Techno-Geeks... internet/phone help!

[elwesso]

So I recently started a new job, and for the time being I am living with my grandpa until I figure out what I want to do..

I live next to our family's marina, which has internet access.. For the time being, I have just been going over there to use the computer after-hours.. Not so bad when its warm-ish outside, but when winter rolls around its not going to be fun since theres really no heat over there..

I have tried a few different options for WLAN things, and I really just cant get a good enough signal from the house.. Ive been looking at a few different options, and I want to know what you guys think since I know *nothing* about any of this stuff. Ive even considered buying a couple thousand feet of CAT5 and just running a hardline... PITA, but it would solve my issues.

My main issue is I want to have internet access where I am.

I am in desperate need of a new cell phone, and thats probably going to be one of my first purchases in the next week or so.. I have AT&T, I share a plan with my parents which works out really well.. Ive been looking at getting a smartphone with AT&T and using the tethering stuff.. This way I have internet wherever I go, and I dont have to worry about contracts or extra hardware, since where I am right now is not where I am going to be permanently (maybe 3-5 months)

I dont really care about having a smart phone, but if I could kill 2 birds with one stone (internet/phone), it might be a cost effective way of doing things, if its fast enough.

What do you guys think?

[Dattebayo]

The maximum number of feet you can run of cat-5 or 6 is around 350~ish. You can stretch that a little, but if you want to go longer, you should consider setting up a directional antenna and an amplifier instead.

[elwesso]

The maximum number of feet you can run of cat-5 or 6 is around 350~ish. You can stretch that a little, but if you want to go longer, you should consider setting up a directional antenna and an amplifier instead.

Thats good to know, so that definitely takes that idea out... What about using a cell phone and tethering for high speed internet? how well does that work?

[Amays U G37S]

Don't run the cable that far, by the time it gets to you the data transfer will be s***. Plus if you cremp it, there will be no line noticable by your comp at all.

Seconldly, get a air-time card from Verizon. It can be used all over the country.

It has unlimited data transfer, where At&t makes you pay if you go over usage. Don't go with a cell phone, that has a limited transfer.

However, everything may be different though your carrier. I perfer Verizon.

Its right at 330ft for a cat 5-6.

You can add in a switch every 300 feet if you want.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Are you sure you get 3G service where you are?
Maybe I'm just too used to Mississippi and their stone age ways...

[Jesda]

You can run Cat5 forever, but you have to use repeaters to keep the signal from dying. Its not worth the trouble.

If you want to use wifi, you can buy and install a directional 802.11 antenna and point it in the direction of wherever you intend to receive the signal. Some guys in Australia did an experiment years ago and got over 20 miles using homemade stuff, and this even predated the development of 802.11g and n.

If you're going to tether, you'll be limited to 5GB per month with any carrier. That's quite a limitation if you're into p0rn like 99% of the male population. Wireless carriers tend to charge $30 or so for tethering unless you sneak it with a program like PDANet or Tetherberry (depends on what phone you get). But if your carrier finds out, they'll drop you or rape you with fees. I've been doing it this way for years with Sprint, allowing me to tether when the wifi at school flakes out, when I'm stuck at a motel with crappy internet, or when I'm on the train or in the car. Sprint doesn't seem to care but I usually keep it under 500MB per month, which is about what most people use on their smartphones.

[PoorManQ45]

A Cantenna would get the job done for very little.

[elwesso]

OK thanks for the replies... I think I will look into a different wifi antenna...

[AppleBonker]

I think AT&T is capped at 2 GB. Then it's maybe $10 per extra gig of data. At least that's how it is with the iPhone, so I'd be surprised if the allowed other phones better tethering options. Not to mention the fairly limited selection of android phones.