Sunday, May 1, 2005
DIY: Outdoor Wireless Access Point/Signal Repeater
In my previous post, I went over how I created a weatherproof Wi-Fi camera rig. I decided to write a separate entry about how I got Wi-Fi signal to the camera during the construction process of my new home. This project was installed about a year and a half ago and has been functioning since. There have been times I needed to reboot the repeater throughout the year, so it’s not like you can install it forget about it (unless you buy commercial products, not a Linksys). You also have to keep an eye out for growing shrubs and trees, since that will limit your signal over time.
First up, you’re going to have to have access to an internet connection (DSL/Cable). I had the luxury of having my parents near by, so I didn’t have to deal with any neighbors trying to secure an internet connection during construction (check your area and see if anyone has their wireless wide open… you might just want to repeat that signal).
I hope this post gives you some ideas as how to easily setup an access point outside your home. Maybe you have a park across the way that you’d love to work at, but can’t because you need to be connected… this project can surely make it possible.
Lets begin.
The Parts List:
- A HyperLink 8db Compact Omnidirectional 2.4ghz Antenna or a HyperLink 8db Patch Antenna
- 2 Linksys WAP11
’s 802.11b Access Points (or any newer models that support repeater mode)- 1- 10”x10”x4” PVC enclosure from Home Depot
- Misc PVC parts for Antenna Mast attachment, PVC Glues, Silicon, etc
- Double-sided foam tape
- A few power tools… drill, screw, etc.
If doing Power-Over-Ethernet (not repeater mode), you’ll also need:
- Cat5e Connection Box
- Volt Meter (to check cable resistance)
- Cat5e cable (outdoor direct burial type)
- New power supply to accommodate length of cat5e cable
You’ll need to find an enclosure that will fit your access point. Most of the time, the case is bigger than the actual electronics inside… so if you are having trouble finding a case, you can always dismantle the access point/repeater, however, this will void your warranty. For my WAP11, I took some measurements and headed to my local Home Depot. I found they had a 10”x10”x4” PVC box that looked perfect for this project.
I wanted the status LEDs to show thru the bottom of the enclosure so I had to remove the front of the WAP11. The photos above show how I did this. I took the front part and stacked it on the back of the WAP11. This gave me some support and the height was perfectly in the middle. I marked and drilled the 3 LED holes. I filled them up with clear silicon so the LED lights could still shine thru. I also attached some double-sided foam tape so I could secure it in the enclosure.
In the photo on the right, you can see the complete naked enclosure. My first attempt was to have a full outdoor Access Point. To do this, you need a wired ethernet connection and power. So I took the PoE (Power over Ethernet) route. That worked for about a year, but, because I didn’t used outdoor grade cat5e cable when I buried it, one day it suddenly stopped working. I think a rat ate it or it just corroded. If you are planning on doing PoE, then you’ll want to follow the detailed how-to instructions provided on the NTCwireless site and BE SURE TO USE outdoor rated Cat5e cable!! If you don’t want to deal with volt meters and ohm’s law, the check out Hyperlink’s PoE solution.
The 8db compact Hyperlink omnidirectional antenna I used has a mast attachment, so I bought a 2” PVC pipe and cap and attached the antenna to that. I only attached one external antenna, so I’m not doing a true diversity system like the Linksys originally had. You can turn off the other antenna or keep it on… your tests may yield different results. Omnidirectional is great if you want to spread the 8db signal over 360 degrees. Sometimes you want to use a directional antenna. Let’s say the park you want to check email at is right across the street, and the the picnic table 30 degrees to the right. You could use a patch antenna and blanket just that area with a full 8db. So instead of an 8db (or whatever) omnidirectional antenna, which spreads that 8db over 360 degrees, you can give a 30 degree spread more of the 8db signal.
Next, I attached all the cables to the WAP11 and powered it up. Again, if you are setting your system up as just a repeater, then all you need is power. If you are setting it up as an outdoor access point, then you’ll need to provide power and ethernet. Having done both, I like the repeater method. It’s easier than running a cable… but you spend more because you need another WAP11 to act as the main access point.
