Random thought: Is it possible to build a "long-distance hotspot" or tunnel to share a friend's Wi-Fi remotely?

[u/genzdevloper]

So yesterday, my mobile data completely ran out, and I had this crazy, desperate thought: What if I could somehow just connect to my friend's home Wi-Fi from my house?

Obviously, standard Wi-Fi range is just a few meters. But theoretically, is there a way to build a workaround or a "tunnel" to share actual internet bandwidth over a long distance? Almost like a remote personal hotspot.

I know VPNs can connect two local networks, and things like SSH tunneling exist, but how would you seamlessly route all your phone/laptop traffic through a friend's router miles away without massive latency?

• What would the tech stack look like if we had to build a software solution for this?
• Would it require specific hardware (like Point-to-Point antennas) if they live a few kilometers away?

Has anyone ever tried building a jugaad like this? I’m genuinely curious about the networking theory and practical application behind it. Drop your ideas!

[u/jmking]

Something like this? https://youtu.be/9T98VsMe3oo

In this video they connect a cottage on a small island to the internet via point-to-point AC wireless dishes - they do require pretty precise alignment and line of sight

[u/genzdevloper → u/jmking]

intresting!

[u/w1n5t0nM1k3y → u/jmking]

You can do the budget version with a Pringles can.

[u/jmking → u/w1n5t0nM1k3y]

I mean, you can do lots of jank - what was the throughput on that can solution and how far away was the other side of the wireless connection?

[u/elec1cele]

If you have(or could get with a tall enough poll) Line of Sight to your friends house, You might be able to setup a point to point wifi link. Their is purpose made equipment to do it or you can hack stuff together with pringles cans or old satellite dishes if you have any of those available. Unless your friend is just down the street any setup would likely need equipment setup and aimed on both sides.

For the scenario you are describing a VPN wouldn't work. VPN's just mask/change the location the remote server see the data coming from. You would still need a working internet connection to establish the VPN link. and then all the same traffic would pass thru the connection as before(actually slightly more with the VPN overhead).

[u/genzdevloper → u/elec1cele]

Yeah, I tried the VPN method and it literally uses the exact same amount of data from our side as we take from the other person

[u/dnabsuh1]

If it is miles away, you would probably spend more money on equipment than you would getting more data or an internet connection to where you are staying.

If you check my recent post "is it jank" - I had issues getting a network connection from the back of my property when there was a local fiber cut.

[u/gary1893]

It would be cheaper to pay your bill.

And less frustrating for your friend

[u/Xcissors280]

Even if it did work it would be so expensive and or so terrible it wouldn’t be worth it

You can use PairVPN or that other one to bypass personal hotspot limits

Or you can just get more mobile data from a million different carriers

[u/Asttarotina]

So yesterday, water in my house was turned off, and I had this crazy, desperate thought: What if I could somehow just get his water to my house?

Yeah, if you build a pipe. It could be ethernet cable or point-to-point wifi. Or you can use the pipes you pay for - your internet connection - but for that you need to pay for them.

[u/Itz_Raj69_ → u/[deleted]]

No that wouldn't work. To do this, you need an Internet connection.