Is there an inexpensive solution available for a multi-home wireless
LAN?  Homes are within 1200 ft of eachother.  I currently have a
wireless router with a cable modem connection and am looking for a way
to extend my wireless LAN to include a neighbor who is about 1200 feet
away.  Please provide specific product suggestions and documentation
of similare undertakings.

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Clarification of Question by beanblog-ga on 14 Dec 2004 16:25 PST

leperflesh: Thanks for the references for cantennas and cantenna kits.
 It looks like they would be able to span the distance I am looking
at.  Now I am left with the question of how to actually set the
network up.  I currently have a NetGear mr814 wireless router
connected to my cable modem which creates my in-home network.  My
neighbor (1200 feet away) has the same setup.  Is there any way to use
a repeater, range extender, or my existing wireless router as means to
recieve and retransmit the wireless signal from the neighbor?  That
is, what kind of equipment would I need, besides the directional
antenna, in order to pick up the wireless signal from 1200 feet away
and repeat it in a bubble that will cover my house?

Your average wireless router will only reach about 50 feet. At around
50ft you might still get a signal, but it will be weak and slow.
Repeaters could extend the range and power of this signal, but the
speed would remain slow. A typical wireless router costs US$60-$120
and repeaters are about $50. You didn't define "cheap", but my guess
is that you mean < $200, to which I say no. There are "wifi cannons"
out there that could throw a wireless signal up to a mile or more, but
those are definitely not "cheap".

Actually it is a much easier problem than drappo-ga makes it out to
be. You are not trying to reach everyone in a 1200-foot radius:
rather, you only want to reach your neighbor. Your neighbor just needs
to use a basic directional antenna. He can either mount a directional
antenna directly to his wireless device or computer, or, he can attach
one to a repeater in his house. Then, he just points the antenna
towards your house and rotates to get the optimal connection.

I found this website which tells you how to build a directional wifi
antenna using a tin can for about $5:
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

Try this google search: ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=pringles+can+antenna

to find many websites detailing how to make a powerful directional
antenna using an empty Pringles potato chip can.

Otherwise, you can buy a directional WiFi antenna for $100-$200. 1200
feet should be completely do-able for your neighbor to get a decent
connection from your house.

-Lep

I haven't tried conecting an antenna to a LAN or other 1/10th watt
source, but it will work if you make the connection properly and the
high gain antenna is desingned for the frequency of the LAN or
repeater. Connecting an antenna is likely ilegal, so don't, if you
have enemies who may report you to the FCC or equivent in your
country.   Neil