2.5 mile link for under $1k?

[ImpatientUser]

Hi,

I have spent several hours reading all I could on this site and am now hoping for some specific help =).

I was wondering if it would be possible to set up a WIFI link from my home to my office. The straight line distance is about 2.5 miles. I am pretty sure that with a tall enough pole at my home I will be able to get line-of-sight to the building my office is in... but I will not be able to mount anything at all outside of the office building. Is this possbile for 1000$ US? If not, is it possible if I spend more?

Thanks a bunch =)

[M/Q]

It is possible with the right bridge device and antenna combination. The problem will be the office, do you have a window with line of sight to the home? Check out this link and see what is required to get that distance. The SOM will need to be at least 25-30% for a good link that means a minimal output power of 23dBm and antennas at both sites of roughly 20dBi gain and very little loss allowed in the antenna leads. Which translates into short lengths. You will probably need parabolic dishes at both ends. Check out these links. The airPoint Pro Outdoor would be my choice for the bridge device. Then look at the dishes at the other website for examples. If you can get this equipment to see each other it will work and be close to $1100 US.

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

http://www.smartbridges.com/web/products/index.asp

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

[ImpatientUser]

Thanks for the quick feedback... unfortunately, there is no window to use... dismal, I know. The signal would have to punch through 2 walls, one thin wall of wood and plaster, and one wall of metal with big steel girders every 2 feet.

Thanks


P.S. I see they rate those radios at 21 miles.. how realistic is that? I have another situation where it would be convenient to be able to do WIFI over 10 miles, with line of sight easy to attain.

[M/Q]

Just totally ignore those ratings, by any vendor. Links over 5 miles require serious attnetion to detail and the high end equipment. I have a few in place and it took towers and very stable platforms as wind loading comes into play because of the decreased coverge angle.

You may not be able to make this link work. I am not sure about the restrictions, but there are small panel type antennas that get close to the gain required that are very unobtrusive. Check those out at that same FAB-Corp site.

[keenanj]

if you office building has a window facing your pole you should be able to use a directional patch for line of sight.

You will want to use the 200mW engenius 2611 cb3 at your home location mounted near the antenna and run ethernet back to your computers.

in the office you can use another cb3 or a 200mW 2511 cd plus ext2 with external patch.

[ImpatientUser]

Thanks for all the help guys... but unfortunately it probably just isnt going to happen. I do not have access to a window facing the proper direction and have been flatly refused roof access. I do have another option though... but it would be off topic for this thread, so I'll start another.. thanks again =)

[karlos]

Here is hardware and price for 5 miles link(with line of sight)
2 AP-s,16 dbi yagi one one side and 24 dbi yagi antenna on the other side
total price is about 350 USD
problem is that the bandwith in this case is only 170 kb/s
good thing is that for less than 1000 USD you can buy 2 AP-s and 2 strong enough antennas
dont forget that directional antenna is couple times cheaper of omnidirectional antenna of same power
so 500 USD should be enough for at least 500 kb/s,for 1000 USD
you can be really fast(ALL SAID BEFORE IS ONLY FOR PURE LINE OF SIGHT,NO WALLS BETWEEN)

[karlos]

Here is hardware and price for 5 miles link
2 AP-s,16 dbi yagi one one side and 24 dbi yagi antenna on the other side
total price is about 350 USD
problem is that the bandwith in this case is only 170 kb/s
good thing is that for less than 1000 USD you can buy 2 AP-s and 2 strong enough antennas
dont forget that directional antenna is couple times cheaper of omnidirectional antenna of same power
so 500 USD should be enough for at least 500 kb/s,for 1000 USD
you can be really fast