Internet … for the whole village

Wireless Internet at home is a tempting idea for many rural families. Widespread use of wireless technology allows to eliminate the need for cables at least in a single village house. One of the applications of wireless networks, which I have successfully implemented in “my” farm in the Vologda region – creating an easy access to the Internet for any computer devices using a wireless connection and maintaining the security of the connection .

What does it mean? This means that using simple recommendations almost everyone can connect a wireless router router in their village home and work on the Internet on a computer, including a laptop, without connecting it to the wires, and even outside the house at a distance of up to 1 km depending on the type of router and remote antenna .

Connecting outside the village home opens up unprecedented prospects for the villager. So, by connecting a router in one house, the coverage signal spreads to the entire village. I have put it into practice at my farm, and I will tell you about it below.

The word router has been known since ancient times it has the meaning of an extension cord in telephone technology and radio communications, in a general sense . And we use it based on two inputs: German “route” – router and English “router” which has almost the same meaning .

So, I bought a router TP-Link TL-WR941ND – multi-function router model Wireless N , designed for use in a limited area – at home or in a small office it provides high-speed data transmission up to 300 Mbit sec this is pretty high .

MIMO technology, implemented in this device allows you “not to notice” obstacles in the signal passing in the form of walls made of wood, concrete, iron structures relevant in the farms and in terms of electrical noise from power consumers pumps, electric motors, separators .

However, this is not all. By installing a router in the village house and setting it to the maximum speed of interaction with my computer equipment which allows you to include a computer or laptop with Wi-Fi technology – any computer equipment manufactured within the last 5 years , I have achieved that to the computer is not necessary to connect any additional wires, but to use it anywhere within a distance of the router to 1 km, this is “convenient” wireless technology, allowing you to live and work with the same and more comfort as in a major city.

But I did not stop there either. After all, if you add a special external antenna with a good signal gain to this router, you can organize wireless interaction… throughout the village.

Below I will tell you how to configure the router TP-Link TL-WR941ND by yourself at home, without calling a specialist-setter and “make the Internet” in the whole village from one point at home today, with the proliferation of Internet in the village, this can be repeated by almost any of our readers.

Important note: to do this you must already have Internet access e.g. via telephone, ADSL, or sometimes there are more “advanced” providers or via computer modem provided by the mobile operator in your coverage area .

So, let’s open the box… The TP-Link TL-WR941ND router comes with a power supply, a network cable patch cord and three antennas see the brochure. Figure. 1 .

Fig. 1. TP-Link TL-WR941ND router exterior general view with antennas

These antennas not only improve the signal range, but also increase its power, which is important in any private home. On the front panel of the router there are LEDs indicating the modes of operation, and a button running QSS: Quick Secure Setup, which is designed for quick and easy setup of the secure connection between the router and the wireless devices.

On the back panel Fig. 2 Three connectors SMA type for three antennas included , which can be replaced with any other antennas designed for frequencies of 2 GHz , with a standard connector. At fig. 2 You can see 4 LAN 10/100 ports covered with a paper protective sticker for connecting your home network devices and a WAN 10/100 port for connecting to an outside network.

Fig. 2. Back view of the TP-Link TL-WR941ND router

On the left Fig. 2 there is a connector for the power supply and a recessed reset button. On the bottom of the case there is a sticker with MAC and serial number, as well as the default settings of the router: address, username and password. There are also 2 holes for mounting the router on the wall in 3 positions.

To manage the interfaces of wired network controller Marvell 88E6060 is involved, galvanic isolation of the interfaces from the electronics router is applied.

When you connect instead of regular narrow-directional antenna with an amplification of more than 17 dBi for example, TP-Link TL-ANT2414A can count on a quality connection between the router and the access point installed maximum in a half kilometers from it, so you can organize Internet connection to 1 km in line of sight correspondents.

From router access point to the antenna pull a small segment of the connecting cable, the smaller – the better – the signal loss in the cable will be lower, For example, up to 7 meters the length of the connection between the antenna and access points is reasonable to use a cable 5d-fb, from 7 to 15metrov 8d-fb, about a long length is not worth even thinking, or then put a point near the antenna, and to pull the point twisted pair, which cope, probably, everywhere.

Setting up a router for the Internet without a driver

Attach antenna and power adapter. Connect cable also called patch cord between router and computer. On the computer the cable must be plugged into the LAN card slot. On the router in any LAN-port for example, “1” . Remove the protective film from the LAN sockets beforehand. Then connect the cable from the Internet provider to the WAN-port of the router.

