Broadband forum: Laptop INet access 200 feet from home with extender

I was told that after the last Cox person said it was just for use in the home. He mentioned getting a "wireless signal expander" to boost the signal or and "air card". What "expander" is best, how is it installed ie: do you have to drill a hole in an outside wall, plug it into an outlet on an outside wall, put it in the attic, do you need to connect any wires to the PC or anything else, etc.? As to the "air card" I am totally useless.
Have read about both of the types but get confused. Am over 70, was happy with phones that were just used to call someone and actually talk. Trying to get caught up with this computer, IPod, etc. wording. Just need something to be able to use my new laptop in my studio in the back yard.
If I'm too "outdated" to be on this forum due to my lack of knowledge of terms used please let me know.

I use them when I need to span a distance but there are some rules about how they work. Your comment about digging a trench tells me you didn't find a good article about this.

In short I plug one unit in the wall socket in the home and another into the studio. Now I connect the ethernet cable to the one in the home and then to my router.

Off to the studio to plug in the other powerline adapter and to see if the connection is made.

This is a good forum but it's not "tech support" as in you get to do a little work on your own. That is, you may have to catch up on products folk mention.

--> So if the powerline adapters are on the same AC branch, we're done.
Bob

Wow....love the glimmer of hope you gave me. So, you plug this "powerline network" into any wall outlet near the computer, then connect an "ethernet cable" to this "p. n" in the wall outlet and to the router. Then you plug a second "powerline network" into any wall outlet in the studio and check if the laptop can access the INet. Correct ?
So.....what is a "powerline network" and an "ethernet cable"and where do I get these ?
I have a Cox Arris router on the floor under my desk connected to a D-Link next to my PC, printer and metal filing cabinet. My wall outlets are above my desk and all connections go through an opening on my desk along the wall of my desk all connected to my Dell PC. The "ethernet cable" will need to be long enough to stretch about 5 or 6 feet. What Cox did not tell me was I was not supposed to have the router and D-Link on the floor between the PC,printer and metal filing cabinet that are in a room on the opposite side of my house from my studio....the laundry room and freezer are on the side of the house nearest the studio !!! They installed this stuff themselves !!!

Just caught the last sentence you wrote....."So if the powerline adapters are on the same AC branch, we're done."
Do you mean that if I get all my electrical power for the house, studio and hubby's shop from the same electrical power pole in the front yard I will be on the same AC branch ??
Or do you mean I must have the same electrical current line in the home breaker panel connected to both the PC and the studio ??? I have a separate power line to my studio with a separate breaker in the breaker panel....this goes to a totally different direction I wasn't aware of. Might mean I need to see about getting an "air card" ??????

But if you find web pages about powerline networks they cover all this. I can't rewrite it over and over and apologize to those that upsets.

About the air card. Sure if that cell carrier works, why not? Sounds expensive to me (add it up!)
Bob

You posted: "But if you find web pages about powerline networks they cover all this. I can't rewrite it over and over and apologize to those that upsets".
My reply: A simple name for a gadget would have been fine but I WILL search.
As far as I can tell.....you haven't written it over and over to the point you have to apologize. You mentioned it one time and I asked one time.
I'm a newly retired nurse (72 years old) who has worked long days and sometimes week-ends and haven't had the time to play with computers so if I have upset anyone...for that.... I ,myself, apologize for mis-using your time and expertise and of wasting the time of others.
Thanks for the help you did give me.....

This is actually a fairly complex topic which is why he recommended you search since it is impossible to know what level someone understands there power panel....tends to be less than people who can setup a router.

The short answer is it does not need to be on the same breaker but it must be on the same hot power leg coming from the transformer. It works best if it is on the same breaker which does not appear to be a option in your case. Also from your previous comments be careful not to put it on the same circuit "ie breaker" as things like your freezer or washer.

Well, a deep subject. For most folk I find they can try it pretty quickly. I haven't had any issue if the feed was not from the same breaker. I have seen it fail if it's on the other phase of 220.

I hesitate to write about this in any depth due to what's already been written. I apologize for that.

It is the simplest solution I know of that has worked well of a few hundred feet.

--> WiFi on the other hand is hit and miss at those distances. It's a shame those you have spoken with have not pointed that out. It might work, but at that distance I would not count on it.
Bob