This option came to mind when I was typing. I know some businesses where I had set this up that still use wireless bridges today. Always the possibility of something to cut out the connection, but I definitely agree with 5GHz band. The 2.4GHz band is very overcrowded by other devices (microwaves including). Also this brings up another point: Don't place the access points near your microwave. Otherwise they'll act as a jammer every time someone is warming something up. :)

@Tim_Stewart microwaves naturally leak multiple orders of magnitude more radiation than a WiFi router produces. Even a fully functional one, which meets all standards, will interfere with WiFi.

For what it's worth, the wrt1900ac has been a terrible device in my experience. Even with dd-wrt.

OP is most certainly in the US, where radio power rules in the Wi-Fi bands are quite liberal, but for readers in other regions, beware of local EIRP limitations which may make the use of directional antennas unlawful, unless you drop the TX power, which nearly results in a nil improvement.

Hello, since I first posted this question, I've found out that building

Sorry about that incomplete comment. I was gearing up to to lay down cat 6 cable because of my limited budget and also seems to be the sure way to ensure long-term durability and least amount of maintenance necessary. But since I first posted this question, I've found out that building A (the building that has internet now - see new picture I posted to original post) will undergo construction in the coming year and would involve digging around the foundation so any pvc I lay down would be removed. So I'm back to building some kind of bridge.

Because of my limited budget, I want to try adding some kind of inexpensive antennas. I am thinking pull cable from attic to under the eeves to an antenna drilled into stucco exterior wall. Maybe something like this? amazon.com/TRENDnet-Directional-Compatible-Wireless-TEW-AO14‌​D/… But then I remember everyone saying 2.4 hz is crowded and not good for city environment. A lot of single family homes here. (zip: 91335). So forget about 2.4 & find 5 ghz? Can you suggest 5 ghz antenna in this price range? Total budget $300, including 2 new routers that have antenna sockets.

For routers, thinking of going for @Tim_Stewart suggestion of Linksys WRT1900AC. Also will be buying new modem so I can take advantage of 400mbps speed Spectrum is claiming I have but I'm not getting because my modem is old. My current setup: Motorola router SB6141 Netgear Wireless-G rounter, WGR614 I know my stuff is embarassingly low-tech and old compared to the stuff you guys are using.

Is the new modem included in the $300 budget? If you have an Android to use, (phones wifi chipset has to be supported), grab wifi analyzer from the play store. Take a survey in-between the buildings on the 2.4ghz and 5ghz bands. Lemme see what I can find that will fit in your budget for 5Ghz. I've haggled two wrt1900ac's from eBay for dirt cheap, (under $40 each). be aware that used ones LEDs on the front dim over time. I doubt it will matter to you if it's going to be in the attic.

To be honest, if you use two of the 2.4Ghz yagis each side, (eBay ones totalling $44 for both sides) you could turn on beamforming and get decent results in the 2.4Ghz band. The distance between the two buildings is pretty trivial for outdoor antennas. (If you find multiple neighborhood routers on each channel in the 2.4Ghz band it could be an issue though) it all comes down to the local environment.

@Tim_Stewart Hi, yes, I was hoping $300 includes the new modem, unless you think I'm being ridiculous. Woring on Wifi Analyzer now.

I stood between the two buildings and saved the following graphs: drive.google.com/file/d/1r8EDm7A3wURhYTNaiWVmEnFeQ1Zw0Xmw/… All measuring 2ghz, except one, which shows 5ghz is totally blank. Does that mean no one in my neighborhood uses 5ghz? So the trick is to use a 2ghz that is not being used, correct?

Depending on what you think your time is worth, & skills with tools. (I also call this the cheapskate route) You could always go with the "cantenna" route. Use a cantenna calculator, and make it with PVC, use endcaps. (These have the added benefit of blocking up to 80% of adjacent noise)Then you only have to purchase the pigtails, n-females and grab some o-rings from a local hardware store. I helped a friend make a couple last year, they worked out way better then I expected, +14dbi gain. Each one took around 30 mins to complete and cost about 8 bucks in hardware.

Exactly, and yes it means if anyone is using it they are out of range. That's a good thing!

New Ebay stuff from China might take too long. I have to set this up within 2 wks. I am concentrating on amazon to be on safe side. Also about used routers, I just went through a poor experience buying a used modem on ebay and had to return it after wasting a lot of my time troublshooting. superuser.com/questions/1553639/… Someone who responded to my question says "they generally only live 3 years anyway." I guess it's hit and miss.

About 'cantenna' - ordinarily I would try it but right now overwhelmed with finals and other things. So the cheap antenna route from amazon or ebay us-based seller, I think is safest for me. I am still unclear whether 1, antennas come specifically for 5hz or can handle both? 2. I should shoot for 5 ghz or whether from the traffic you saw in graphs, I should settle for 2 ghz? Thank your your help.

Sorry, I posted the wrong link for graphs. This folder contains all the graphs I saved from Wifi Analyzer: drive.google.com/open?id=1-19n0_1y7tCyttOMuuwAfE1m6bNDtBlZ

Avoid 2.4ghz if you want 200+Mbps over the bridge, and not having to figit with it everytime a neighborhood router automatically picks a new channel. There are 2.4Ghz & 5Ghz hybrid antennas, unfortunately, they don't do great in each band as a result. Remember, any antenna you see, the higher the gain, the more directional the radiation pattern, and the better it will perform. The other options were because I think you are going to over your budget with all new equipment out of the box. I hope you got your money back from eBay. Buyer protection should have covered that.

Let us continue this discussion in chat.