Looking for a wireless, wireless router 1

[DayLaborer]

I am looking for a wireless router that needs no wired connection at all. My need is as follows: my neighbor gave me permission to use the Wi-Fi signal from his house in mine. (I called his ISP and they said it's ok with them, as well. No, I couldn't believe it, either.) I don't own a laptop, but I borrowed one and can successfully connect to his network in my home. I do own a desktop PC, but a regular wireless card is not able to detect his network at all.

I tried buying a LinkSys WRE54G Wireless Expander. I placed it in my house as close to his router as possible. I was able to connect my desktop PC to it, but could not get the expander onto his network.

Here's where my question comes in: is there such a thing as a wireless router that doesn't need to physically be connected to the original network? I'd like to place it in my house and use it to "amplify" his signal so it can reach my desktop PC.

Short of this, all I can think of is to get a good antenna with a wireless card for my desktop PC. But I'm not so sure that will work.

Can someone please point me in the direction of such a wireless, wireless router?

Thanks much,
Eliezer

 

[dberg35]

What is the distance between your houses? You can use an Access Point that will act as a bridge and purchase and external antenna to pick up the signal.

 

[DayLaborer]

About 10 feet between houses; probably 30 feet between his router and my desktop PC.

1) Could you suggest a particular model of access point?
2) Would I only need to plug it into an electric wall jack, but not to his network nor my PC?
3) Do I need any of his network info - I'd rather not bother him.

Thanks,
Eliezer

 

[dberg35]

I have done this before with just an internal card for the pc but I placed the antenna out the window. Look at this product. I use it now in my house because the WiFi is on a different floor.

http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/products/WMP300N

 

[DayLaborer]

I contacted a store (whose ad I saw on this very page) that told me that this $52 item:

http://www.wifi-link.com/product.ph...3&class2_id=517&class3_id=518&product_id=1414

will be a complete solution for my situation and will even serve as a wireless card for my desktop PC.

What do you think?

 

[dberg35]

Never heard of them but looks like it might work. Just be careful with this.

 

[DayLaborer]

dberg, please explain your warning: "Just be careful with this." I am sure I'm missing your intent.

Thanks,
Eliezer

 

[dberg35]

Well it is not a known brand like Linksys or D-Link that is all. I am all for saving money but with technology sometimes cutting costs can me quality as well.

 

[DayLaborer]

Oh, I thought there was a security, etc. concern.
They have a no-questions-asked, 100% (less 20% ) money-back guarantee.

 

[dberg35]

No not security although if your neighbors Wireless isn't locked down he should do so.

 

[DayLaborer]

It's WPA-PSK and he shared the network key with me. Is my PC in any danger in this way?

 

[dberg35]

Nope your good

 

[kjv1611]

WPA2 is much more secure than WPA, and at least as far as I can tell, performs faster as well. There are few reasons to not use WPA2 in my opinion. He can set it up the same way, just change WPA to WPA2.

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"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me