Configuring the connection settings on your computer

Determine which operating system is on your computer and go to the network settings.

Windows XP – Start > Control Panel > Switch to Classic View if the window is blue > Network Connections > Local Area Connection right-click > Properties > Internet Protocol TCP/IP.

WindowsVista – Start > Control Panel> View Network Status and Tasks> Manage Network Connections left > Local Area Connection right-click > Properties> Internet Protocol version 4.

Windows Seven – Start > In the search bar, type the word “Center” > Select “Network and Sharing Center” in the list that appears > On the left – change adapter settings > Local Area Connection right-click > Properties > Internet Protocol version 4 > Next see Fig. 3.

Figure. 3. Illustration of the settings window

If there is no search line – go to “Settings” > Control Panel.

For Mac OS computers, Apple> System Preferences>Network>Ethernet>DNS Server

We have already set up the computer now let’s move on to actually setting up the router.

Router settings

Enter any Internet browser you have installed, such as Internet Explorer. Type 192 in address bar – in the middle at the top http letters are already written there .168.1.1. press Enter – the illustration in fig. 4.

Fig. 4. View of the “Authentication required” window

Next, type: login: admin, password: admin, and confirm the selected settings by clicking “Save”

After filling in all the fields, click “Save” button. Now we can move on to configuring the Wi-Fi connection.

The router’s approximate settings look like this. Table. 1 :

Table 1. Sample TP-Link TL-WR941ND Router Settings

Properties	Entering values	Note
Connection type WAN	Static IP address
IP-address	10.180.34.4
Subnet mask	255.255.252.0
Default gateway	10.180.32.1
Primary DNS	192.168.248.21
Secondary alternative DNS	192.168.245.14	You can leave this line blank
Network Name SSID	HORSE POSODOBLE	Choose the one you like
Type of network protection	Advanced security WEP-128bit	or the one you have chosen, as long as this setting is the same on all computers on your home network and in the router’s settings
Network security key	***************

Warning Important!

On the WIRELESS tab of the WirelessSettings window, enter the desired name of your home network in the SSID field to find it among other surrounding networks see. Fig. 5 .

Figure. 5. The options you enter on the WIRELESS tab

Then it is necessary to select the type of radio signal encryption. This is a very important stage of setup, because there is a temptation to choose at once the newest possible modern encryption WPA2-PSK AES . The data transfer rate in this case is possible to the maximum for this type of routers – 300 Mbit s.

It is possible to act in such a way if all your PCs notebooks are built later newer than 2008. If in the network will be working several different by novelty computers, and with Windows XP different modifications and even earlier OS , this type of encryption on relatively old PC will not work.

In the latter case, I recommend choosing the simplest version of encryption – “Open”. The speed of data exchange will drop to about 54 Mbit s, but it will be provided by Wi-Fi on all models of PCs. There are also “compromise”, intermediate options, for example, WEP encryption.

Then enter the password in Latin your choice and immediately record it on an accessible media. To finish, save the settings by clicking the Save button fig. 5 .

Warning, this is important!

To support the work of Wi-Fi routers, each operating system has a certain set of software, a package of drivers, provided by the PC manufacturers, and in some cases, the OS itself automatically makes the equipment ready.

Among these programs there are useful utilities and options “quick installation wizard” , which help to install and set up the wireless network in “step-by-step” mode.

In order to use Wi-Fi connection, it is necessary that the Wi-Fi adapter on the laptop is turned on for beginners it is not obvious .

If the Internet is lost, restart your router. To do this, unplug the power adapter for 10-15 seconds and plug it back in this often helps.

View of the router, installed in the room on the wall, is shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 6. View of the router with the final installation in my country house.

Of course you can buy another router model for this purpose, consulting a specialist beforehand, but the principle of its configuration will not change.

The whole described procedure can be repeated by the user, even with little PC skills, and in my case took only 1 hour of precious time.

In the same way you can set up any other router and use it at your own pleasure anywhere in the village, not dragging the wire.

And for particularly creative young people in the backwoods, no matter what they say, but I know such people in my recommendation there is another obvious advantage – you can “organize” your village Internet, installing a router for the whole village in your home and then your neighbors can use work in the network for free or help compensate you for the costs of such an organization of Internet communication cost router from 500 Dollars and above – depending on the model and capacity .

