Extend 802.11 beyond one mile?

Question

Is it possible to extend the range of an 802.11 router beyond one mile, perhaps as much as five miles?

Reason: I want to create a private wireless network with about 100 users initially, spread over a 25 square mile area.

It seems to me I should be able to do this with a series of linked 802.11n routers, each with a booster antenna.

Answer 1

GTB has the correct answer, using off the shelf equipment like N routers just doesn't cut it.  Using mesh radios, Zinwell, Motorolla, Proxim, Tranzeo -- names you don't find in local stores is the only way to "build" a large area wireless network.

Here are a couple links to companies that do supply items for this type of endevor.  

http://defactowireless.com

http://www.streakwave.com/index.asp

http://www.proxim.com/

and others.

The equipment is not cheap but can still be done economically. The biggest difficulty is finding places to locate the antennas and infrastructure needed to get the coverage you need.  There are professionals that can help.

Answer 2

The answer is NO; you have serious range issues and you cannot keep tacking on units like you propose and get good reception.

There are commercially available wireless devices that will provide this type of service; used in campus and municipal applications.  Motorola, and Proxim make products that should do what you want.  They cost more than home grade routers but this is NOT a home grade application.

Answer 3

Actually, yes, this is possible in a way.  A while ago I found a page (currently unavailable, alas) by an American professor of something-electrical-or-electronic.  I'll try to give you the gist of it.

It uses a small satellite dish, with the antenna at the end of the arm removed.  That is then replaced with something such as a soup tin (there were specs on the ideal ratios but without the page I can't give you those).  You drill a hole in the wall of that on either the horizontal or vertical polarity and use a coax connector with an extra conductor attached, so that it terminates in the middle of the can near the far end from the dish.

That, attached to a good WiFi device, can potentially create a link over a distance of miles... I think it was supposed to be about ten miles.  It's highly directional though and you need to get it and the receiving version lined up just right.