Setting up a link

Hi all.
Been trying to set up a wireless link and need to ask a few questions.

Hope I don't bore you but I need to let you know what i've been trying to do and what kit I have to do it with.

I have a D-link AP-900+ in a bedroom with ethernet cable to a Orange ISP router.
A mesh antenna is connected to the AP via a pigtail and approximately 8m CFD low loss of coaxial, this is mounted on a external wall.
I am attempting to send the signal approximately 45m to a brick building up the garden.
The setup is right as far as I know because when i'm close to the antenna I can log onto the network with my iPhone.
I walk up the garden and sometimes still get 2 out of three bars on my phone.
I have been in the building and been able to pick up the signal but it keeps dropping out.
Sometimes it isn't there at all.
I have a D-Link DWLG USB adapter on my laptop in an attempt to boost signal.
Another niggle is, I put in the WEP key to be able to log on and it accepts it, I go out of range and come back into range and sometimes it will log on ok, sometimes it will let me put in the WEP key but tells me it was unable to log on and sometimes it wont give the option for a WEP key, it just says 'dismiss'.
This doesn't happen with my Orange wireless network, once it has connected it is 'saved' and connects automatically if I select it.

The main thing I want is to be able to use my phone and a laptop.
I would like to know if this is likely to be a signal strength issue, a set up issue or whatever.

Kit I have at my disposal.
1. D-Link 900AP+
2. Mesh antenna (not sure of output but the mesh is approx 18" X 8")
3. Alverion SU-RA-3.8 BreezeACCESS unit (whatever that is)
4. AirPoint Pro TOTAL (which i'd rather not use as I dont want to fix anything to the outside of the building up the garden).
5. D-Link DWL-G132 wireless USB adapter
6. Linksys BEFW11S4 Wireless-B router
I also remember using some software on a laptop that detected signal strength as you twist the antenna, can't remember what it was called though?
If it's just a strength of signal issue then I can stop messing with the antenna and AP settings and attempt to boost the signal with something?
Can the Linksys router do anything to help?

Forgive the length of my post and any confusion I may have caused.
It's been a long time since i've messed with this type of stuffand my age is affecting my memory

Many thanks for taking a look.

 

Unfortunately most of the equipment you listed is 802.11B which maxes at 11mbps as opposed to 802.11G which maxes at 54mbps and 802.11N which maxes at 300mbps.

The "B" also has the most limited range.

The D-Link DWL-G132 USB adapter is "G" so if you could find an Access Point or Wireless Router that operates on the "G" band you would improve your signal strength. Also a home made cantenna may be worth a try. It would give more of the signal a specific direction improving the range considerably.

If you could locate something like a Linksys WRT54G Router, you could also boost the output signal by installing the DD-WRT firmware. There are many devices that accept the DD-WRT firmware the WRT54G is just an example.

 

Thanks for the reply shnerdly.
Good info.
One thing, I had this same kit set up over a 30m range and got really good steady signal.
Can the extra 15-20m make such a difference?

I'll take a look at the 'cantenna' link and see how much I can get a 'G' router for.

Edit: Just watched the cantenna thingy, that's crazy!
So much of this lark is technical and here we have an empty can acting as a better antenna than my 'professional' thing.

 

There comes a point of distance where the signal just drops off.

The cantenna is nice but by design, very directional. You will probably get service in the garden but may not get service in the room next to where the cantennal is located if it's not pointed in that direction.

You can make a similar antenna using an old parabolic dish such as the ones from Dish Network but you said you didn't want to attach anything outside the house.

 

I put the USB adapter on the outside window ledge yesterday and got a 3 bar signal so it looks like a lack of power.
I seem to remember something called an air bridge or something like that.
I'm not sure but I think it was a thing like a USB adapter but more powerful.
Ideally I would like something that will plug into a wireless router so I can send signal round the building. If such a thing exists?