WIFI network that needs to reach 500 ft and support 6-10 computers. What router and products do I need?

Question

I would like to keep it under $300 range for the router and a few wireless cards, etc, to get things started.

I want to go from one poll style building where the router will be located facing a window directed in line of destination, a house 450 feet away. Open line of site besides the house itself. I'm currently looking at the Bountiful BWRG500 router.

http://www.wirelessnetworkproducts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1603

Answer 1

Well, I would say just get a good high power router like Buffalo Technologies (they have some that are five times the output of Linksys and Dlink off the shelf units)

But before I can answer you there are a few details missing!
Is this 500foot indoors or out. If this is inside a building you may need several access points and remote antennas etc. All depends on what the building is made from and number of floors, number of walls, materials used in the walls, other wireless devices that are used in the "site". There are simply way to many variables to simply say get this and this and have it work. You need to "site survey" the 500 feet and let us know what you need covered and where.

If this is all open space with no walls like a warehouse. Just get a high powered router and good 8-10 db antenna (not the little 2 db ones that come with most routers) and good wireless cards for the computers. Put the router antenna where it has a "good view" of the open area and your done.

Otherwise seek some real help to get this done or live with the trail and error results.

Here are a couple of specialty wireless distributors that will have what you need but you need to do some "homework first"
http://defactowireless.com
http://echotechwireless.com
http://hyperlinktech.com
http://radiolabs.com
http://tranzeo.com
http://proxim.com

Good Luck and feel free to email me.

Added:
Ok the Bountiful BWRG500 should work. I would get a better antenna which can be "aimed" at the house! With a directional antenna you will get more signal pushed that direction in stead of "filling" the building in which it sits. (It will still fill that building as well. You may find you need two of these, one in the building you are "transmitting from" and one inside the house you are "transmitting into" Set the one in the house to "repeater mode" this will give you better coverage once you are inside the house! Outside walls can depleat a wifi signal in a hurry. You will probably work fine near any windows facing the transmission point but may loose it as you move away from them. (you can start with the one and see how it covers -- but do add an 8-10 db directional antenna) In the US a maximum transmit of 36db is allowed the router has 27db out add 9 and you have the max legal limit allow for connection loss and 10db will be ok. That will let the antenna mount directly in the window aimed at the house.

IF and notice the IF, your power lines are on the same transformer and the same side of the AC block you could try a couple of Power Line extenders. These will pickup the wifi, transmitt the signal over the AC lines and "rebroadcast" it at a distant point. (A simple quick extender)
http://www.netgear.com/Products/PowerlineNetworking/PowerlineWirelessAccessPoints/WGXB102.aspx
(That is one, Dlink, SpeedStream etc all have them)
Provided you are on the same power lines at both places and on the same SIDE of the transformer with the lines they will work. (you still need the router, these are just extenders!)

Answer 2

A WiFi network that can extend that far requires a good transmitting dish. Not only that, but it also requires there to be few obstacles in between the transmission point and the receiving point.

And ANY WiFi can support 6-10 computers, but if you're looking for a Client/Server relationship then you may want to check if your Server computer's OS allows for that many computers.

I would look at Cisco solutions. They are the leader in networking and have tons of products to meet your needs.

Check them out.