Wireless Internet Connection HELP! Pictures inside

[N3rv]

All right I have a wireless network situation. Basically where I live I can have DSL or Wireless internet. I want to go with the wireless connection because it is much much cheaper than DSL and is much faster as well.

I can get wireless 3.0Mbit connection both ways for 39.99 a month no contracts
Or DSL 1.5 Mbit down, 256Kbit up for 59.99 + 14.99 phone line 1 year contract
So that clears up why I want wireless first off.

Basically I am just on the edge of wireless availability, about 300 yards or less from the closest Access Point. The way the wireless works is once you get a connection on your card, you connect over wireless VIA a PPTP VPN.

I first just tried my Belkin Wireless G PCI card in the window pointed, but I couldn’t even pick up any network at all. Next I tried the same card with a 8DB antenna that I borrowed from my friend. Now I currently sit at 1-2bars (about 30% strength) with a 1 to 11Mbit signal. But the connection drops a lot and it mainly sits around 1 bar with 1Mbit connection. I tried tweaking the direction with Netstumbler showing signal to noise, but where it is at seems the best so far.

What I’m wondering is what you guys suggest to get my signal up to around 4 bars so I can get a nice steady 36Mbit or higher on their Wireless G. I was thinking about buying some type of small parabolic dish to stick outside on a 3 foot pole, or just getting one of those tall (3-4 foot) non directional antennas with around a 20DB gain. A far as I know you can’t connect to the wireless with a router (I think its un tested) so it needs to hook to computer so I can use software VPN in windows or whichever other once I choose.

But I’m open to any suggestions

Few shots below to help explain the situation.

Quick shot of signial
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/8360/vpnfd9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Here is a shot of netstumbler
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/3926/netstumbleroo7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Back of computer by window
http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/6567/gainxt6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Excuse the Ghetto equipment in the lawn, their working on it...
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/4205/frontlawnln2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Here is the AP just behind the metal shed in the last picture.
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8785/apcy3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And a over head to show you how far it really is, right from the providers site.
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/616/overheadgk8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[N3rv]

I've also noticed that the wireless nic after a few hours randomly stops working and doesn't show any networks at all not even the wireless G router sitting in the same room as it. I think the card it's self is unstable, or perhaps the antenna is drawing to much power from the card causing it to crash out? Any ideas?

The card is a Belkin wireless G v3

[sandmanx]

If I understand right, once you get a connection, I assume you get an IP assigned, then connect via PPTP...right?

You should be able to do this with dd-wrt, then you could weatherproof it and use a small directional dish on your roof, and run a cat 5 cable to your machine. DD-wrt is fully capable of connectioning via PPTP on it's own. I'm sure there are other distros that could do this as well. I'm thinking if you can clear any obstacles, you should be able to maintain a strong connection without having to screw with a wifi card and any high loss coax to get a signal to your machine.

[N3rv]

Yes, once you get an Ip, (It's give via dhcp) you connect over that IP with PPTP vnp protocol.

I've played with Linksys routers a little bit, but never installed a custom firmware on them. I got an extra one around the office than I can use with a Yagi tube-antenna (Think pringles can).

Is there any version of the Wrt54g that will not work with dd-wrt? I just had a wrt54g V6 in the office and I didn't see firmware for them on their site. Should I make sure to get a V5 or even lower?

Also the Yagi uses a type F connect I believe, I think I need an adapter for the router.

[sandmanx]

It will run on v5 and v6, but it's a stripped to the bone version. I'm not sure if it will support what you need to do this.


If the pringles can doesn't work well, you might want to try getting a 24DBi parabolic. I picked one up for ~$40 if I remember right. It uses a PL-259 connector, but of course converting it to whatever you need is simple.