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How to use Neighbors Wifi?
Sep
1
2011
One of my neighbors and I are trying to save money by sharing and Internet connection. He lives two houses down.
I’m having a heck of a time getting a connection from his wifi network router.
How do I boost the signal to pick it up at my house?
Any antennas I can use or something?
Tags: hotspot, private hotspot, public, sharing, wifi, wifi network
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Answer #1
There are a number of reasons why this may not be an ideal situation. If you can gain access from down the street, then others may as well.
For security reason you will want to use WEP or WAP encryption on the wireless router. MAC address filtering for just the devices that you want to connect . You may even want to get a cheap VPN service, usually $10 or $15 a month to give you a secure channel as well.
The reception issue. If he was to place the router on the top floor of his house, near a window and with a a good antenna, would help greatly. If the router has two antennas, one could be the omidirectional antenna that most wireless routers come with and he could replace the second one with a directional antenna that points towards your house.
You would want to have a directional antenna pointing back or use an USB wifi adapter and place it in the center of a cooking pan lid and point it towards your neighbors house. This should somewhat like a dish antenna. That will greatly increase your reception as well.
http://www.instructables.com/id/usb-wifi-antenna/
http://www.usbwifi.orconhosting.net.nz/
http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Low-Cost-WiFi-Antenna
http://www.radiolabs.com/products/wireless/directional-wireless-antenna.php