Networking 2 Houses

I want to run a network line between my and my parents house which is 400-500ft apart.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Peter

 

Well, you usually max out with Cat5 at 100 yards. Do you have a building with power in between them to put in a repeater? I have heard of line of site wireless working well at that distance.

 

I would reccomend using a VPN.

 

Yeah I am not concerned about speed so even if i could just get 10mbps that would be fine--I don't know if that would allow me to have a run longer than 100yds. I was thinking about fiber but i don't know much about it.

I don't want to do wireless for reliability reasons.

And VPN won't be a solution here.

 

Google says that length would be no problem for fiber: "For comparison, while single-line, voice-grade copper systems longer than a couple of kilometers require in-line signal repeaters for satisfactory performance; it is not unusual for optical systems to go over 100 kilometers (60 miles), with no active or passive processing. Single-mode fiber cables are commonly available in 12 km lengths, minimizing the number of splices required over a long cable run. Multi-mode fiber is available in lengths up to 4 km, although industrial standards only mandate 2 km unbroken runs."

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiber-optic_communication

I don't know much about it, I know the end connections can be a bit hard to do, special equipment is needed. And you would need some type of device on both ends to transmit/receive the signal. Sounds expensive. The only easy options I can think of would be line of site wireless, or if there is a building in between that you could put switch in to boost the signal. Maybe someone else can help. I am curious now as to what options would go that range.

 

i think all you need is a media converter on both ends(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&cm_re=media_converter-_-33-156-005-_-Product) but yes putting the ends on the fiber is a concern for me. I think all of the fiber runs at the University that I work for are done by contractors so i don't think we have the equipment.

If i can do this for less than $500 that would be acceptable.

I was really hoping that I could just run copper...I have a 1000' ft spool in the basement...maybe i should put ends on it and see if it will pass traffic.

 

Point to point wireless if done right, is your best option. Its also probably the cheapest solution that i would consider reliable.

 

I would just really prefer not to do wireless.

I wounder ho well these work:
http://www.versatek.com/products/ethernet_extender.htm

 

Sounds like an expensive way to avoid an easy wireless solution, but if you don't want wireless, give it a shot. Might take a bit of rigging to stuff Cat5 into a RJ11 jack, (I am assuming that is the connection method based on the PDF) but not that big of a deal. Guy I used to work for used Cat5 for his phone lines.

Have you decided how you are going to physically do the run? In the air, buried? If you dig a 6" to 8" trench, and run the wire through 1/2" PVC pipe, you should be good to go for a while.

 

not sure...you need special cable to run it out doors too which isn't cheep.

Found this one too:
http://www.amazon.com/100MBPS-Vdsl-...TF8&coliid=I31MT7IJ7F0FUZ&colid=3O12GFW4E0DN5

I am very concerned that the wireless thing will be glitchy. There are a lot of trees in the way.

What kind of access points do you need?

 

So i would need 2 of these
http://www.amazon.com/ZyXEL-WAP3205...UTF8&coliid=INR2RWUR03FQB&colid=3O12GFW4E0DN5

and 2 of these
http://www.amazon.com/Hawking-Direc...ref=sr_1_8?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1300719830&sr=1-8

How far can a 14bdi antenna usually reach?

 

I run wireless from my place to my in-laws across the street. I'll have to ask my hubby for a good estimate of the distance since I don't have an eye for that at all. It is at least 300 ft, probably more. I wouldn't call it heavily wooded between us but there are plenty of trees, enough for there not to be any grass, it's bush hog country.

I don't use a repeater antenna, do you have a place to put it away from either house? I use a Netgear rangemax wireless router on my end and it sits in the window facing the in-laws. They have a usb wireless device attached to their PC on a longer usb wire and attached to their window. They get medium reception. Once every few months we have to reboot the wireless router but i'm guessing that's a router issue. If you park a big SUV too close to their window. It provides some good country humor when we have to ask visitors staying a while to move over a bit, we can't get internet out in the sticks with their truck there.

Phone line would work but if it's on open ground it won't last. The connections for that are simple enough.

How many computers are you trying to connect on your parent's side? Do you need to have good signal all over their house?