2 wap11's and 2 12dbi yagi antennas - WHAT'S WRONG!!

[jackusc]

I am building a wireless network about between two buildings about 150-200 yards apart. There is a clear line of sight. I bought 2 wap11's and 2 8dbi patch antennas (Hyperlinktech) and 2 12dbi yagi antennas (Hyperlinktech). I've gone into the wap11's settings and set one as the AP (at one building) and at the other building I've tried both Repeater and Access Point Client modes (and I put in the MAC address of the wap11 I was connecting to).

This setup won't work for me though. It seems like the signal is actually WEAKER when using the 3rd party antennas than it was when I used the rubber-duck antennas it came with. What's going on? The client needs the network ASAP and I'm fresh out of ideas.

Thanks in advance,


Jack

[spiderbite]

Not as easy as it looks is it...For starters you have too much antenna.

150 - 200 yards does not require 12 dBi Yagi's.. a couple of miles maybe.

You really should be using bridges for this...go back to the smaller antenna 8 dBi.

Set one to AP and one to client. This would be the only way it could work given what you are trying to do.

The antennas may still be too powerful and are causing more noise and or multipath.

where are you mounting them? roof, pole, etc...

[BlueComm]

What type of coax are you using to the antennas?
You might be loosing lots of db's if you have cheap coax.

[jackusc]

I'm using 10ft cable from Hyperlinktech. Also, one is set as AP and the other was set as repeater. Shouldn't that work? I tried it as AP client as well though and it still didn't work. Is it really probable that the antennas are TOO strong?

I've been trying to get this to work for about 1 month. I'm getting really frustrated. I had it working for about 2 days and then it just quit, for no apparent reason. Using the equipment I already have, what would be the best solution?

Thanks again!!!

- Jack

[spiderbite]

No it shouldnt work, given the definition of repeater. The best solution would be to tear all this down and start over with real gear.

Now since that is not what you wanted to hear, lets start over.

Since you didnt answer any of the questions I asked, lets focus on the antennas.

The beamwidth is very narrow for those two antennas but at the distance you are talking it should be difficult to mess that up.

It could be the antenna choice, it could be the coax your using, even if it is only 10 ft. 10 feet of Belkin 9913 turns into a 10 foot straw after it rains. Not to mention the characteristics are horrible.
It could be your idea of line of sight and Mr Fresnel's idea of line of site are different. It could be water in the connectors, bad configurations, wrong equipment or just flat out not your day!

with a little more info maybe we can help you. I'm picking on you to make a point.

Now you said it worked for two days and died. What occured during the two days that it worked? Go back to what you ate for breakfast and trace your steps up to the moment it worked.

help us help you....

[jackusc]

Alright, what I used that DID work was 1 12dbi yagi mounted on the side of the roof of one building (a chickenhouse) and 1 8dbi flat patch antenna mounted on the 2nd story window of the chickenfarmer's house. During the 2 days NOTHING changed (nothing that I or he did). The antennas were not moved and the wap11's were not reset. So far as I can tell (I wasn't there when it quit working) it just quit. He said it worked the whole day after I left and then starting the next day it would work in the morning and not at night. After 3 days of that it quit altogether.

I also noticed that after setting up the wap11 as a repeater it began broadcasting a ssid of all F's. I assume this means it wasn't able to connect to the AP's whose MAC address I was giving to it (and I'm sure I was putting in the right MAC, I checked it numerous times).

And about line of sight . . . when it WAS working for those few days there was a big tree in the way but it was still going through it. When it quit working, we trimmed ALL the limbs out of the way so that there is a large, clear line of sight. Not a narrow, tight one.

Thanks again for the help guys. I'm so frustrated I'm ready to just hire somebody else to come do it and I'll just count my expenses as a loss. If you REALLY think I need to completely start over with different equipment, exactly what do I need to ensure it will work. I've already spent close to $1000 on equipment so I don't want to go playing around with new equipment that will leave me in the same shape I'm currently in.

- Jack

[spiderbite]

Ok thats better..

So it did work a little and then gradually stopped over a couple of days.

I would start looking at cable failure, water, etc...

You should be using Times Microwave (brand) LMR 400 low loss cable and nothing else. Belkin 9913 is not rated for outdoor use and has crappy loss characteristics.It has an air gap dielectric which is high falutin' for water gets in it in a heartbeat. If the cables and connectors are not properly sealed you will get slapped. And it might be that you did.


First, check the connectors for signs of water. if you unconnect it from the radio and can shake water out of it throw it out and buy new cables. Hope the radio didnt get whacked.


Pull the gear down and just using the antennas and whatever is hanging off of them attempt to connect to each other.

Not in the same room but close..

If that works, then the radios work . replace the extra cables with the low loss cables mentioned above.

Tape them carefully (the connectors) with only 3M Super 88 electrical tape. Cut the tape - do not tear it. Start one side backwards and then go over it right side up. This way if you ever have to get back in it you can slice it up the middle and it opens right up. Start from the bottom up so they overlap each other and water runs off like a shingle.

Then if your me..I would silicone that with a clear outdoor rated silicone. Do not thread tape anything, no goo in the connectors, locktite etc...

Try that see how it goes.

Usually, it either works or it doesnt. To slowly die like that suggests a situation described above. And this is the least expensive place to start.

While you're at it get some polyphaser lightning arrestors the ones with the gas tube in them. Ground both of these antennas to the EXISTING EARTH GROUND!!! Do not make another one! No sense in burning the place up after you get it to work. My sources tell me they go outside. Tape these connectors up too.

After your done we'll discuss line of sight...