Options for More Wireless Reach in Rural Setting

[stlsailor]

Some rural family members have AT&T DSL at their house (modem Westell E90-610030-06). They have an ASUS RT-N66R router which they use for wireless.

They need to get wireless to a building about 1/4 to 1/3 mile away (some trees in between). The wireless signal reaches but the speed is so slow that it is not practically usable. I'm looking at several options and would like thoughts.

1. A newer longer range router, say an ASUS AC-RT88U.
2. A directional antenna, or a high gain antenna.
3. Ensuring that the equipment in the building is using N or AC, and is 2.4Ghz for greater range (given it's rural I don't expect a lot of interference). The equipment used in the building is an Android phone, an iPad, and a PC.
4. Putting another router in the building set up as WDS bridge. I understand that will only give me half speed, though.
5. Putting a range extender in the building or another router iset up as a range extender.
6. Update router firmware (an update is available). Don't expect this to increase the range, though.
7. Something else.

There is no place between the house and the building to mount a range extender so any equipment would have to be put in the building where the signal is already very weak.

What are your thoughts on these options?

Dale

 

[VirtualLarry]

If you don't have LoS, I'm not sure wireless N is going to work, at all, at those distances. (You mention AC and 2.4Ghz. 802.11ac is only on 5Ghz, and 5Ghz has poor range.)

I'd call a local data contractor, and get a quote for trenching a fiber-optic cable between locations. That's only if you have right-of-way between both locations as well.

Edit: Another option is cellular data. Can get expensive though.

 

[JackMDS]

Extender cuts the Signal into half past iys circuits, so it is a wash.

No matter what the Wireless can not work from inside the source building and received in a working strength inside the destination.

The only thing that worth while to try (before taking the best solution that mentioned above, fiber optics}.

High Gain directional Antennas put on a weather protected pro APs installed on a tall masts and fed by CAT6 cable from the main Router, and into Internal AP in the destination.

This site as many hardware solution for such project.

http://www.data-alliance.net/ubiquiti-antennas/

 

[MrBill10]

1/3 mile...? I live on a farm and get my internet via wifi from the provider. I have a dish on the roof pointed at the tower 5 miles away, with trees in the way that mess everything up in a good wind. I've worked with the installer to optimize the signal, and I know it's 2.4GHz... 1/3 mile seems very doable.

 

[JackMDS]

WIFI, when outdoor with clear Line of site (LOS) can go far.

The same hardware when indoor or no LOS can cover only fraction of the distance.

That is the way 2.4 GHz works. On the other hand 14 MHz (CQ 20) can go all over the world with100 Wat transmission.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Fiber is a great option, the hardware on each side and cabling between, and a WAP at the remote building

Ubuquiti makes some powerhouse airfiber, a bit overkill probably.

It's tough to make recommendations without a budget to reference

 

[Engineer]

How about Ubiquiti LocoM900 units or the likes. You can use them up to 10km line of sight or 3000 feet or so not line of sight. Could attach a wireless AP to the other end to distribute the incoming signal.

I've tested these at 1,800 feet with a full set of homes, trees, hill between the access point and the client and still had two of five bars signal.

Cost about $116 each. Units are outdoor rated and come with a POE injector power adapter (i.e. only need to run one Ethernet cable from the POE injector to the AP / Client for power and signal.