Using an old satelite dish.

[Mason Whitaker]

So me and my family just moved into the country ( farmland-ish ), and that means I don't have any internet connection. I had an internet connection before, but now my parents don't want to pay for it.

Luckily, I know that about a half a mile away there is a state park that has an internet connection. Now, this may be a stretch, but I think I can take an old satelite dish and somehow use it to capture this signal. I have about $500 to spend, and the satelite dish still has all the hardware inside.

Now can anyone point me in the right direction to a guide or something I could use here in this project of mine?

[v8YKxgHe]

but now my parents don't want to pay for it.
Coupled with:

I have about $500 to spend

See where I'm heading? ;)

[Mason Whitaker]

We also don't have a phone line, because we all use cell phones anyways.

[H2SO_four]

We also don't have a phone line, because we all use cell phones anyways.

Cell phone data plan maybe? Using a sat dish to "capture" signal sounds like a far stretch to me.

[Mason Whitaker]

My uncle mentioned something about doing it back in the late 90's with is friend.
He said they lived about 3 miles apart but were using each others wireless connections.

[Rainstride]

We also don't have a phone line, because we all use cell phones anyways.

you could use it to amp your signal and make your ability to receive way better... but im not if it is half a mile better.

[Rainstride]

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-hack-a-satellite-dish-into-a-wifi-signal-booster-257436/

you should get 2x the power if you think that is good enough.

[Mason Whitaker]

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-hack-a-satellite-dish-into-a-wifi-signal-booster-257436/

you should get 2x the power if you think that is good enough.Seems easy enough, and it appears someone managed to get signals from up to twenty miles away O_o

I have experimented with tethering my cell phone to my laptop to get on the internet, although it's not really that effective. I'd also like to use this in my truck if I can get it to work.

[67GTA]

For that much money you could get something like Wildblue satellite internet http://www.wildblue.com/ when they are having free installation. It is like satellite TV, you can take it with you. That is what I use out here in the sticks.

[Rainstride]

Seems easy enough, and it appears someone managed to get signals from up to twenty miles away O_o

I have experimented with tethering my cell phone to my laptop to get on the internet, although it's not really that effective. I'd also like to use this in my truck if I can get it to work.

20 miles is sick. it'll do what you want in that case. i have a satellite laying around... maybe i will try this....

[rookcifer]

If you have $500 to spend, just buy a 24 dBi grid dish antenna.

http://www.simplewifi.com/product_info.php?products_id=23

http://www.yourtechplace.com/storefrontprofiles/DeluxeSFItemDetail.aspx?sid=1&sfid=124923&c=736204&i=240189825

Sure, you could make your own with an old satellite dish, but why waste your time when you can buy one specifically made for Wifi?

[Vostrocity]

I had the exact same idea just a couple days ago.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1181232