On 12 Aug 2006 19:08:29 -0700, "frankdowling1@yahoo.com"
<frankdowling1@yahoo.com> wrote in
<1155434909.733928.179820@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups .com>:

>A group is looking to set up a community wireless network in a semi
>rural area.
>Coverage would be around 5 square miles or so.
>Although the houses are spread out they are in nodal areas of some
>sort.
>Any ideas of how to best do this on a limited budget ?
>Of what to do and not to do .
>Resources.
>The climate is fairly extreme especially in the winter .

Mesh network overview:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_mesh_network>

The crude way is to construct a tree network from a centralized Internet
backhaul, which can be done with relatively inexpensive consumer grade
gear:
^
|
+-------+-------+
|+-------------+|
||Internet Pipe||
|+------+------+|
| | |
|+------+------+|
||Access Point ||
|+-+--------+--+|
+--+--------+---+
| |
+------------+--+ +-+-------------+
|+-----------+-+| |++------------+|
||Client Bridge|| ||Client Bridge||
|+------+------+| |+------+------+|
| | | | | |
|+------+------+| |+------+------+|
||Access Point || ||Access Point ||
|+-+-----------+| |+-+---------+-+|
+--+------------+ +--+---------+--+
| | |
| +------------+--+ +--+------------+
|+-----------+-+| |+-+-----------+|
||Client Bridge|| ||Client Bridge||
|+------+------+| |+------+------+|
| | | | | |
|+------+------+| |+------+------+|
||Access Point || ||Access Point ||
|+-+---------+-+| |+-+---------+-+|
+--+---------+--+ +--+---------+--+
| | | |

Line of sight is needed for each wireless link.

Different channels with minimal overlap (1, 6, 11) should be used to
minimize self-interference.

External directional high-gain antennas may be needed for access points
and client bridges, depending on distance.

Multiple access points may be needed in a given location to handle
clients in more than one direction.

Depending on the number of clients, you may need a fast Internet
backhaul (e.g., 6 Mbps DSL)

You should start with an accurate planning map of siting locations,
marked with clear line-of-sight paths.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>