NetworkFilter: Extend My Network

August 12, 2005 1:52 PM

What equipment to I need to wirelessly extend my network to another building and offer standard wired ethernet ports in that building? How should that hardware be configured?

Ideally, the solution should make use of my wireless enabled router from Qwest.

Geography Background: The building in question is my garage. It is close enough to my current AP such that I can use a PC Card in a laptop and get a good signal when I'm inside the garage.

posted by kc0dxh to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

You need a wireless ethernet bridge and a router. There may be products that are access points that can function as bridges, but I don't know of an exact model. Maybe try a Netgear ME101 with a hub.
posted by GuyZero at 2:05 PM on August 12, 2005

a Linksys WRT54G with Freeman Basic will get you going for under $60.
posted by quadrinary at 2:30 PM on August 12, 2005

When shopping for access points, you may also want to invest in a directional antenna, and an access point with an external antenna point, depending on the distance between your buildings and any interference between them.

The Cisco Aironet 1300 is a relatively inexpensive "enterprise-level" AP with external antenna function, and it can bridge wireless and wired networks. You can also power the 1300 over an Ethernet connection, with the help of a power injector.

You can build a directional antenna from a Pringles can, or buy something a little nicer looking.
posted by Rothko at 2:36 PM on August 12, 2005