I use the Engenius 2611. One, set as an AP, feeds a mast at my house and then the other houses have the same unit set as a Client, no need to use mesh.

Feed comes from a BT landline

Details on setting up here http://www.solwise.co.uk/video-eoc-2611p.html

Basically you mount one unit on the first house and run a long CAT cable down the wall then inside and plug into the router. You then do the same at the second house and plug the lead into your computer. Height isn't important but VISUAL line of sight between the units is essential. You point the units at one onother but alignment isn't critical.

I have run to 2km but Solwise will tell you if 5km is ok.

Edited by agkq62 (Tue 23-Oct-12 11:43:08)

A mast may be needed for line of sight because the Earth is curved http://www.radiodata.co.uk/faqs/line-sight

Great thanks this is very useful. So alignment isn't exact (like a Sky TV dish for example)?. Just set up the Access Point at my in-laws and then a client at my house roughly pointing in the right direction? Trial and error with height I guess? These 2611s are not mini-dishes so how does it receive unless the alignment isn't exact? Sorry for the continual questions! Thanks

Edited by deleted (Tue 23-Oct-12 12:00:50)

An aerial radiates in an arc not a straight line so alignment isn't critical. Height is more important due to the Fresnel zone.

Edited by deleted (Tue 23-Oct-12 12:06:24)

Sat dishs are aimed at something that is a few metres across 24,000km away.

So a basic compass and a map with both houses on it, should be enough to align them, then a little tweaking to ensure best signal.

Sat needs a dish arrangement to concentrate signal as it is such a low level, over the 2 to 15km wireless kit is seeing bigger signal levels, so flat antenna can cope. If property already has a satellite dish up, then do check the local planning rules as if you exceed certain height limits you might need permission, not sure of exact rules.

Of course that makes sense. I have a few companies preparing some quotes, I suspect some of them will be very expensive. From this it seems so long as you are comfortable with the hardware, software and climbing on top of a house its a DIY job? I could get a TV aerial guy to mount the AP and I can do the rest.

Will it work with cable broadband - does it just need an ethernet connection?

Yes, just needs ethernet.

How do people rate the ease of installation? I have had one quote come in at approx £3000 which seems high based on the costs of the some of these 5Ghz APs. I am more than happy configuring hardware and software (worked in IT for over 20 years) its just the physical install I am concerned with. Thanks again for all your help so far.

Edited by deleted (Tue 23-Oct-12 13:41:06)

According to the table in the link, you need 8m height for 5.8Ghz over 5Km so the TV mast should do it. What is line of sight like - can you actually see your parents' house, or is there some large obstruction like a hill in the way?

A digital camera with a good zoom and video mode on the end of an appropriate height stick and a blinking torch at night held out of upstairs window at other property would be a simple crude test of line of sight.

Not sure what neighbours would make of it.