New to forums, great resource, anyway will get to the point. Setting up a wireless networking solution at work to connect two manufacturing facilities (.75km apart at most) together so they can use the same distributed network program (Epicor's Vista if anyone cares). Both sites are a coimbination of wired and wireless, with a a router at each site, and many switches + hubs littered throughout the buildings. My thoughts were two higher end AP's (maybe cisco Aironet) running in bridge mode along with Hyperlink technologies antennas to boost signal (hyperlinktechnologies.com). Any suggestions? Also, can each building still use their own dedicated DSL line to access the internet?
Do you have good line of site between the buildings? If so, you can probably get by with just a couple of 14db yagis.
As far as the DSL, each one could use it's own internet gateway, but I'd highly recommend you set all the PC's on the lans with static IP addresses so you don't get a conflict with DHCP servers..
I am doing the same thing. My distance is just under 5000'.
I can get on the roof of one building and see the roof of the other. There is a hill with some trees in the way. This prevents line of site from ground level.
I am planning on installing two 40' self supporting towers. One at each end. This should get me above the trees - which are in the way when I am on the roof.
I mean - real world expectaions - not just the theories on paper.
I am leaning towards the Cisco aironet 1310. I think the 1310 model with the internal antenna is rated at 1.3 miles. However, I think I would be much better off with the external antenna option. Will the external antenna reduce the beamwidth? You think a yagi antenna would be better than a dish?
I'd keep the antenna cable run short and figure out a way to have the wireless T/R unit near it, no more than 6 feet for sure. A long antenna run will really eat up a lot of the power of 802.11b/g equipment. Line of sight will be KEY.
FWIW, I've run 802.11b about 3/4 mile using a pair of Cantenna units and Linksys access points. It actually had a pretty good signal, and the only impact was heavy rain would knock out the connection at times.
I have heard about those cantennas. Interesting, but not good for this setup..
You are saying to keep the antenna run from the antenna to the "radio" to less than 6 feet? This should not be a problem with the Aironet 1310, as it says it is designed for outdoor use.
I would like the system to be immune from weather relaed problems.
Yea, if it was just me and a buddy or something, I would go for it. But it is for an office at work, so I do not want to rig something up that is questionable.
I'd start looking at the higher end equipment made for this task. You also have to consider security of the link, since I suspect the company doesn't want it's data loose in the world.
I doubt the power line will have an effect, unless it's really RIGHT in the line of sight between the two sites. There are various microwave and laser solutions to this issue, depending on the size of your wallet.
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