It is also a creative idea to create your own networks within the same rural settlement. Grandmothers and not only remember how, before the time of the collapse of the collective farms, the chairmen used to broadcast news and announcements through the local broadcast radio network.

Now, with the new information technology literally coming into every home, the villagers and administrations of rural settlements have a new opportunity to inform each other promptly including the use of virtually limitless opportunities in the global Internet and all interested persons.

By the way, in our age of advanced information technology, even the President of the American Federation is open to communication on his blog. But will the villagers want to use new technologies, expanding their opportunities and patriarchal way of life?? Time will tell us.

On questions I can consult by e-mail.

Additional materials

Frequency standards for Wi-Fi and WiMAX are in the range of 2.4-2.7 GHz. Distinctive features of “similar” standards are different values of transmitter power and signal coding. In this case, the boundaries of signal attenuation for the antenna must be in the range of 2400 MHz lower boundary and 2480 MHz upper boundary . In this case it is possible to get the best quality antennas.

At a frequency of 2.4 GHz there are many antennas, varying in complexity of manufacture: collinear, omni-directional, panel, pin, spiral, with a reflector and without that, a cylindrical waveguide similar in shape to a beer can , etc. d.

Special perspective for confident work of wireless devices on frequency 2,4 GHz represents a way of usage of usual satellite dish diameter in this case is not important together with the resonator form is double square with the side of 2,4 GHz &frac14 wavelength and reflector reflector – the metal part to which the resonator is attached such design allows you to achieve a gain of up to +20 dBi relative to any other antenna without a parabolic mirror dish .

For such an antenna – for even greater gain – it is possible to install vibrators narrower ones on the edges, wider ones in the center .

Such a significant antenna gain, coupled with other equal not failing conditions coaxial cable with minimal loss of useful signal, matching, fine-tuning, quality materials and fabrication, Installation and correct calculations antenna allows you to work on the Internet “with your village” or a small neighborhood, with only one or more access point, saving on additional wires and Wi-Fi routers routers , for which, by the way, will need to pay from 2 to 5 thousand for each .

In this case, it seems to me that the savings are “in person”, without loss of signal quality and speed in the Global Network. For example, with the routers D-Link 900AP+ and TP-Link TP-Link TL-WR941ND WPA, WPA-2 and WEP communication protocols in 2011 I managed to increase the wireless connection and coverage area for effective work on the Internet up to 800 ! meters, “enrolling” “my” village Borovichiha of the Vologda region into the Internet. During the holiday I have no problem now.

What additional antennas – to boost the signal and eventually “internitize the whole village” – can be used, I’ll tell you below.

TP-Link TL-ANT2414A

The TP-Link TL-ANT2414A has a 50 ohm, 1 meter long cable with an SMA connector at the end to connect the antennas to the AP. When installing this antenna outside the house, the connecting cable length is not enough it has to be lengthened through the same SMA adapters.

The TP-Link TL-ANT2414A has a relatively high gain of 14 dBi.

Above the grounded metal 210×210 mm square shield foil or metalized textolite in two rows are 8 radiating elements, which are metalized rectangles of 30×58 mm in size.

The distance between the radiating elements and the shield is only 7 mm. The feeder connection to the radiating elements is made from the back rear side.

TP-Link TL-ANT2409A

Miniature directional antenna specifically for outdoor use. Outside installation on a vertical wall or pole is possible, for what special mounting brackets and clamps are included. There is a 50 ohm cable 1 m long, equipped on the end with SMA connector.

As with the TP-Link TL-ANT2414A Wi-Fi antenna, in practice the length of the connecting cable hardly satisfies a serious professional, the cable has to be extended, which leads to unavoidable loss of useful signal at the connection points and connectors.

The internal design of the TP-Link TL-ANT2409A couldn’t be simpler. Over the square of the grounded screen 90×90 mm, at a height of 7 mm there is a radiating element metallized rectangle 44×54 mm .

Special mention should be made of the materials from which the antennas are made. Copper foil textolite can withstand any weather conditions for a long time years .

Considering that copper has lower resistance current than steel iron , and also that the reflecting working surface of an antenna and radiators are “hidden” inside the case of an antenna on them the moisture does not get , it allows to hang up an antenna directly on street.

By the way, if to collect such antenna independently the technique is described in the literature and in the Internet, for example, //flakey.info/antenna/omni/quarter will require a soldering iron with more than 90W power – for fast, and most importantly – convenient installation on the foil pads of textolite.

