Making our own wireless hotspot?

This is certainly possible. First of all I would suggest everyone uses wireless draft N equipment because that has better range than wireless G. My draft N router has usable signal across the street which is at least 250 yards. That is through some trees also. This is just the router ant not an omni antenna on top of my house. I think my router alone is capable of 300 yards so there is no reason your neighborhood wireless network wouldn't be possible.

If it is possible, run a cable underground to a house close to the middle of the area you are trying to cover. Put the router or antenna in/on that house. 50 feet is very poor so you are doing something wrong. I am well over 50 feet from my router right now and the signal is traveling through multiple walls, and part of my bed. I still have 64% signal strength. I would like to hear more about the current setup and I might be able to offer some help.

The worst case would be a point to multi point setup with people needing antennas or dishes mounted on their roof and that would just more trouble that it is worth. With a 300 yard distance I don't think it will come to that. The people farthest away might need a good wifi adapter but give some more details and I can probably help you out.

Best of luck and welcome to WA.

 

Check this out as well I just came across
1000 Ft. of Wi-Fi coverage with wiFire | The Boy Genius Report

 

I have heard the home made antennas don't work. $80.00 really isn't so bad. If it works you can use the network and I would imagine you all split the bill so with a few users that drops the monthly price of high speed internet to very affordable levels. I haven't tested the wifire product so I don't know if it is worth $80.00 or not.

 

When I saw this I am very tempted to get this. I guess I could and try it and make a review?

 

Do it. The Boy Genius write up was rather basic so if you pick one up, I would like to hear how well it performs. After reading a bit more about it, the device seems like it should work fairly well. I was hesitant to recommend a device without testing it first. I will mention that the wifire will work better than the pringles can setup. RJB - let us know how well the wifire works it you buy it.

 

Search around you can get high gain antennas, mount up high with a clear line of sight. Use a linksys router with a 3rd party firmware to increase the power. You can also purchase inline amplifiers also.

Or if you have the money invest in higher end equipment like Cisco with higher end power and antennas.