Networking advice - Video streaming with neighbor

Mad Professor · 18 May 2012 at 17:45

Good day all.

I am looking for help and advice with regards to the best way to network to my neighbor, only looking aprox 15-20m.

Using a network cable is not an option, so it has to be Wireless or some other means.

As per the title the main use for this is so that my neighbor can stream videos from my media server.

Can you please advice.

Best Regards.

Mad Professor · 4 Jun 2012 at 14:49

I would guess that powerline adaptors are out of the question.

Hardwired network to my neighbor is out of the quesion

So that only leaves me with wireless.

What sort of wireless hardware would I need?

Thanks for your time.

Best Regards.

lsg1r · 4 Jun 2012 at 17:03

I'll ignore the legal implications with this idea....

You most likely will need some external antennas (directional probably best choice) with some wifi bridges/repeaters.

It might be possible to manage using just the normal 8db aerials if by/in a window but I'd say you may be pushing the limits at 15-20m.

If you both have the internet you could try a vpn approach too although obviously no good for larger video's.

Rroff · 4 Jun 2012 at 17:06

15-20m is fine if you mount external antennas with line of sight (assuming thats possible) even normal access points will work at 60m with line of sight or only minor obstruction.

If theres buildings in the way or anything else substantial its going to be a lot harder.

TNGL · 5 Jun 2012 at 00:56

Rroff said:
15-20m is fine if you mount external antennas with line of sight (assuming thats possible) even normal access points will work at 60m with line of sight or only minor obstruction.

If theres buildings in the way or anything else substantial its going to be a lot harder.

+1. I can be at least 30m away from my house, and as long as I point my phone, in roughly the same direction as the router, I'll get a connection with good/very good signal strength. It would seem a set of Nanostation M5s will do what you want.

ChrisD. · 5 Jun 2012 at 10:05

Tingle said:
+1. I can be at least 30m away from my house, and as long as I point my phone, in roughly the same direction as the router, I'll get a connection with good/very good signal strength. It would seem a set of Nanostation M5s will do what you want.

But the main issue is the OP wants to stream video, if you are at the edge of wifi reception your actual throughput would drop to the lower limits which depending on the video quality, it might not be enough.

Mad Professor · 5 Jun 2012 at 10:18

Thanks for your replies.

When I am next round my neighbor's house I will try the "WiFi Analyzer" app on my htc phone to see if I can pick up my wifi signal, and if so the power of the signal.

ChrisD. · 5 Jun 2012 at 10:24

What router do you have now?

Mad Professor · 5 Jun 2012 at 10:25

I have a Billion 7800N.

ChrisD. · 5 Jun 2012 at 10:30

Take an n capable device with you (I assume it's wireless n?) and do a speed test from where his device will be, or use his if it's n. There's no point testing it with your phone as it'll only see the 2.4GHz network.

Mad Professor · 5 Jun 2012 at 10:34

My phone is a HTC Sensation, hardware specs show it to support: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n.

What would be the best app to use on my phone, and the best software to use on the PC/Laptop, to do speed tests, and singal strength & quality?

ChrisD. · 5 Jun 2012 at 10:37

Ah, sorry, didn't realise it supports n. But you need something that can speedtest your wireless not our internet, so you need to share a file on the source PC and try and play it or copy it to the destination device and go from there, trial and error.