John ,

what would you recommend for "with relatively inexpensive consumer
grade
gear: "
winter weather might be a factor ( or perhaps dew points) if the
gear is outside for better reception and transmission.


John Navas wrote:
> 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>