7mi WiFi connection

[ksa8907]

I have never tried to beam 2.4ghz like that before, but given enough amplification and restricting it to one direction I would think 7 miles isn't too far.
https://www.solwise.co.uk/images/ima...mounting-3.jpg

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Xist

I imagine you think a tethered custom helium balloon designed to look like a flying saucer would also be conspicuous.

I did think about painting the dish in camo, but the solar panel needs to be angled in a specific way to capture the sunlight.

Helium balloons were among my first thoughts for mounting an antenna, but there is no practical way to stabilize the orientation, which would make for a very flaky connection.

My next thought was to strap a long pole towards the top of the tree and mount the antenna to that. Stability concerns arise again. These trees already sway a lot in the wind. Being atop a pole would multiply the effect.

Originally Posted by ksa8907

I have never tried to beam 2.4ghz like that before, but given enough amplification and restricting it to one direction I would think 7 miles isn't too far.

The distance should be no issue at all. The objects in the way is another matter. I'll try to get a more precise measurement of how far off the ground I am, along with precise GPS coordinates so the mapping can be as accurate as possible.

Now I know what I'll be doing for Thanksgiving... mapping the GPS coordinates of the tallest tree, and then measuring its height.

[Xist]

Right. Trees sway. That is very inconsiderate of them.

A helium balloon would definitely do worse.

[freebeard]

That 200ft tree has to be a conifer, right? It needs an inflated gold Mylar pentacle about 8-10ft across on top. It could be installed and serviced by drone, and lighted in season.

Six cable to three anchor points to eliminate rotation.

[redpoint5]

Here's the cemetery tree that I'd use if I could.

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.0059...7i13312!8i6656

I believe that hill is what is in my way. Perhaps I can shave a little off the top.

[ksa8907]

Could you put a 20ft antenna on top of the house/garage/barn? How high can you go at you apartment?

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by ksa8907

Could you put a 20ft antenna on top of the house/garage/barn? How high can you go at you apartment?

I can go at least 100ft up a tree at my parents house. At the apartment where height really matters, I probably can go another 8ft from the floor of the balcony.




This is the overhang of the 3rd floor balcony looking out towards that large tree in the cemetery above the Wilco sign. My parents are approximately straight through the telephone pole in the middle of the photo (left of the tree).

There is no getting over those trees, so the signal would have to push around/through them.

(EDIT: Found out Ecomodder orients all photos with the longest side horizontal, so it screws with portrait photo orientation. Adding white space on the sides to make the width 1 pixel longer than the height corrected the orientation.)

[Xist]

Interesting. I guess that explains why some pictures have been submitted sideways.

[redpoint5]

Playing with the simulator linked above, it shows that if I can just peak above the hill, I can expect 25 mbps on 2.4 Ghz. I'd be happy at half that. Not sure that is realistic through trees though.

Their highest gain antenna shows that I could get 200 Mbps, which I'd be happy to get 10% of that.

[freebeard]

Pringles can slung under a drone.