Out Door WIFI Networks

[Outdoorwifi]

Hello,
Could anyone direct me to a site that has extensive information on outdoor wireless networks? My needs are:

1. Antennas.
2. Routers.

We plan on building a wireless network that will cover approximately 300 acres, be transportable, re-useable, have many connections at one time.

Thanks

OUTDOORWIFI

[unwired on maui]

Wow that's a good sized area. You'll probably need an Access Point with 200 - 500 mw of power output and a few repeaters.

Depending on the lay of the land, you may need to get that antenna up high as well. 802.11g probably won't serve you well enough.

I run a hotspot that covers about two acres. :) I use a D-Link DWL 1700AP, 200 mw power going to and outdoor omni antenna, and I have a solid 250' radius of connectability near the beach. I have a lot of foliage and metal roofs to punch that signal through. In the wide open spaces the same AP would probably do 1,000' with an outdoor directional antenna.

Even though it's still an emerging protocol, you should investigate WI-MAX. Also known as 802.16. There's a forum here for that if you're so inclined.


Aloha, Dino;)

[stupidmsm]

I would like to cover about 200 to 300 acres too. I can get the antenna about 25 feet up without many complaints. Once this gets rolling I plan to be able to roll out a true WLAN with 802.11a directional backhauls but for now I need to ge the word out. If one was to have say 500 mw's amps on two aps what would be the best way to cover the most area? One patch antenna per radio with 75 degres of beamwidth and considerable gain?
Most of the clients would be on one side of the antennae so I figured I could get 150 degres of coverage and hit most of my area. Or should I do 8db omni antennae ? Heck if I could get at least 10 acres of coverage I would be stoked. It would be enough to get the word of mouth out and get the ball rolling.

[wirelessoceans]

hello,

The most important thing to have done first is a comprehensive site survey....I know.... you dont need one ;) Because planning is not important......I guess. But do not make the mistake of trying to set up a commercial grade setup without the specific knowledge and information that a site survey will provide.

Coverage of 300 acres is not just a setup of specific routers and antenna. Truly you only need one router. Backhaul, access points, switchs, antenna, authentication gateways, security,.........I could go on for days all needs to be done properly or your system WILL NOT work as intended. Just read this board to see the problems that occur....and these are mainly with simple home systems.

The equipment you use will be less important than you may think. The integration and installation are the determning factors for success. HIgh power can be good...or can be bad depending on the survey, omni may be good or bad depending on the survey and network scope, .......I am not try to be an a****** but I have seen many people attempt to set up networks like the ones described and they simply did not work, not becuase the people were stupid but becuase they were out of their element...and they did not spend on the site survey. I will give you two links, one has nothing to do with product but is the basic information for deploying outdoor networks, the other has both product and info. Good luck

http://www.qsl.net/n9zia/wireless/page09.html

ww.ydi.com

[stupidmsm]

OK, let me phrase my question a different way. Assuming a 25 foot elevation what would be the most effective way to cover a flat area with no trees or metal buildings. Do you feel the beamwidth of a typical 8dbi omni antenna to be to narrow or not narrow enough?


Im not discounting a site survey but at this time its a bit premature.

[wirelessoceans]

msm,

I usually use directional antenna if possible, say 2 180's over an omni. It lowers yours number of clients per antenna/ap and it gives you increased gain among other benefits. The beamwidth that you need can be found by going to http://ydi.com/calculation/downtilt-cover.php and use 0 as your downtilt value (unless you use an onmi w/elctronic downtilt.

Please visit the links I have provided, especially http://ydi.com/deployinfo/white-papers.php it will give you a good basis on which to further you wireless knowledge.

Good luck

[spiderbite]

hey dude,

Actually the question your asking can only be answered by performing a site survey.

I have done much stuff and I ( as well as others) will tell you that any antenna will behave differently in any environment, regardless if you have been in that environment before or one similar to it.

It is very easy for us to get into a habit of pre judging an enviroment based on past experience. You might be able to make a list of stuff you want to test, but past that you always test!!


It will bite you EVERY time. Dont mess with the Fate Monster.

It depends on layout, temperature, climate, etc..


dont use omni in this case - go directional....

[stupidmsm]

Again, not discounting the importance of a site survey. I fully intendend to do one but it has to be limited in this scenario. Basically im trying to blanket a new neighborhood so as many people as possible can see my ap and get free internet. I dont intended to go in each person's house to see how im doing but roaming up and down the street is doable.

The plan is once enough people see the free internet I want to pitch a robust, fully surved, meshed solution to the HOA . This is just to get the word out.

I agree that directional is best because there are only houses on one side of me. My open area example was just that, an example. I do understand a lot about wifi I just wanted to get everyone's past experiences with large open areas.
BTW that was a pretty good link you posted.
I have read the cisco book Wireless Local-Area Network Fundamentals and I highly recommend it to anyone that wants to get a handle on wireless. Its not very Cisco specific btw.
Thanks for all of your feedback.