Connecting Distant Structures (point-to-point wireless Ethernet bridges)

 Sometimes, it just isn't practical to run Ethernet cable between two or more buildings. Wireless LAN technology can be used to connect structures up to 4300' feet apart. Even greater distances can be bridged wit hthe right equipment and techniques. This method for extending a network via wireless technology is know as point-to-point wireless Ethernet bridging. Simply put, a wireless Ethernet bridge is a dedicated and secure connection whose only function is to provide a connection to an existing local area network. This connection is dedicated in the sense that it can only be 'seen' by the two devices that comprise the bridge. when such a connection is correctly configured, it is both invisible and encrypted.

 In the example shown below, we connect a house and shop using a pair of NETGEAR WG102 wireless access points configured to act as a dedicated and secure wireless bridge between the two structures.

 A simple five port switch at the shop end of the bridge allows up to four other computers to connect to the main network at the house and to share its broadband internet connection. In this example, the house gets its broadband connection from a satellite-based internet service.

The scenario shown here is pretty straightforward and relatively uncomplicated. But this technique for spanning he distance between structures can be scaled up to fit virtually any set of circumstances. StarLAN has constructed far more elaborate point-to-point network solutions for our customers - click on the link in this sentence for an example.