Is there a way to have an Athena or something that can send a direct WiFi signal a long distance like 2-3 miles to another location?

Answer 1

The Athena the questioner mentioned is a brand of powerful WiFi range extender that operates in the usual 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.

As their range is about 120 feet it would take a line of about 132 Athenas to reach a "single location" 3 miles away.

Answer 2

Hmmm, I am not sure to what you are referring in regard to Athena but as far as getting a wireless signal out for two or three miles, there is an 802.11 standard that was approved and published back in 2008 (802.11y) that allowed such performance. I have not seen any technology that has put it to use, however, though I must admit that I have not looked very hard or very frequently either.

Something else about it is that it did require an FCC license and a "small fee" as it was designed to operate in the 3.65-3.7GHz range. This was primarily aimed at being a backbone for citywide wireless networks but anyone could obtain the license and the hardware, so it could be used by private individuals if desired.

I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to drop me a line.