I have an RV campground and want to extend my wireless to the campground
immediately behind my home. I have a Cisco Router and have bought an
external antenna. ISP is good with this so I am trying to figure out why I
can get good signal close, but not away from the house, even with the
external antenna on top of the house.  Please give me some ideas as to what
I am doing wrong.  Thanks in advance for any help, Jeff

How far away from the router are you?

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You're only going to get about 300 feet max out of it with the "pactical
usable" range of around 100 to 150 feet.   The "N" band devices may do
better on the range but I wouldn't expected the results to be as good as
they brag about on the packages because the motto is "Over Market -- Under
Deliver".

Also Campers with metal skins are going to block and possbily reflect or
defract the signal.

Hi
WIFI signal can travel a distance when there is a total Clear Line of sight.
Any obstructions reduces the signal very fast, especially Metal and live
vegetation.
In order to cover the area you might need to create a WDS System. (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Distribution_System ).
The general approach to Coverage issues is the following.
You start with One affordable Router that can Do WDS.
Routers that can do WDS as is are sold by (Asus, SMC, Belkin, and some
others).
Using a Laptop loaded with  Netstumbler, do a Wireless survey in the
targeted area, http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/
According to the Netstumbler's signal strength reading, identify spots that
have strong signal. and spot with weak, or No signal.
Evaluate how you can cover the space and start placing WDS units.
Additional Wireless Routers in WDS Mode (Wireless Network - Configuration
Modes. ) has to be placed in spots were the signal is good about Half way to
the dead spots.
How many WDS units are needed? It depends on your specific environment (that
is a good the reason to buying WDS units one at the time, try it, and decide
on the Next step).
Otherwise.
Extending Distance - http://www.ezlan.net/Distance.html
Wireless Router as an AP -  http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html
Wireless Modes - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Modes.html
Wireless Bridging - http://www.ezlan.net/bridging.html
Hi Gain Antenna -  http://www.ezlan.net/antennae.html
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)

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