KG2V,

I just passed my technician exam last Wednesday. My first HT is due in tomorrow.

In the summer at my cottage I run a Wifi Mesh network using a pair of Linksys WRT54G routers running Talisman (like WRT-DD) software and a pair of 12 db corner antennas. I only need to go about a mile and it's over water. This winter I picked up a pair of Linksys wireless-N routers to see if I could increase reliability. The software allows me to pump up router power but I don't do it much as I do not want them to overheat.

I also just got an Alfa long range USB adapter for a laptop - some of these put out 2,000 mw and come with a 5 db antenna. I suspect this would work with just a laptop on a line of sight along the distances you are trying.

Since I am just a rank amateur radio novice I am trying to understand what your system does. How do HT's connect to it? Or why?