After I mounted everything inside, I found an area I thought would work the best and did all the network setups. Then I ran some tests. Depending on tree coverage and any structures, there is pretty good coverage… it can only get better with more access points and/or bigger antennas. Flat, clear areas do better than hilly, treed areas (trees suck up the signal and metal structures reflect) For now, the coverage is pretty much want I need… but I’m thinking about putting a Wi-Fi Amplifier on the repeaters. That should really light up the block… and maybe even a visit from the FCC!
Below is an “artists rendering” of my signal spread. My terrain is a bit hilly, so I don’t get the same coverage as if I were on flat lands.
Total cost? Under $500.
SPONSORED ADVERTISEMENTS
COMMENTS
Other than the stealing wireless part, really cool hack!
He’s not stealing, he’s repeating his parents’ signal…
Awesome setup, though - I’ve considered something similar, but I think my park might be a bit farther away.
I was refering to “(check your area and see if anyone has their wireless wide open… you might just want to repeat that signal)’. I’m sure he was just jokeing, just wanted to point it out. :)
Ha. Yeah, I was joking about that. Unless, the person actually wants you to repeat their wide open signal… that case, you’re actually helping them out. ;)
Danny
Great post! Out of interest did you change the firmware on the Linksys boxes to the more powerful Sveasoft or HyperWAP or was it setup just using the stock Linksys one?
I’m in the Army and we use the same technology to boost our signals. We have had the OE-254 omnidirectional antenna in our inventory since the seventies. This article draws on radio technology that has been around for years. I love it because of its simplicity. One could also experiment with different antenna designs to increase the footprint. Also, you could expand it to put a “shot in” to transmit the signal via LOS (line of sight) to another location. This is a good start if you want to expand the wifi signal outdoors.
Hey Mat,
I did update the firmware to one of the hacked DLINK 900+ ones… however, I didn’t notice any difference. If I get a WAP54G, I will try out those firmwares.
Danny
Hi Danny,
Very impressive setup. Quick question. If I intend to use as repeater only, are you saying all I need is to connect two wires, ie the external antenna and power ??
Larry
Hi Danny,
Very impressive setup. Quick question. If I intend to use as repeater only, are you saying all I need is to connect two wires, ie the external antenna and power ?? Thanks.
Larry
hi,
i am a technician and new in the field of wi fi computer networking, i have a 108 mbps surecom make access point , a signal gain booster and a 15 db antenna , at what hight i should place the antenna so that i can getmaximum coverage?
Thanks and Regards
Praveen Kumar
Roorkee (India)
Praveen,
I have worked with wireless networks for awhile. One thing to keep in mind when setting up a wireless network is you want to keep as much line of sight as possible for best coverage. I have noticed if you take the repeater or access point and put it in a place where visible by most locations you wish to put signal then the power of your signal will do the rest. Just make sure you have anything in between that will kill the signal strength, like danny noted in the post trees soak up a lot of signal.
I like the way you installed a dummy stub to mount the onmi antenna on. On one my mine, I extended the stub several feet and stuck the antenna inside - that way there are no top side holes in the plastic box.
Am getting up to ten mile range to the west and cover all of a small town I live in using the WRT54G.
I leave my access point open for all to access, that way when they come knock at my door, I can just say “it wasn’t me, I’m just passing packets just like a ISP, must have been that guy who parks outside sometimes”.
So if you can make my signal repeat a lot further, go for it!
The idiots who say it’s stealing are just ruining it for everyone, I say if it’s open, then the guy doesn’t care if you use it. And DHCP proves that you ASKED for entry and the box GRANTED ENTRY, so it’s used with PERMISSION. Plus most cable systems give you 4M bits/s anyway and that’s more than I use 24/7 so let others have some!
Can you please tell me how you set up the wap11 repeators mac address’s. IE is 1 set to 2 or to the access point address? thanks
Wildbill2003,
You will need to find someone that has DSL/Cable and then you will be able to rig a wireless system. However, 3000 ft is pretty far to send a WiFi signal. You will need to use a Yogi Antenna and this will only work good if you have direct line of site. You may need to wait for WiMax.
Jim,
I set up repeater mode by entering in the MAC address of the accesspoint I want to repeat. Which is my main base station.
