Re: Setting up a long distance wireless hotspot

Evan1 wrote:
> I'm looking into setting up a wireless hotspot between 6 users with a
> maximum distance between us being 1.5km, which is not exactly line of
> sight. We are wanting to be able to connect with laptops and pda's so
> directional antennas are out of the picture.

Line of site is essential. An AP running 2 watts on a tewnty foot mast
can be easily seen from 800 feet away outside on a walk around laptop,
but walk twenty feet into the shadow of a house, and it becomes invisible.

> So far we are thinking
> along the lines of having a dedicated computer running Mikrotik router
> OS, then connecting that to a one watt amplifier and a 15 dBi
> omnidirectional externally mounted antenna.

Why do you want a Mikrotik unit? Just set the access point with WPA and
keep track of the users. Oh...sorry, you aren't using an access point.
Hmmm... That's gonna be a problem.

I'd go with at least TWO *commercial* grade access point, that's at
least $300 for starters. Prices have really come down from the $1,000
range in the last two years.

You could as well use couple of consumer grade APs and hope for the best.