802.11 question?

[nhbilly]

What is the range of wireless?
Is it possible to share network connection between neighbors?
Say about a 100Ft. Is that to far for wireless?

Thanks.

[spigidygak]

Uhm, it all depends how much wall you got separating you from the unit. I'd say I can get about 200 feet away with a sufficient connection for internet. But the more walls and etc, the more poor the signal gets.

[Memo]

It really does depend on both the hardware and the obstacles. Getting good hardware is a must. The top of the line would probably be the Cisco cards or Lucent Orinoco silver and gold cards. If it's only 100 feet, it SHOULD work, but again, can't guarantee it.

[Jeffbx]

All it takes is an extra antenna. If the signal doesn't make it to your neighbor's house, if your WAP supports it you can add an external antenna outside of your house pointing at your neighbor.

Your WAP needs to have a removeable antenna on it so you can connect another one to it. Unfortunately, they are pretty pricy but you can pick them up for cheap on ebay - just search for 'wireless antenna'.

[nhbilly]

Thanks guys.
Seem like a expensive porject.

[Bandito]

Yes it probably has a good chance to make it that far if you don't have to go through too many walls and floors... but the next question you need to ask is will it be full speed? probably not...

I can do 50 feet through maybe 3 walls and still get full speed, but it drops quickly after that. Outside interference can hinder performance too.

If it were me I would consider waiting til the next generation comes out. I love my 3COM system and 'could' not live without it, but we are on all day long...

[spigidygak]

Yep lil' expensive. You actually might be better off just connecting each house with one cat5e wire across underground covered in a pvc pipe or something and just have a router on bot ends or something.

[DeepFreeze]

but i do know netowkring and wireless. that wireless network you are thinking about uses 2.4GHz frequency range. which means, you better not have a 2.4 ghz cordless phone in the same house.when that phone rings. it WILL cause problems. i used to work for panasonic /matu****a company. we had calls about this lots of time. so be aware.