Hey, I came into #nzwireless channel last night asking about using satellite dishes to setup a simple wireless network between two computers. Anyway I talked to a friend of mine (about 10km away) and he is keen to setup a network as well. The main problem is there is no direct line of sight between our houses, but there is a high hill 2km or less away from my house (that we own...) and from up there the line to his house would be clear. On the hill there is a pump shed that has power, so I was thinking we could put something up.
I've uploaded to a little diagram to try to show what I am talking about (the distances are estimates but they shouldn't be too far off).
What would be the best thing to put on the hill? There is a pump shed and power so I can have a computer up there, I have a couple of old p233s that I could use for that. I don't think anyone else will be joining our network so I don't think I really need it to be a public access point, mainly just a way to repeat the connection between house 1 to house 2. Would using another two dishes and two cards in the computer (one pointing in the direction of each house) work? If so what kind of software would the computer with the two dishes need?
I was just thinking of the cheapest way to set this network up (I can get a couple ex sky dishes for free, and Dick Smith has dishes for $70-100). Or would an omnidirectional antenna be better for on the hill in this scenario (the distances etc)?
I went to a presentation by CRC (http://www.crc.net.nz/) last week and they used a type of repeater station that I was thinking about in one of their networks they explained, their setup was pretty simple (apart from the solar panels) they just had a 468 box running linux connected to the two antennas.
Sorry about all the questions, but I'm new to this. Any help would be appreciated.
I'd buy 4 access points and 4 19db dishes. Get access points that can act as either bridges or access points/access point clients. Just setup two point to point links. You could maybe get away with an omni or some sort of antenna that can cover both sites from the top of the hill. You could then run that as an access point and run the two houses as access point clients. This would save you a antenna/access point.
And if you decide to purchase 4 X 19dBi grids/dishes let me know as I will give you a good deal on them as I have something like 20 to 30 of them in stock at the moment.
That is one option but the connection between the antenna and the wireless card has to be done with good coax like LMR400. You will find that its cheaper actually buying the AP's than getting the coax....and your performance will be much better and the connection can be shared easier.
Ok, I'll have to think about that. The cable between the computers and the dishes will be only be 3m or so because it just has to go straight out the window up to the roof.
Ok, I'll have to think about that. The cable between the computers and the dishes will be only be 3m or so because it just has to go straight out the window up to the roof.
I would still go for APs, you can get cheap B accesspoints for minimal outlay, less then the antennas will cost infact, and about what a PCI card will cost.
Perhaps the best cource of action would be an AP up on the hill outside on the pole with a waveguide or other omni, and 2 19/24dBi dishes at the houses hooked up to the PCI card? thats a reasonable comprimise.
If speeds necesitate it, you can put a second AP and antenna on the pump shed and connect them with ethernet making it have 2 hops, but that will be faster since the clients wont be using the same channel
I would still go for APs, you can get cheap B accesspoints for minimal outlay, less then the antennas will cost infact, and about what a PCI card will cost.
Ok, do you have a weblink to any B accesspoints selling in NZ?
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Perhaps the best cource of action would be an AP up on the hill outside on the pole with a waveguide or other omni, and 2 19/24dBi dishes at the houses hooked up to the PCI card? thats a reasonable comprimise.
That sounds good, what size omni would I need up on the hill?
I would still go for APs, you can get cheap B accesspoints for minimal outlay, less then the antennas will cost infact, and about what a PCI card will cost.
Ok, do you have a weblink to any B accesspoints selling in NZ?
Errr, pricespy.co.nz? - http://www.pricespy.co.nz/pno_2168.html - watch the antenna connections however, as you will need a cable to fit, and if you can get a RP-SMA then you can upgrade to dlink gear later. I dont think anything other then linksys use the TNC connectors.
Now I think about it, if your going PCI cards at the client ends, you may as well go G, as the cost difference on the cards is SFA, and the additional speed can only but help, in that case alinksys wrt54GS or similar teamed with the waveguide would go on the hill, and you use whatever at the client sites.
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Perhaps the best cource of action would be an AP up on the hill outside on the pole with a waveguide or other omni, and 2 19/24dBi dishes at the houses hooked up to the PCI card? thats a reasonable comprimise.
That sounds good, what size omni would I need up on the hill?
for that kind of range you cant beat the 180° waveguides, they are quite cheap, but watch the downtilt, if your on a hill, you will HAVE to tilt the antenna down.
When doing jonothans one we jammed cabletie offcuts behind the top U bold to aim it down slightly. Otherwise all your signal will blast over the top of where you are going.
Some colinear omnis have an electrical downtilt, which is better since it means you are aiming down for the whole 360°, but they are really long and expensive. And thats not gonna give you any benifit unless there are guys on the other side of the hill you care about.
Why not buy linksys WRT54G APs for all of the antenna locations,
Get the latest Sveasoft firmware for the WRT and run WDS?
I checked out the WRT54G, they look good, getting three of them will be ok.
But they don't support client mode that I need for the two houses with the standard firmware? Does the Sveasoft firmware add that feature? or is that what WDS is?
I checked out the WRT54G, they look good, getting three of them will be ok.
But they don't support client mode that I need for the two houses with the standard firmware? Does the Sveasoft firmware add that feature? or is that what WDS is?
Techpac have none in for 20ish days, so I dont think you will find any locally unless there is another importer of them that im not aware of. If there is, someone let me know please
And the other firmware allows you to have client or WDS mode - WDS allows the APs to talk to each other while still operating as APs. Not hugely efficiant if you start running wireless clients off the ones down at the houses, but it minimizes costs to get it up and running.
If they have WAP54G's in stock you might want to have a look at them. They are better if you want to pull them out of their box and put them in a waterproof container.
If they have WAP54G's in stock you might want to have a look at them. They are better if you want to pull them out of their box and put them in a waterproof container.
Whys that? is the board inside it smaller or something?
I run a few WRT54 in WDS. There is usually one or two on tardme for sale. You could either buy one for the hill and 2 NICs for the comps at you and your mates place or just buy 3 and WDS them fully.
I have mine in a water proof box from an electrical place at about $40 per box and stuck on a pole on the roof.
And the other firmware allows you to have client or WDS mode - WDS allows the APs to talk to each other while still operating as APs. Not hugely efficiant if you start running wireless clients off the ones down at the houses, but it minimizes costs to get it up and running.
What would be better, running the two houses in client mode or WDS mode? There won't be any other wireless devices at the houses that need to connect. Everyone I have talked to have only mentioned using client mode. Does the distance we are covering make any difference to the choice between client mode or WDS?
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You could either buy one for the hill and 2 NICs for the comps at you and your mates place or just buy 3 and WDS them fully.
I think I'll go for 3 routers, then we can set the dishs up in a better location and not have to worry about the length on coax to the computer.
Afternoon everyone.
Just a quick question some of you will be able to explain to me, How does the WDS work and what does it do? from what i have read, sounds like it could be useful for me!
Thanks guys
Travis
Basically it allows AP's to act as a standard AP (talk to client devices) and to also talk to other WDS configured AP's at the same time allowing you to
extend the reach of your wireless network.
__________________ Steve M
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How should I set this network up? 
Linear Mode
