> Hi everybody, I'm new here, please bear w/me. The search for relevant
> information is overwhelming and I'm hoping that you guys can help me w/
> a simple, inexpensive solution.
>
> Situation:
> Verizon FIOS internet service, both wired and wireless in the main
> house. About 40 feet away, is a detached garage w/a room above it;
> it is in this structure that I'd like wireless internet w/o paying for
> a whole other connection from Verizon (obviously).
>
> On the side of the main house that is FURTHEST away from the garage is
> the Verizon ActionTec, M1424WR, wireless router thing :-) This router
> is hard-wired to a PC that is on the side of the house that is closest
> to the garage. This router also provides wireless internet service
> thru the main house for my laptop when I have it at home. (Now I
> admit, I haven't taken the laptop to the garage and tried to get a
> signal, it's pretty weak just on the opposite side of the house).
>
> What I would like to know is how to bounce/repeat/send/whatever the
> wireless signal from the main house to the garage.
> What I've checked out:
>
> I looked into the parabolic DIY wok-fi style antennas and they seem to
> operate only by disabling the laptops built in wi-fi and then you have
> to be tethered to the wok-fi antenna, right? USB wifi dongle plugged
> into your laptop's USB port?
>
> I also looked into external antennas to try and relay the signal, but
> there is so much information out there it's gets confusing and they
> seem like an expensive solution.
>
> I looked at things like Pringles antenna and coffee can antenna and,
> I'm sorry, I'm not really handy so I don't know if I could build one.
> guess I could try.
>
> Is it possible to get a couple of wireless routers that have repeater
> functions and simply plug one into the network jack in the house (on
> the side of the house closest to the garage) and then plug the other
> one into an outlet in the garage and hope the signal is strong enough
> to make the garage a "hot spot", or will that not work and I'd have to
> have a wireless router/repeater plugged DIRECTLY into a port on the
> ActionTech, then have another repeater in the house and yet another in
> the garage to pick it up?
>
> Any tips, hints, points to links, etc., would be greatly appreciated
> Thank you!!!!!