Internet - Where to get it?

[marty]

The internet is something we all have in common. In my house I pay $25 a month to Verizon for DSL Digital Subscriber Line. Unlimited data use. Comes into the house through the telephone line. Copper twisted pairs. Verizon spent a million billion dollars on new FIOS lines. Optical fiber? They are trying real hard to sell it to me, but I am not buying. Slow internet is fast enough for me.

Now I am shopping for internet for my shop. I walked around with my iPod. There are no signals from neighbors to share with. Because the shop is in a commercial building the internet costs more.

Findings so far:
Verizon - Claim that they have no wire.
Dish - Don't service commercial buildings.
Direct TV - TV only, no internet.
Time Werner Cable - $60 per month includes tax. Time Werner uses a coaxial cable.

Don't have much knowledge of Mobile Hotspots? Don't think I like them because they look like they have limits on GBs. I like to share my internet. No password. If a neighbor wants to download movies 24 hours a day every day. I don't want any additional fees.

Please don't tell me that someone might tap into my unsecured internet and suck money out of my bank account. I got other stuff to worry about and I keep all my money under my bed :wink:

Where can I get the internet from? The shop is in Niagara Falls NY 14304 USA.

I would rather spend $600 on a piece of equipment then spend $60 a month forever. How to suck the internet out of the air? Satellite?

 

[Lebowski]

I've seen the internet, it's a brown shoebox sized, eh, box with a blinky red light on the top.



Anyone else seen IT Crowd ?

 

[liveforphysics]

I would find the nearest place with a high-speed connection and tell them you will split the bill with them if they let you plug in a directional antenna equipped repeater aimed at your shop. It's amazing the range and speed performance a pair of good directional antenna's setup properly and aimed properly can function.

 

[arkmundi]

http://www.ispprovidersinmyarea.com/14304-zipcode-internet-providers.html

 

[LockH]

Ahoy Buffalo! (From the wrong side of the lake). Sorta the home of the www addicted. `Round here, we got wifi coming out our xxx, etc. Libraries, coffee shops, etc. (Neighbores too, if ya know how to hackey likey) When I recently didn't have any www, I scooped movs offa YT (really only interested in old stuff plus hysterical docs. Engrish lang., eg BBC "Before there was any Scotland", etc). Next up, jacking wind/solar for heat, light, jumping electrons, etc. (The rates are hard to beat). But see here:
http://www.openwifispots.com/city_free_wifi_wireless_hotspot-Buffalo_NY.aspx#42.886389,-78.87861099999998,14

Well, back to my bison burger (sorry `bout that)

 

[The fingers]

We had to switch from Verizon to Time Warner, our home phone service was so bad. Had it for about a year and a half now, not cheap but it keeps up with three tablets, three I Phones, a laptop, and a desktop. Verizon used to cut out all the time, we kept it only for our cell phones mobile service. Used to have A T & T for that, they're about the same where we live. :|
Everywhere you go around here, there's free wi-fi.

 

[gestalt]

If you can get your hands on one use an old direct tv or dish network satellite dish. If you replace the can at the focal point of the dish with a modified USB wifi antenna you can get wifi signal at an extreme range. You just have to spend some time adjusting the direction until you find the best signal.

Here's a YouTube example
[youtube]te97FzUItaI[/youtube]

Or you can just save yourself the hassle and order a prebuilt one from fry's for about $50 http://www.frys.com/product/7411495?source=googleps&gclid=CKS8uIiJ7bsCFU_NOgodPEgA6w

 

[calab]

All I know is TP is contingent on distance from PBX, the coaxial is based on users on network loop.
Thats only if speed is an issue for downloading.

 

[arkmundi]

If you can get your hands on one use an old direct tv or dish network satellite dish. If you replace the can at the focal point of the dish with a modified USB wifi antenna you can get wifi signal at an extreme range. You just have to spend some time adjusting the direction until you find the best signal. youtube]te97FzUItaI[/youtube
Or you can just save yourself the hassle and order a prebuilt one from fry's for about $50 http://www.frys.com/product/7411495?source=googleps&gclid=CKS8uIiJ7bsCFU_NOgodPEgA6w

This may just shape up to be the most useful post I've ever encountered at ES ... many thanks, gestalt!

 

[calab]

If you can get your hands on one use an old direct tv or dish network satellite dish. If you replace the can at the focal point of the dish with a modified USB wifi antenna you can get wifi signal at an extreme range. You just have to spend some time adjusting the direction until you find the best signal. youtube]te97FzUItaI[/youtube
Or you can just save yourself the hassle and order a prebuilt one from fry's for about $50 http://www.frys.com/product/7411495?source=googleps&gclid=CKS8uIiJ7bsCFU_NOgodPEgA6w

This may just shape up to be the most useful post I've ever encountered at ES ... many thanks, gestalt!

Yup thats interesting and very cool, wonder what the range would be.

 

[LockH]

Wifi? Seems we otta do better than that?
http://www.mindworkshop.com/fta.html


L

 

[bigmoose]

If you can't find a used satellite dish... I used to use a 9 inch brass Chinese Frying hand strainer. Cut a hole in the middle and put a USB WiFi dongle there. Used it on vacations.

