Help with wireless connection

[Mercury12]

I am a varisty student living in a six man house, recently the university ICT office moved to a building across the road from us (3 houses down the road- about 50m). The building has a wireless connection but we can only pick up the signal if we park off down the road next to the building which is not ideal. I t would be great if we got access to it as the connection is uncapped and available to all varsity student.

Does anyone know what antenna or wireless kit I will require in order to pick it up from my house?

 

[UnUnOctium]

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

Very student-friendly solution

 

[Mercury12]

What will the signal strength be like? Wouldn't you need a clear line of site. We might need to mount it on the roof which may not be that stable during adverse weather conditions. There are six people in the house so cost isnt a big issue

 

[SirFooK'nG]

Just get a decent yaggi, put your equipment (an ap in bridge mode) in the ceiling or a weather proof housing (For the roof), and point to the house using netstumbler to get your best signal.... Obviously you will need to have the security settings correct to connect....

 

[ColinR]

To me, the issue is more with how far the AP can transmit.. if the AP is a consumer grade one - sitting indoors. I doubt you'll connect.
Stick the AP outside, and you'll get KM, not only metres.

 

[UnUnOctium]

What will the signal strength be like? Wouldn't you need a clear line of site. We might need to mount it on the roof which may not be that stable during adverse weather conditions. There are six people in the house so cost isnt a big issue

Well, would've been nice if you provided that info beforehand . You don't need exactly an LoS, are you at UCT? If you are, the received signal will reflect off the mountain nicely. The Yagi-Uda as mentioned by IRG is the 'proper' version of the cantenna but we'd need more info on the terrain.

 

[Mercury12]

I stay close to UCT, the ICTS building moved from campus. Here are images of the area http://yfrog.com/1ghouseuhj

 

[UnUnOctium]

Send it down the street with the cantenna, will be fine. Problem is, the building's (ICTS) wireless equipment most probably won't be able to transmit back. Got any friends who stay closer to them? Otherwise, only other solution I can think of right now is if the ICTS guys decide to help you out and put a directional antenna on their side too (cantennas will work here, range is small).