PCA Forums

I had to install a wifi network for a business client. Needed to get wifi across the street (approx 125 feet) from one building to another, and the bandwidth needs to be high. These people are accessing lots of large Access database files from their server, and several very large Quickbooks Enterprise company files, so I needed performance comparable to 100Mbit LAN speeds.

So needless to say I needed 802.11N wifi gear, but the "N" gear is notorious for compatibility issues. Yeah it works, but you don't necessarily get anywhere near the speeds you're supposed to get most of the time.

I did a lot of research and came across several people in Newegg reviews that used used a particular combination of router and USB Wifi NIC that they claimed worked exceedingly well so I gave it a try. I must say it does indeed work very well. At a 125 feet I'm getting 5 bars on the PCs and bandwidth is very good. Indistinguishable from a 100Mbit LAN connection.

The Wifi router is mounted to a wall and the Wifi NICs are stuck to a window in the other building that roughly faces the building that contains the router. I'm using USB Wifi NICs and 15 foot USB extensions to get the NICs to the window and then using some double-sided tape to attach the NICs to the window.

The gear I'm using is as follows:

TRENDnet TEW-633GR 802.11N (Draft 2.0) Router (in bridge mode as n AP only): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6833156226

Rosewill RNX-N1MAC 802.11N (Draft 2.0) Wireless USB 2.0 NIC: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6833166026

Thanks FP, this may come in very handy for a job we're supposed to start in a few weeks where they want to connect one building to another across a parking lot.. My only problem is there aren't any windows of the main building that face the other building.. I'm thinking my only option may end up being to use directional antennas..

eGo

Always good to know.

I'm actually pretty impressed by my bedroom computer setup (don't like wireless, but it'd be a pain to run the wire to my bedroom without about 3 hours of work & 100ft of CAT6). Got THIS for $11 recently & it's connecting to my D-Link DL-524 (only wireless G). It's about 30ft from the router with about 3 walls between & I'm getting 54Mbps regularly. I use the computer for streaming video, so needless to say, I'm pretty happy.