Need some help with Apex internet connection

[xdestry]

Hi guys, I am having some trouble figuring out how I will get my apex connected to the internet once its set up. My tank will be in a side guest house with no physical router connection and no wireless signal where the tank will be. My wifi router is in the main house, I have a big range booster antenna there. My computer in the guest house is connected through an external wifi receptor which sits next to the closest window to my main house. The walls are made of stone so I do not get good wifi signal anywhere else except for right up near the window. My tank will be on the other side of this room where there is currently no wifi reception at all. The distance from the tank to my computer area/wifi receptor is around 20 feet.

I was wondering what would be the best way to connect my apex to the internet, I was thinking of a few possible solutions but I am not sure if the apex will work like I am thinking. I would prefer a wired connection if possible.

1. Is it possible to connect my apex with a wired connection directly to my computer? I am not sure if thats possible to do, but this is not a desirable situation if since I don't know how I will control the apex when I am out of the house if my computer is not on.

2. I can put a wifi repeater near the window to maybe boost the wifi signal inside my room. Would I be able to wire the apex to this repeater and manage it from another location like this just as if I was able to wire the apex to the main router?

I am not too good with computers and wireless internet, if you know of a better idea please help me out Thanks!

 

[Donkeykong]

If you connect your apex directly to your computer you will only be able to control the apex from that computer. There are several options but since you say you are not good with computers I am going to give you the simplest solution. Get a wireless gaming adapter, such as Cisco-Linksys WGA54G, have that sitting next to the window were you know there is signal. Than get a 20 foot network cable and plug the apex into the gaming adapter. This will allow the apex to have full network functions. The only downside is that you cant do firmware upgrades over a wireless connection. So when it is time to do a firmware upgrade you will need to plug the Apex directly into your computer, do the upgrade, then plug it back into the gaming adapter.

 

[Hudzon]

If your out building shares the same electric then you could use something like this also

NETGEAR Powerline 200Mbps Nano Adapter

 

[zoomonster]

I had wanted to do wireless but bit the bullet and ran a cable from my router. Your just better off that way and of course you cannot do any firmware updates over a wireless connection.

 

[Donkeykong]

If you want to try and get fancy, you can get a second wireless router and set it up as a bridge repeater. This router would wireless connect to your main router and then you can plug the apex and the computer to it. Not only would this mean you would only need one piece of equipment for both the computer and apex in your guest house, but since both the computer and apex will be connected to the same router, you can do firmware upgrades without having to move any wires.

 

[xdestry]

If you want to try and get fancy, you can get a second wireless router and set it up as a bridge repeater. This router would wireless connect to your main router and then you can plug the apex and the computer to it. Not only would this mean you would only need one piece of equipment for both the computer and apex in your guest house, but since both the computer and apex will be connected to the same router, you can do firmware upgrades without having to move any wires.

I think I will go this route, do you know of a place with a good tutorial I can follow?

 

[callsign4223]

If you want to try and get fancy, you can get a second wireless router and set it up as a bridge repeater. This router would wireless connect to your main router and then you can plug the apex and the computer to it. Not only would this mean you would only need one piece of equipment for both the computer and apex in your guest house, but since both the computer and apex will be connected to the same router, you can do firmware upgrades without having to move any wires.

I would suggest getting a dedicated bridge if you plan on going this route. There can be issues if you try to put a router into bridge mode, whereas a dedicated bridge will work right out of the box. You can then out a small 5 port switch behind the bridge to give you the multiple ports you need in the guest house.

Here is a bridge with a builtin switch. Looks to be really nice if you can get it to work.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&cm_re=wireless_bridge-_-33-999-018-_-Product

Here's another option, this requires the bridge and a switch, 2 pieces of equipment.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&cm_re=wireless_bridge-_-33-168-045-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704042

 

[SeedlessOne]

Above posts are spot on but....

I would pass on both of the products listed above. OnNetwork and are garabage IMO, and you want something reliable. You also don't need a bridge that supports AC as I'm sure you don't have anything in your network thats AC. I would also look for something with external antennas.

I would look into Asus router line as any of those can act in dedicated bridge mode. Or look into a router that supports DD-WRT.

This is on sale right now and is a very solid router that its extremely stable.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0038&cm_re=asus_router-_-33-320-038-_-Product

Or this one if you want to spend a tad more. One of the most stable N routers, if not the most stable on the market.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0091&cm_re=asus_router-_-33-320-091-_-Product

 

[callsign4223]

Dd-wrt would not work for both the laptop and the apex. It only supports one device behind the bridge. We found that out the hard way at work.

 

[SeedlessOne]

Dd-wrt would not work for both the laptop and the apex. It only supports one device behind the bridge. We found that out the hard way at work.

Correct. DD WRT is a transparent bridge. One device is going to get an IP. I did not realize that two devices needed to be bridged. This is actually a limit of 802.11 protocol rather than DD WRT.

 

[callsign4223]

True, but I have had success using a dedicated bridge device and a switch behind it.

 

[xdestry]

Above posts are spot on but....

I would pass on both of the products listed above. OnNetwork and are garabage IMO, and you want something reliable. You also don't need a bridge that supports AC as I'm sure you don't have anything in your network thats AC. I would also look for something with external antennas.

I would look into Asus router line as any of those can act in dedicated bridge mode. Or look into a router that supports DD-WRT.

This is on sale right now and is a very solid router that its extremely stable.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0038&cm_re=asus_router-_-33-320-038-_-Product

Or this one if you want to spend a tad more. One of the most stable N routers, if not the most stable on the market.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0091&cm_re=asus_router-_-33-320-091-_-Product

Hi seedless thanks for your reply, I can afford going for the ASUS RT-N66U you listed. Does this one already come built in with the capability to be set up as a repeater, or am I going to need to program it manually?