The connecting cable is brought from the back side of the screen, and for matching the feeder with the antenna a conductor strip of a special configuration is used.

TP-Link TL-ANT2406A

Miniature directional antenna for indoor use. The antenna stand included allows you to fix the antenna in any convenient place – on the table or on the wall

On the PC body – with magnets at the base of the stand. The adapter cable is the same as the above TP-Link TL-ANT2409A and TP-Link TL-ANT2414A , with all the disadvantages inherent in it.

The gain of TP-Link TL-ANT2406A is only 6 dBi lower than the above-described antennas, therefore, taking into consideration the losses when you increase the cable, it does not seem very effective except that it may attract attention due to the convenience of attachment and the stand included in the kit.

The central core of the cable is connected to the transmitter by soldering, and the braided cable is connected to the shield. A rectangular metal plane with 48×52 mm cuts, in which minor notches are made, is the radiating/receiving element. At a distance of 4 mm there is a reflector shield, the size of which is similar to the size of the transmitter.

Miniature panel antenna D-Link DWL-R60AT

Appearance looks like a square of small size. Overall dimensions 80×85×12,8 mm allow to install it inside the room. Outdoor mounting is possible on a vertical wall or pole, for which the included special mounting brackets and clips.

The antenna provides a direct no cable connection to the access point with an SMA connector. The gain is only 6 dBi.

Warning Important!

If the external antenna is used in the open air, you must provide protection from bad weather and moisture precipitation . The simplest protection is to wrap the connector connection with cellophane and secure it with a clamp or duct tape to prevent moisture from getting in.

For fastening mounting of such antenna I also recommend to use plastic clips and building sanitary clamps in length of 300 mm plastic clips do not make noise in work of the antenna, while all-metal fastenings, on the contrary, can reduce all your preparatory work to nothing.

“Fine-tuning” the Wi-Fi antennas on the ground

For accurate “fine” adjustment of the remote antenna and the router will require at least two people, for convenience equipped with walkie-talkies – for the rapid coordination of actions.

After the installation of the external antenna outdoors – on a wooden pole – the mast for the television antenna, it must be “finely” tuned to an access point this is called matching. To do this, let’s connect the equipment, PC. One technician is permanently beside the computer, and the other is beside the antenna.

He slowly every degree counts turns the antenna in all directions and coordinates his actions with his colleague and his PC, which monitors the signal level. Modern software allows you to do this.

Thus find the point in which the signal will be maximum and therefore the gain of the antenna and securely fix the antenna in this position. With the “fine” adjustment you can “squeeze” out of the antenna the maximum gain, which exceeds at least 3-4 times. This result can be considered successful.

Cables and Feeders Features

Popular in the sense of available almost everywhere, in this only there is its value coaxial cable RG58/U in practice gives a very significant loss of useful signal. It is not designed to operate at frequencies under 1 GHz according to the technical specifications and data sheet , and the 2.4 GHz frequency at which most router models operate is “prohibitive” for this cable.

Of course, somehow it “pulls” the useful signal, assuming that we can be satisfied with the attenuation of 0.8 dB/m cable. Let’s imagine that signal loss attenuation increases proportionally to cable length per linear meter taking into account antenna with small gain, for example 6 dBi, used together with this cable, it becomes hardly usable for our experiments. This example is very indicative to understand – how important is the choice not only of the router, but also of the cable and the antenna.

Slightly better but still far from optimal performance has a coaxial cable with impedance of 50 ohm RG-6U. In my case, when the neighbor’s house is located at a distance of 66 meters, we have to “save” every dB. The best proven cable is the RJ-8X and AWG16 cable made in the EU impedance of 50 ohms .

I would also recommend the “coaxial” URM67 outer diameter 10 mm , but we must keep in mind that this cable practically does not bend. Though it is possible to find the certain “plus” in it, as the Wi-Fi aerial with weight to 1 kg most modern by means of such “hard” cable can be fastened already itself – as on a firm rod. In this case, its length in the outermost part – the “stem” should not exceed 1 m.

How to determine a useful material for making your own UHF antenna

We take a glass with tap water, put a lid on it and place it in the working chamber of the microwave oven. Switch on the microwave oven at 500 W for 2 minutes. After warming up the end of the given time , the water in the glass warms up significantly.

We open the lid of the microwave oven, try the lid on the glass tactilely with our hands The lid, which passes the microwave, remains cold – it suits us. The cover, which heats up in 2 minutes even slightly , indicates that it partially absorbs waves and should not be used in this case.