set me on the right path

[maverick_R]

Hi all

I'm from South Africa and wireless networking has just really started to arrive and there is not much technical guys that no much about wireless over here.So any help would be appreciated

Project
To connect 3 homes wirelessly for file sharing and network games.
All homes about 600m apart.

I want to setup an access point at my place because i might give them access to my ISDN dialup connection using ICS.

Now this is what i don't understand would they be able to use access points to connect to my access point or should they get normal wireless cards.

Reason for using access point is because prices for LMR cabling is really expensive.

What types of antennas would i need and how would i have to point them.
The antenna at my access point is the one that i am totally confused about.

For the 2 antennas at the other homes i was going to use yagi's but at my place who knows.

If anyone answers my post please take into account that i will be connecting to another wireless community in about 4 months when they get setup.
It is about 3 miles away.

This is the dish that i want use to connect to the other wireless community: 2.4 - 2.5GHz LanPoynt dish (21 dBi)

What other hardware would i need to connect my local wireless network to this other one 3 miles away.

[M/Q]

Interesting project. To start with the 3 buildings and setting up a network between the three. First this website is a good place to figure out what kind of signal you will need to get solid connections:

http://www.ydi.com/calculation/index.php

The first road block will be as to the relationship between your house and the other two. It would be the best obviously if they where right next to each other. If not you have to decide what gain you will need on the antennas and then determine the coverage angle provided for by that type of antenna. With that you can tell if you need to have two separate antennas, one for each of the houses.

The second issue is loss, since it is 600m it will require outside equipment and that makes it a little expensive. The high cost of LMR is not the only problem it is the high signal loss as well. The best approach would be to buy outside units that have an integrated antenna or the ability to add an external antenna. These units are great, as they have very short antenna coax leads and low loss. The unit will run CAT5 (usually outdoor) into the house and then to the network. These systems also use POE, which is the ability to send the DC power up to the unit through the CAT5 using the 2 unused pairs. I use this brand all the time and swear by them. It will give you an idea as to what is available. I am sure that something similar to this will be added to your house when you get the WISP. The website is:

http://www.smartbridges.com/new/products/index.php

I did some quick calculations , and using these devices with some fairly high gain antennas should work fine. The configuration required would be to set up a point to multi-point bridging system. It would configure nicely and then it would appear that all of you were on the same network.

I have included another website that has a great FAQ section:

http://www.seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/FrequentlyAskedQuestions

This next website is one of the best for antennas and just about any other ancillary pieces you may need. It will give you an idea as to the antennas and gain that they have.

http://www.fab-corp.com/

This will get you started and allow you to ask more detail questions. I and the others will be very happy to help.

HTH

[maverick_R]

Thanks for the info i'll get started and follow up on the links that u provided.