Thanks,
Not trying to put the cart before the horse.
I was just exploring options.
Good point - to use commercial products to ensure consistency and
reliability.
I did not notice the links wikis.

thanks

John Navas wrote:
> Frank,
>
> You're putting the cart before the horse in asking for product
> recommendations without having first done a basic plan for the system.
>
> There is a great deal of relevant information in the wikis below --
> please access them before asking questions. (If and when you find
> something that's not covered, I'll probably add it to the wikis, rather
> than just answering your question -- saves a great deal of my time in
> the long run.)
>
> You'll need outside antennas where you don't have clear line of sight
> through windows. That's one of the things you should address in your
> basic plan.
>
> You can make your own antennas -- that's one of the things covered in
> the wikis. I can't recommend anything more specific until you've done
> your basic plan and are thus able to articulate your specific
> requirements.
>
> You can use USB, but that makes host computers an essential part of the
> wireless network and may mean placing electronics outside, which is
> harder than just the antenna.
>
> I recommended Hawking because it's "relatively inexpensive" (as you
> asked), because it generally works reasonably well, and because it's one
> of the few vendors with a full line of matching high-gain antennas.
>
> If you cheap out on the system, the result will probably be unreliable
> operation, which I doubt the community will appreciate or even tolerate.
> I strongly advise using solid commercial products instead of cheap
> home-brew solutions.
>
> Good luck,
> John
>
> On 13 Aug 2006 08:58:23 -0700, "frankdowling1@yahoo.com"
> <frankdowling1@yahoo.com> wrote in
> <1155484703.788640.65960@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups. com>:
>
> >John ,
> >
> > why the Hawking ?
> > The only router I really ever had trouble was with the Hawking G.
> > In the end they were recalled in Canada and the wonderfull Best Buy
> >Hawking rebates were ignored and never issued.
> > Tech support was just a delay tactic.
> > What other products from other vendors would you recommend.
> > Could USB adapters such as the zyadas chipset adapters / antennas be
> >used.
> > Would the antenna be best placed outside or would it make much of a
> >difference ?
> > Any ideas for antennas that could be made out of off the shelf
> >components ?
> >
> >
> > thank you
> >John Navas wrote:
> >> For the outdoor antennas I suggest:
> >> * Hawking HAO14SDP Hi-Gain 14dBi Outdoor Directional Antenna Kit
> >> -or-
> >> * Hawking HAO14SD Outdoor Hi-Gain 14dBi Directional Antenna Kit
> >>
> >> Any decent wireless access point (or router configured as an access
> >> point) and wireless client bridge with external antenna connectors can
> >> be used, but I'd personally stick with one vendor if you're buying new;
> >> e.g., Hawking HWBA54G Wireless-G Multi-Function AP/Bridge (which
> >> supports both modes).
> >>
> >> On 12 Aug 2006 23:43:52 -0700, "frankdowling1@yahoo.com"
> >> <frankdowling1@yahoo.com> wrote in
> >> <1155451432.108998.293420@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups .com>:
> >>
> >> >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>
> >>
> >> --
> >> 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>