Setup required to connect to free to use wi-fi from a distance

[Bounce]

Hi

I have a situation that I want to make use of. Across the road, about 300 m away from me, is an establishment with free wi-fi. When I sit close to my window with my laptop, I can pick up the wireless signal, albiet a weak one, and I am never able to complete the wireless connection. Even if I could make a connection it wouldn't really help me as I have 3 machines in my place that I would want to access the net with. Currently, these machines are connected to a wireless AP (Linksys WRT54G-3G) - 2 via wi-fi and 1 via ethernet.

My questions are:

1. What hardware would I require to permanently connect to this wi-fi network across the road? I was thinking a directional aerial (yagi), as well as some mikrotik routerboard setup (very similar if not exactly like a WUG starter kit) in client mode.
2. How would I connect this device to my other wireless AP? Would I just take ethernet from the client mode AP and stick it into a free ethernet on the wifi AP serving the machines, and then reroute traffic to the gateway AP?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Chunkyfeather]

um isnt that illegal?. This establishment probably provides the free wifi to its patrons and not to someone living across the street. That imho would be considered theft.

I hope this "establishment" you are referring to is not some poor sod who forgot to enable security on his router for wireless access.

 

[Bounce]

This establishment offers free wi-fi to their members, who are required to pay a yearly membership fee. So no, it is not illegal.

 

[Obelix]

option no 1 would be the best solution....

just connect the routerboard to your other AP, set your default route to point to the ip of your rb and let her rip. Be prepared to get caught though....

 

[Bounce]

Why would I be caught? I am not doing anything illegal here as I am a member. Option 1? Those are 2 questions no options But thanks for the info.

 

[TheMightyP]

afaik it's illegal to provide internet access between establishments/buildings over wifi.

 

[Pilgrim]

Perhaps you should talk to the people that own the access point and ask them? If they intend to provide their members with internet across the street they should have a solution in place.