How to run network over fairly long distances... possible to use ethernet?

[plzdontbetaken]

I've come across a problem where I need to get internet in my garage... but AT&T cannot offer any more lines in my area.

I have DSL at my house. The garage is between 400 and 1000ish feet away depending on how the cable is run. The direct route is a challenge due to rock.

Running network cable isn't my area of expertise, so I am hoping someone can help me out. How can I share the internet in my house with my garage when the distance is so far away.

I would prefer a solution that is cheap and simple. From what I understand, the distance might be too far to run an ethernet cable directly from my router to a switch in the garage.

I do not need gigabit speeds, so I don't mind compromising transfer speed for the distance. I want to minimize cost while maintaining as good of connection as possible.

Thanks

[EniGmA1987]

You can use a product like Ghost Bridge if you really dont want to run the wires:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AK36bBswJA
http://www.bb-elec.com/bb-elec/liter...TBRIDGE_ds.pdf


But Ethernet is rated to 1000 meters I think, might be 1000 feet. Either way, it should work fine especially if you buy good quality stuff like Cat6a that is nicely shielded. The cost to go through rocket might end up being much higher than the cost of that Ghost Bridge though. To get the good quality ethernet wire and the pvc conduit to run it through would probably cost $300, then you have to pay someone to get it through the rock.

[Scubar]

Best bet would probably to find a good strong wireless router. I used to have the below Wireless router and the signal was very strong even up when i was down my street.

http://compnetworking.about.com/od/r.../belkin-n1.htm

Couple that with a Wireless N PCI card and an External Antenna

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833156054 - Wireless N PCI Adaptor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833989002 - External Omnidirectional Antenna ( Get this as close to the window or door as possible )

That should get you by just fine if you dont mind the cost.

Normal Cat5/6 cable will reach about 400ft at a real push, if you used and extender you might get 500ft but 1000ft is probably way over the top where as Wireless will get you there no problems.

[plzdontbetaken]

You can use a product like Ghost Bridge if you really dont want to run the wires:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AK36bBswJA
http://www.bb-elec.com/bb-elec/liter...TBRIDGE_ds.pdf

Thanks I will look at one of these.

Best bet would probably to find a good strong wireless router. I used to have the below Wireless router and the signal was very strong even up when i was down my street.

http://compnetworking.about.com/od/r.../belkin-n1.htm

Couple that with a Wireless N PCI card and an External Antenna

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833156054 - Wireless N PCI Adaptor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833989002 - External Omnidirectional Antenna ( Get this as close to the window or door as possible )

That should get you by just fine if you dont mind the cost.

Normal Cat5/6 cable will reach about 400ft at a real push, if you used and extender you might get 500ft but 1000ft is probably way over the top where as Wireless will get you there no problems.

Thanks. I will measure to get an accurate length. Wireless may be the way to go.

[OldChap]

Gigabit cabling ie 1000BASE‑T or TX running on Twisted-pair cabling (Cat‑5, Cat‑5e, Cat‑6, or Cat‑7) is limited to around 100 meters although people often remark that 120 meters is not a problem

1000BASE‑SX known as Multi-mode fiber will do 220 to 550 meters dependent on fiber diameter and bandwidth. 1000BASE‑LX will be good for 550 Meters

I resolved to run fiber and bought a couple of secondhand NetGear ProSafe (GS724TS) switches (and GBIC's) to put at each end but there are other choices.

[plzdontbetaken]

Since I already have a wireless network running through my house I have been looking at wireless range extenders. Can anyone give me suggestions?

Here are two I found:

• Engenius ERB9250 300Mbps Wireless N Range Extender (http://www.amazon.com/ERB9250-300MB-.../dp/B002YK1B8Y)
• Hawking HWREN1 Hi-Gain Wireless-300N Range Extender (http://www.amazon.com/Hawking-HWREN1.../ref=pd_cp_e_0)

I also found this outdoor access point:

• ENH200EXT (http://www.engeniustech.com/index.ph...6125-enh200ext)

I think the outdoor one would actually be best. I just have one question about how to connect one of these to my network: do they need to be wired into the network or can they connect my wireless router over the air to boost the signal?

Also, the wireless network in my house is wireless "G" and these devices say they work with b/g/n so I am assuming that would work okay.

[EniGmA1987]

Ya you guys are right. I dont know why I was thinking 1000, the actual specification is 100 meters for cat6 @ gigabit speeds.



Almost always you have the access points/range extenders connect through a wire. They usually do not grab onto and then pass on a wireless signal from the network.
You may think about upgrading your main router to wireless N and using that as it is faster and has longer range, then use that high gain range extender with its wireless-n to push the signal farther. I know with my Cisco(Linksys) E4200 I can send the signal through two 6" thick concrete walls and 600' away and still get internet access. It is kinda slow because of the latency and the signal strength is low, but it does work. That is just the older v1 model too, the newer v2 model does and even better job at pushing the signal through walls and maintaining better dual band speeds. And that is just the crappy internal antennas in the router, a 27db high gain extender would easily do that job.

[OldChap]

Before we go on may I ask what you want to run in the garage?

[plzdontbetaken]

Before we go on may I ask what you want to run in the garage?

I only need to share a dsl internet connection. Basically it is for emails... which is why I am trying to figure out the cheapest way to do it.

[HuffPCair]

Are you renting a room in your garage or something?

If not just get a smart phone lol

I personally would run cable mainly cause the connection would be a lot more predictable and safer. Would be more work, but worth it in my mind, but when I get a garage I will want internet to it so I can look up motorcycle parts or car parts when I am out there.

[bot@xs]

have a look at something like this
http://www.netsys-direct.com/proddet...od=NH-310CEKIT

in any case thou, i would opt for fiber too.

[OldChap]

If the power to the garage is fed from the house then maybe one of those powerline adaptors would work .... this one says it will work up to 300 meters http://www.trendnet.com/products/pro...01&status=view

[plzdontbetaken]

have a look at something like this
http://www.netsys-direct.com/proddet...od=NH-310CEKIT
in any case thou, i would opt for fiber too.

I think this will work well. Anyone have anything to say about this unit? It runs the network over coax cable and claims to support 200Mbps over 4,000 feet. It will connect the garage to my house for $149 plus cost of coax cabling.

I will have to bury the cable... but I think it will be more reliable than a wireless solution.

I like this solution better than using wireless. Any comments before I purchase it?

[madman2233]

if you decide not to run wires, i suggest Ubiquiti NanoStation Loco M2 http://streakwave.com/Itemdesc.asp?ic=LocoM2

$50/each, they will work great for what you need. One on each side.

I work for a WISP (wireless internet service provider) and we have used these for some shorter links off our main buildings.

[plzdontbetaken]

if you decide not to run wires, i suggest Ubiquiti NanoStation Loco M2 http://streakwave.com/Itemdesc.asp?ic=LocoM2

$50/each, they will work great for what you need. One on each side.

I work for a WISP (wireless internet service provider) and we have used these for some shorter links off our main buildings.

I may try those before I pay to have this cable buried. Thanks for the tip. Those seem to be a good suggestion. It is good to know they worked well enough for a WISP.

[plzdontbetaken]

if you decide not to run wires, i suggest Ubiquiti NanoStation Loco M2 http://streakwave.com/Itemdesc.asp?ic=LocoM2

$50/each, they will work great for what you need. One on each side.

I work for a WISP (wireless internet service provider) and we have used these for some shorter links off our main buildings.

I just wanted to write back. I ended up getting the Loco M5 version so I didn't have to worry about interference. Have been using them for a little while and they work very well. Thanks for pointing me in that direction.