Danny
I get my school’s unsecured wireless network in one corner of my apartment (weak signal). Can I boost and repeat it to get it all overthe apartment? Can you please suggest the least expensive way to do it?
Thanks,
Sriram.
Great project! I don’t undersand the connection between the two WAP11’s. Are they connected via cat 5 cable?
Please advise.
Thanks!
Bret C
AC0AE
hi, your site is very interesting. i want to setup also same project. can you help me? can you give me basic setup? i want to network my warehouse to my home whic is 10km away. thanks
Hi
I have adopted your setup, It was great. I am using WAP54G with a third party firmware, was able to adjust the power, also I am working with four WAP54G repeater mode. All using a sloted wave guide antenna.
Thanks for the Idea, I can cover 25 square blocks. My friends are very happy, We share the payment of the Broadband connection. It’s devided by 10
rollie
I had a problem with needing to reboot a cable modem often at a remote location. Solved it simply with a mechanical 24 hour timer which cuts power for 15min every night at 4am, forcing a reboot, needed or not.
Danny,
What was the approximate distance between the indoor repeater and the laptop in the park? Also what was the output power of the wireless NIC?
eric
Dear Sir,
I need to know how can usual pc’s and notebooks with their wireless LAN adaptors can communicate with WiMAX signals and antenna
Please send me some useful information regarding my problem.
Best Regards
Amirhossein
THIS MAY BE SILLY QUESTION BUT WILL THIS UNIT IN NO REPETER MODE WORK IN THE OPOSTITE DIRECTION. THE INTERNET BEING WIRLESSLY TRANSMITTED ELSWHERE AND THE INTERNET THEN BEING SUPPLIED TO TO PC VIA RJ45 CABLE. I’VE OFFED TO SHARE COSTS WITH MY NEIBORE BUT CAINT QUITE REACH. REGARDS TONY
dear sir :
we have browsed your website, meanwhile we are the antenna manufactory.our main goods are:wlan antenna for;DVB-T antenna;2.4Ghz;3.5Ghz;5.8Ghz antenna.various wireless network card antenna; base station antenna .we are able to offer to you the competitive price and cooperation with you .we are also able to produce the various antenna by your design, kindly hope you browse our website : www.ghantenna.com
kindly hope you reply soon.
Company: Guanhua comminication Equipment factory
Address: No.10, Wenming road HeKou Develoment DistrictFoShan City, Guangdong , China
Tel: 0086-0757-87676081
Fax: 0086-0757-87676091
Website:
MOBILE PHONE :00862-13710314921
kin2008v@hotmail.Com
kinlu@vip.163.com
MSN account : kin2008v@hotmail.com
contact person :kin lu
This is a good setup. Whats the distance from the first AP to the end of the signal at the park?
——
http://www.geocities.com/this_may_be_your_only_chance
Dear sir,
Must say that your WiFi site up looks nice.
Here in a’ little village in the Netherlands iam all so have a WiFi setup open for anyone to use.
By use of homemade (and mod it sattelite) dish i made a WiFi uplink connection to neighbouring village’s so my friends and there friends also can connect to the internet by means of my (adsl)internet connection.
On my website (Dutch lang) je can see how i build my accespoints in water dense packing.
My setup maby not as nice as yours but it working here now almost 2 yours at a row with little or no problems.
Best regards from:
Gerard de Vries
Kanaal A (n-z) 87
7881KK Emmer-Compascuum
Holland
We are working at outdoor wireless networking .Plz information about wireless outdoor access poin and wireless routers
Like an earlier post I am looking for a way to boost the signal of an open wireless network in my area. It works well enough for my laptop but not my pc(which is older and has a D-Link wireless card0. Would purchasing a repeater and installing it outside of my apartment take care of this problem? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I’m fairly new to the wireless network area.
