Network for 2 houses

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Need Help with excel

I wanted to create a network to connect my computer to my brother's computer
in two different houses. How do I do this? The objective is to allow both
computers to have internet access using one broadband internet account. Is
this possible? If so, please describe the steps. I would really appreciate it
if any of you expert can help me with this.

Thank you,
Estella
 
Need said:
I wanted to create a network to connect my computer to my brother's computer
in two different houses. How do I do this? The objective is to allow both
computers to have internet access using one broadband internet account. Is
this possible? If so, please describe the steps. I would really appreciate it
if any of you expert can help me with this.

Thank you,
Estella
Click to expand...

It depends on how far apart the houses are. For maximum network speed
and security, you could use a wired network, but the maximum length for
ordinary network cable (category 5e or CAT5e) is 100 meters. Also, you
don't want to have a cable just dangling between two windows like a
clothes lines, even if the houses are close together. That's both
unsightly and potentially dangerous. If you run the cable down the side
of the first house, through a buried conduit, and up the side of the
other house, you use up your 100 meters pretty quickly.

It's probably easier (but potentially a little more expensive) to set up
a wireless link (bridge) between the two houses. Again, depending on
the distances involved, you might be able to get away with ordinary
"entry-level" home wireless equipment, but more likely you would have to
use directional antennas, preferably mounted outside each house and
pointed at each other.

MVP Jack has a writeup of the basic concept of wireless bridging here:
http://www.ezlan.net/bridging.html

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm
 
The two houses are 2-3 miles apart.

Lem said:
It depends on how far apart the houses are. For maximum network speed
and security, you could use a wired network, but the maximum length for
ordinary network cable (category 5e or CAT5e) is 100 meters. Also, you
don't want to have a cable just dangling between two windows like a
clothes lines, even if the houses are close together. That's both
unsightly and potentially dangerous. If you run the cable down the side
of the first house, through a buried conduit, and up the side of the
other house, you use up your 100 meters pretty quickly.

It's probably easier (but potentially a little more expensive) to set up
a wireless link (bridge) between the two houses. Again, depending on
the distances involved, you might be able to get away with ordinary
"entry-level" home wireless equipment, but more likely you would have to
use directional antennas, preferably mounted outside each house and
pointed at each other.

MVP Jack has a writeup of the basic concept of wireless bridging here:
http://www.ezlan.net/bridging.html

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm
Click to expand...
 
Need said:
The two houses are 2-3 miles apart.
Click to expand...

Although 2-3 miles is considerably farther than the average home user
can achieve with normal "entry-level" wifi equipment, it can be done. I
don't know how reliable the connection will be. Most of the reports of
successful 2+mile-wifi links I've seen have used 802.11b equipment (or
at least have run in 802.11b mode), which is about 5 times slower than
the typical 802.11g common today. The higher the speed, the more
problematic the connection at long distances.

The most important factors are whether you have an unobstructed line of
sight between the two locations (no buildings, trees, power lines,
hills, or other obstructions) and the height at which the antennas will
be mounted.

If you can take a pair of binoculars or a telescope and see one house
from the roof (or a upper floor window) of the other, you can probably
get a workable wifi link. You will definitely need improved antennas at
both ends (the Cantenna that Jack links to is one such).

You probably would also benefit from higher power than is available from
the typical home router/access point. Buffalo Technology used to offer
wifi access points with a built-in RF amplifier, but Buffalo is
currently enjoined from selling any 802.11a or 802.11g equipment. You
can purchase more expensive equipment that is higher power, but another
way is to use a router (such as a Linksys WRT54GL) that can be upgraded
with 3rd-party firmware which permits adjusting the transmitter power
above the factory-set level.

Mounting the various devices takes some thought. The wireless router/ap
will be connected to your computer with CAT5e cable and to the antenna
with coaxial cable. You should try to keep the coax relatively short,
increasing the CAT5e cable as needed. If there is no house power outlet
near where the router/ap will be located (to be near the antenna), you
can look into using "power over Ethernet." If the antenna is mounted
outside, you should use a properly-grounded lightning arrestor.

I suggest that you Google for "long range wifi" and do some reading.
You can also post questions about long-range wifi (as well as searching
using Google Groups) in alt.internet.wireless.

If it all seems too complex for you, find a local computer professional
with experience in setting up outdoor wifi networks (ask for references,
because this is not a typical skill) and ask her to come and evaluate
your situation and make some suggestions.



--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm
 
In addition to the technical advice already given, you should check
with your ISP on doing this, as this is, for most of them anyway, a
violation of their terms of service.

I wanted to create a network to connect my computer to my brother's computer
in two different houses. How do I do this? The objective is to allow both
computers to have internet access using one broadband internet account. Is
this possible? If so, please describe the steps. I would really appreciate it
if any of you expert can help me with this.

Thank you,
Estella
Click to expand...
--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
 
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