 

[LockH]

Yah man. Plus, lots of sats to pick from:
http://www.satellite-calculations.com/Satellite/lookangles.htm

 

[marty]

x
Or you can just save yourself the hassle and order a prebuilt one from fry's for about $50 http://www.frys.com/product/7411495?source=googleps&gclid=CKS8uIiJ7bsCFU_NOgodPEgA6w

I look here:
http://www.tp-link.us/products/details/?categoryid=2474&model=TL-ANT2424B
See
2.4GHz 24dBi Grid Parabolic Antenna
TL-ANT2424B
N Female connector

With the right type of cable will this antenna connect to this Wireless Adapter?
http://www.rosewill.com/products/1465/ProductDetail_Overview.htm
Rosewill RNX-N300X IEEE 802.11b/g, IEEE 802.11n Draft 2.0 PCI Wireless Adapter (2T3R) Up to 300Mbps Wireless Download Data Rates 64/128-Bit WEP, WPA PSK and WPA2 PSK (TKIP and AES) Vista/Win7
Antenna - 3 detachable 2dbi antennas (SMA connector)

Got this wireless adapter in my computer. There are 3 connectors for 3 little antennas. Remove one little antenna and connect to the big tp-link antenna? Or should I buy a different wireless adapter?

There are 2 doughnut shops about 1/2 mile from my shop.
Specifications on the TL-ANT2424B antenna say:
Approximate Range at 1/11/54Mbps 34.80miles/19.57miles/2.76miles(56km/31.5km/4.44km)

 

[gestalt]

I've seen recommendations that you setup an old wireless router with a detatchable antenna as a repeater by changing the firmware, but I suppose you could hack the cable right into that wireless adapter if you're only concerned about having Internet for one device. The repeater method might not work if you are going the coffee shop route as they often require you to log in with each use.

Also, make sure you use the right kind of shielded cable as a long cable can pick up a whole lot of interference.

 

[marty]

Cable? Start with a short one and see if the antenna works inside the shop? Any recommendations on a good cable?

N Female connector on the antenna. SMA connector on the wireless adapter.

I am seeing RP-SMA cables. RP is Reverse Polarity. How to tell what type of SMA connector on the wireless adapter? I will go take pictures.

 

[marty]

Wireless adapter is RP-SMA
Good explanation with pictures here:
RF Connector Conventions
https://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/140

 

[cal3thousand]

I like the fact that you want to share your Internet with people. The altruism is great.

But be careful! Once someone is on the same network as you, they can do LOTS of things that would surprise you.

Do me a favor and look up these terms: Spoofing, man in the middle attack, https

 

[marty]

Lots of antennas, cables, routers, here http://www.l-com.com/

 

[marty]

Yah man. Plus, lots of sats to pick from:
http://www.satellite-calculations.com/Satellite/lookangles.htm

Are you getting the internet from a satellite?

 

[LockH]

Yah man. Plus, lots of sats to pick from:
http://www.satellite-calculations.com/Satellite/lookangles.htm

Are you getting the internet from a satellite?

Hehe... Not yet... but I have been eyeing a sat dish screwed to the wooden fence in the back yard of the long-empty house next door. Apparently used dishes are a "dime a dozen" in my little backwater (aka Toronto/southern ON). As I recall, my Uncle had a much larger sat on his country prop, but that was "back in the day".

 

[marty]

I would find the nearest place with a high-speed connection and tell them you will split the bill with them if they let you plug in a directional antenna equipped repeater aimed at your shop. It's amazing the range and speed performance a pair of good directional antenna's setup properly and aimed properly can function.

Walked around with a iPod around and found another shop a few hundred feet from my shop. NETGEAR25 needs a password. Asked a guy working there if he would like to share the internet and I would pay 1/2 what they pay per month and I would pay for 12 months. He said he would check with the boss. Went back a few days latter. He say no. He say he is afraid that too many people using his connection might make it slow.

Every one is busy doing whatever they do and I think they have no time to think about anything else.

 

[LockH]

Note to self: Must add a beam of light to shine across the lake (hope yer anywhere high up?) Also just hooked up via LinkedIn with a fellow who is a techie for these FLA folks:
http://genesyslightgroup.com/technology.html

Added to my wish list (worst case, something similar) to power "my" new garage, powered electramaterrific ebike thingees for myself plus guests, etc, etc.

Perhaps ya might invite yer neighbour to share some of the cost to install your new sat thingee?
L

 

[calab]

"Torontah" aint small, I can only imagine its like Vancouver but worse because thats the MAIN Canadian Immigration door. You look at a certain Scandavanian country and they have strict immigration laws along with language guidelines, so if you do not progress your gone, something harper should implement, but we need those service industry workers with a Tim Hortons, Subway, Starbucks and many other franchise stores literally on every block. You go across the block there is the same store either in a Walmart, Home Depot then theres a free standing store across the street, its just crazy eating frozen dough re-heated but they are in business for one reason and one reason only and thats convenience.

Those sat. dishes are a dime a dozen because no one uses them no more. There is a way past a WIFI signal password, you just have to ask your online geeky "friends" or online only facebook "friends" that you never meet face to face. What a world we live in today!!!!

 

[LockH]

Hey, Toronto ain't so bad! (Six+ million ppl pooping in the lake can't be wrong? - Hello Rochester!) Also, we get to see lots of imports (I got to see the Rolling Stones in Toronto... twice! ...and the first time as a bar band. See also "Alice Cooper", maybe more than once.)

Sorry. OT, I know. Back to that extranet thingee.
L