WLAN inside elevator shaft

[mojo00]

*** NEED ACCESS INSIDE ELEVATOR SHAFT****

Does anyone know or can help provide some answers on what is the best way to design/implement and provide connectivity inside of an elevator shaft? keeping in mind also following state/local elevator regulations..etc.

What type of antenna to install? how to get in there ...so coverage does not drop. has anyone done this yet anywhere?

[Skiier81]

Wow, unusual request. How many floors is the elevator? I'm interested in hearing more about this setup. I'm sure something can be done like AP in elevator with directional antenna outside doing backhaul to another AP at top of shaft.

[Prodeus]

I guess it is possible to make something like this work. I just think it is going to be a lot of work, a good bit of cost (including man hours), and I think that you are going to have a lot of problems out of a setup such as this. Metal is a big problem for RF signals, especially very week signals such as wi-fi. And an elevator shaft is basically nothing but concrete and metal. To get something like this setup is going to take a good bit of time and effort and most likely will have to shut the elevator off during the time you set it up. Also even if you get it setup, As the elevator moves up and down the shaft, it is going to cause the RF signals to bounce in very unpredictable ways.

I would be very interested in hearing if you find something to try and also in hearing why you feel you need wi-fi IN the elevator.

[mojo00]

Total of 4 floors - mgt needs end to end connectivity (kind of business I cant discuss just yet)..building is still in construction phase. I am just trying to figure out and get some more ideas on how this is done (if it has been done yet by anyone out there) or can be done.
there's a possiblity of installating AP's outside elevators doors on every floor and connecting them to directional antennas or installing repeaters.

[DjBlaze]

What if you used a Cisco 4402 controller and had the Cisco 1250's on every couple of floors so as the elevator is going up / down, the switch would do seamless roaming? Just a thought...not sure what kind of results you would experience with the metal.

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[Nova]

what about a powerline network with a 110 v line in the shaft with wireless ap's on each floor? Ceiling mounted?

[Skiier81]

What if you used a Cisco 4402 controller and had the Cisco 1250's on every couple of floors so as the elevator is going up / down, the switch would do seamless roaming? Just a thought...not sure what kind of results you would experience with the metal.

I think the problem with that is that the RF signal wouldn't get into the elevator. Elevators are just about the worst environment for Wi-Fi.

I think my original idea is still the best/easiest/most cost effective.

Put an AP in each elevator, run an antenna out to the top of the elevator and run a wireless bridge to an AP that's wired at the top of the shaft.

In reality the elevator shaft doesn't need Wi-Fi, just the elevator itself. This could be accomplished with 2 APs per elevators, so if there are two elevators, just purchase 4 APs. I think you could survive with just putting antennas on the APs inside the elevator and not the ones on top of the shaft (since it's only 4 floors).

Good luck, keep us posted!

[golfnut]

You might want to check regulations in your area for what can be put in an elevator shaft and who can access the shaft. This also includes placing electrical items inside an elevator car.

There are special transport cables for Cat. 5 that can be attached to an elevator (the elevator company should know about this). I'm aware of a project using LCD screens in elevators with content sent from a remote PC. Wireless was considered but I would strongly suggest going wired.

Greg