wireless internet ?

[azimuth 5,000+ posts]

i have a computer in my work shed in the back yard with wireless. i can get on line fine inside the house but in the shed, which is about 50 feet from the modem inside, i get no signal at all. i extended the antenna from the back of the computer and put it on the outside of the shed thinking that the metal building could interfere with the signal. nothing. anyone know of a way to strengthen the signal from the modem? how long of a wire can i run to the back of the computer in the shed before it's too long to carry a signal? i'd love to have a computer with internet out there. it's my "bitching wife free zone". not to mention how handy it would be when i'm taking apart things to see how bad i can break it before looking it up.

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[DaGh0st 5,000+ posts]

i had a 50' wire it worked great just buy one off ebay.

as to a better signal i dont know.

 

[Ferendon 10+ year member]

50 ft @ cat5

60 ft @ cat5e

100 ft @ cat6

 

[azimuth 5,000+ posts]

50 ft @ cat560 ft @ cat5e

100 ft @ cat6

perfect. thank you

 

[miker 5,000+ posts]

Looks to spend about 10$ on the 50ft..

 

[sickofsoyo 10+ year member]

what signal type are you using? I have draft N, and it reaches throughout the house, I can even get my network across the street at a neighbors. My router is in my basement as well. I would also check to see if there are other people with networks. When more people have networks, they are most likely on the same frequency, and cause interference. I think your best bet would be to try a different signal type, such as N, or move your wireless modem closer to a window\ to a different floor where the signal may radiate out further.

 

[95ZJ 10+ year member]

Need a better router that outputs a more powerful signal.

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

cantenna?

 

[azimuth 5,000+ posts]

Need a better router that outputs a more powerful signal.

it's 2.4 ghz, which i thought went fairly far. the 2.4 ghz cordless phone works fine out there. i'm assuming that it works similar to a cordless phone.

 

[jer_stud56 10+ year member]

Plenty of things can interfere with the signal...not just the shed itself. One of your best bets is to buy the Linksys WRT54G and modify it using 3rd party software to have a stronger and farther signal.

I have a Linksys WRT54GX4:

WRT54GX4 has 3 moveable antennas, and is advertised to have 10 times the speed and 3 times the range over standard 802.11g routers.

I found one on ebay 2 years ago for like 50 bucks, but when I looked again they were like 200 so no idea....but it my parents house (back when i was still in high school) I could go on all three floors and go to my neighbors house with no problem. I still use it today in my house and it goes throughout the entire house and outside also with no problem. Look for this same router online...maybe you'll get lucky and find one decently cheap.

Infact, I found one for 60 for you. I guess the prices went back down? I don't know...

Direct link to the $60 one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Linksys-WRT54GX4-802-11b-g-MIMO-router-with-SRX400_W0QQitemZ110240721124QQihZ001QQcategoryZ91356QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

And a list of some others (non-buy it now)

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=WRT54GX4&category0=

 

[azimuth 5,000+ posts]

i'm already using zyxel software. i'm gonna try getting some cat6 and wire a long antenna.

 

[Stel 10+ year member]

i'm already using zyxel software. i'm gonna try getting some cat6 and wire a long antenna.

Cat6 isn't for an antenna, it's for hardwiring your network connection, ie from the router to the shed. The official ethernet spec for this maximum wire length is 100m (~325ft) for 100MB/s using solid CAT 5,5e or 6 wire. The premade ethernet cords with plugs on each end are usually stranded and their maximum distance is a lot less, but I've seen them work at 50-100 feet. If you are using stranded I wouldn't use less than CAT 6 and it should be rated for direct burial and outdoor use or it might not last long.

 

[Terranova 10+ year member]

get a N router, i have a draft n at home and i can access it throughout the house and down the street a ways.