop connected to that repeater? Would I be better off buying some better antennas for the router or should I do both? How do I know which antenna will work with my router?

 

[kornphlake]

A wireless bridge (or router configured as a bridge) with a remote antenna mounted on the outside of the building should do the trick. You'll have to plug in directly to the bridge or configure another access point inside the building, I'm not sure if a router with WDS enabled will work right with the antenna outside the building.

 

[JackMDS]

Remote Antenna is never a good idea with WIFI (2.4GHz).

Get an outdoor Access Point with POE and configure it as a Wireless Bridge.

Feed via cable a to a Regular Access Point (LAN Port to LAN Port) the signal and you got a self made Two Radios Repeater that does not cut the Signal.


😎

 

[strep3241]

Forgive me but all of that sounds complicated. Just to clarify, no wires has to be hooked up to the first router to do what you are talking about, right?

Would something like this work?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wireless-30...osters_Extenders_Antennas&hash=item232405046d

I don't mind if I have to directly connect to the device. It would be nice to be wireless inside the building but is not a must.

Where would be a good place to buy stuff like this, Best Buy, Office Depot? What about if I want to talk to someone about this?

 

[ch33zw1z]

More like this: http://www.neweggbusiness.com/Produ...s+AP/Bridge-_-Cisco+Small+Business-_-33124265

Configured as a bridge.

Find a good place to set that up outside, you'll need to run a cable into the building, then get one of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ss-Accessories

here's a pic of what it will generally look like when done. distances will be different of course 🙂

The injector will supply the PoE (Power over Ethernet) to power the AP outside. You could also go with a PoE switch if you wanted to..

If everthing can be wired in the building, plug the AP into a switch, plug other devices into the switch, and you should be good to go.

here's what the config will look like:

 

[skyking]

No window facing the house?

 

[strep3241]

More like this: http://www.neweggbusiness.com/Produ...s+AP/Bridge-_-Cisco+Small+Business-_-33124265

Configured as a bridge.

Find a good place to set that up outside, you'll need to run a cable into the building, then get one of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ss-Accessories

here's a pic of what it will generally look like when done. distances will be different of course 🙂

The injector will supply the PoE (Power over Ethernet) to power the AP outside. You could also go with a PoE switch if you wanted to..

If everthing can be wired in the building, plug the AP into a switch, plug other devices into the switch, and you should be good to go.

here's what the config will look like:

I may be wrong but all this seems way to complicated. For one, I am not paying $400 for that WAP. And two, why couldn't I just plug the laptop directly into the WAP? Why do I need more than one device?

No window facing the house?

There is no window directly facing the house. Why are you asking?

One more note, the building has an porch so whatever I do get, it does not need to be mounted outside in the weather. What about that repeater I linked too, will that work?

 

[ch33zw1z]

There is no window directly facing the house. Why are you asking?

One more note, the building has an porch so whatever I do get, it does not need to be mounted outside in the weather. What about that repeater I linked too, will that work?

1. He's asking because a window will help the signal make it through YOUR METAL BUILDING, lol

2. That repeater may work. For $20, buy it and find out. Tell us how it goes. Seriously. I'm not clear on where exactly you want to set it up though, thoughts?

3. If this is all too confusing for you, maybe look into hiring someone around your area to find out what's recommended and to assist setting it up. Cmon, I even spent 5 minutes whipping up a diagram to make it easy for you to visualize.

4. You can buy whatever AP you choose, I was just giving as example of what JackMDS meant.

 

[kevnich2]

You ask for help then respond to every one who posts correct solutions for your issue that its too complicated and too expensive?

 

[skyking]

There is no window directly facing the house. Why are you asking?

I was hoping you were lucky enough to have one in the right place. It eliminates all that outside rated equipment. You can beam a long ways, window to window with inexpensive directional antennas and entry level gear.

 

[strep3241]

Well, I went ahead and bought the wireless repeater I linked to earlier and it does the job. I can now get internet inside the building. I have to have the repeater plugged in on the porch for it to work. I can't get full strength but do get 3 bars using the laptop wirelessly. If I want full strength, I can just run a wire to the laptop, no biggie. I tried plugging the repeater inside the building but it would not pick up the signal, I thought maybe I would get lucky.

Now I can't decide if I want a laptop or desktop to use in the building. One thing it will be used for is a credit card machine will be hooked up to it for about a month or so. It may get used to look up parts for farm equipment. Other than that, it will be sitting most of the time.

And sorry if I seemed a little rude earlier. I just didn't think all that equipment was absolutely necessary. I kind of already had my mind made up on that repeater. I just wanted to make sure that was going to work before I bought it.

 

[JackMDS]

Repeater cuts the Bandwidth into half.

You are better off using a Wireless Router configured as a Wireless client to get the signal and then feed it with short cable to a Regular Wireless Router.

In doing it so you actually building your own repeater with two Radios and thus No bandwidth cutting, have the choice to use Directional Antenna on the Bridge and Omni on the regular Wireless router, and the capacity to install each unit in a location more suitable for its purpose.


😎

 

[strep3241]

Would I be able to leave the repeater plugged in out there all winter? Even though it has a roof over it, it is still exposed to the temps.

Instead of using a wireless router to feed another router inside, why couldn't I just pick up the signal with a laptop from the first router on the porch? I could be wrong but doesn't a router send out a stronger signal than a repeater like I bought? Or will all the metal affect the signal too much to get it inside the building?

If I want full strength, I can always run a cable from the repeater to the computer. That seems much simpler than installing multiple routers. I realize that we would lose the convenience of wireless capability but in our situation right now, that is not an issue. The computer will stay in one spot in this building.