Wireless Networking

Wireless networking involves using a wireless broadband router is internet is terrestrial broadband and internet and/or local network is to shared over short line of sight distances without too many impediments - colorbond or galvanised iron walls, concrete or stone walls and floors.

Range - Varies greatly depending on building cladding, landscaping (trees) and especially distance. See notes on WG102 managed wireless access point (below)

Access Point connects to an ethernet network or broadband router and transmits a wireless signal which enables wireless-configured computers to join the same network.

External Aerial requires a coaxial connection to an access point plus a network (blue ethernet) cable connection to a network switch or broadband router.

Wireless sharing of USB delivered satellite internet (as some Telstra two way satellite systems) may be problematic. Might be able to achieved by:

*Setting up internet sharing on the host computer:

DirecPC Install Internet Sharing  This may work with the Telstra DirecWay setup.

or

*By using an old product called wingate which may not now be available.

Wireless Equipment:

Netgear WG602 wireless access point Retail AUD149 - Range not stated.

Netgear WG302 managed wireless access point  Retail AUD500. Accepts various Netgear wireless aerials and appears suited for longer range reception. 9 watt output.

WG102 managed wireless access point  Retail AUD260. 4 Watt output. I found it had an extended range over the WG602 - from within one building (colour bond clad) to the verandah of another about 20 metres away. More than twenty metres between buildings would definitely require one or two antennae.

Outdoor Antennae

Specifications Netgear Antennae and cables etc  - Note attenuation in coaxial cable depending on length.

Netgear 2409 9dbi external vertical rod-type antenna.  Lightning protection additional.

ANT24D18 external pad-type aerial 14dbi Approx AUD350

Dlink Products

DLink Wireless products  DLink have a wide range of indoor and external wireless antennae, access points etc.

Location of access points, antennae are critical to a successful wireless network.

A wired alternative to a wireless solution:

Netgear Powerline - units that extend your network and plug into a powerpoint  The XE104 is a network extender and the XE103  a network adapter. These products are guaranteed to work over a single phase. If there is more than one phase in an establishment then there may be sufficient leakage for them to work between phases.

Online notes and further reading:

HP Wireless LAN productivity  There are other sections - see the right hand column of this link.