Thanks
Dan
in your diagram you show outdoor repeaters…what did you use to accomplish this?
i like it but recently i have built a repeater using a buffalo ethernet converter and a buffalo roughter
the roughter is the wireless backdoor control feed channel for the ethernet converter both conected by
lan cable this unite is solar powerd and the idear
of it is i can controll the ethernet converter and recive what data /internet remotliy throu the the backdoor channel i call it the baffalo foxbox
i watt amplafier on backdoor channel with 21dbi grid antanner
if you would like to no more email mattie_058@hotmail.com RAMBO COMS aust
check out range of boosters at www.hyperlinktech.com
Hi sir
Me and a friend has decided to try and build a wireless connection for our two computers over a distance of say 5-7 km. is it possible to modify normal wireless network card with say a grid antennae and a signal booster to cover that distance. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Hi sir
Me and a friend has decided to try and build a wireless connection for our two computers over a distance of say 5-7 km. is it possible to modify normal wireless network card with say a grid antennae and a signal booster to cover that distance. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Hi sir
Me and a friend has decided to try and build a wireless connection for our two computers over a distance of say 5-7 km. is it possible to modify normal wireless network card with say a grid antennae and a signal booster to cover that distance. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
hello
thank you for your efforts!
please keep me up to date wıth thıs subject.
we are using a semeler product
the owner of TOSCOM COMPUTER COMPANY
Mr. Ibrahım Yurtman
what equipment are use to have a wireless connection?????
Genius….
I have a Yagi WIFI antenna 24db low loss cable to WRG54 Router WAP54G. If I put the router in wireless repeter mode will my laptop WIFI card pick up the WAP54G and connect to the WIFI source from the YAGI antenna?
hello. i have read this page and you say that you could get a visit from the federal communications commission. that is not true. if you show them your setup—if they come—it is obvious that you did not amplify the signal, you just repeated it for a hundred yards or so. so , they can’t arrest you or seize your equipment because it is legal. the signal is being repeated, not amplified. as long as they know that and the antenna is 5 feet or less in height, you are ok. i have read up on this particular kind of stuff and you are ok. my friend did something similar on the roof of the world trade center, got a visit from the fcc, explained the setup, and they said he was ok-even though they wanted to arrest him and take his stuff. they just couldn’t because the signal was repeated, not amplified.
I am trying to set up something like this in an apartment complex. are you available on a consulting basis to assist me in this project.
Thank you
Dov
dov@firstkeyllc.com
Thanks for this great information…i cant seems to be abel to get it done the way i wanted it… R you saying that i need to configure the wap11 first before setting it up.. Im repeating the signal from my unty house which is abt 2km..
Im using a wep54g access point…
doesn’t it make any different…??
Danny,
Excellent site!
Some interesting comments, didn’t feel like some people even read the article. Lol. I work for Cisco Systems as a security consultant.
Here’s what I want to setup:
I want to connect to my parents internet from my house - at 796 feet away. There are houses between us - so it would have to be above that 5 feet I heard mentioned. I was thinking I can do one of two things:
1 - Setup two access points and do the repeater thing.
2 - Use a PCI wireless access card in a Ubuntu computer to hit the signal, and then send it to my router in my house.
Using number 2 - I would not need to configure the AP at whatever location to be a repeater, as it would be giving internet to the linux box.
If you update people, you can add my to your list :) Thanks again,
Phoenix
To: Praveen Kumar, Roorkee (India)
You can’t tell over the phone, or the net, where you should place your access points. Line of sight is very important. The number one cause of wifi problems I have seen is standing water. Water resonates at 2.4GHz - and absorbs the 802.11b/g band quite effectively. (Probably why trees absorb wifi). My advice - place the access points/repeaters and see what kind of signal you get. You can always get a wifi detector key chain device and walk around - what we’d call a Site Survey.
Side note: The 5 GHz band will not go through walls.
To Dan:
I would just upgrade my wireless card on the PC - D-link are really cheap cards. I would get something more powerful. I have seen the same issue on my own d-link pci card…
This is an awesome article that I actually stumbled upon back when you first put it up, I’ve got the plans for a Wireless Predator up on my site, I gave credit to who originally posted it, but it’s a great hack that couldn’t go without reposting.
Hi, we really want to know , how can we setup Outdoor Solar Powered Accesspoint for Developing countries.
Do you know DIY solar powered Wifi Documentation paper.?
regards,
koko
does any body know if only repeats and amplifies wifi siignal or will it function for cell phones?
Welcome to mavromatic! My goal is to bring to your attention the latest DIY projects, the greatest home automation and home theater products. As well as, the occasional offbeat entry, to spice things up a bit. 
