Re: Setting up free wifi for 500-1000 meter range.

Agreed with Tyler and Caleb.   Just one note:

I've had better luck using 3x 90 degree sectors instead of 4.   
Remember, sectors have HUGE side lobes,  a 90 degree sector can 
typically get you 120 or more horizontal degrees of good coverage.   3 
is also the magic number in 2.4Ghz if you want to avoid channel overlap. 

-Irving

Tyler Booth wrote:
> On Jan 15, 2008, at 8:49 AM, Caleb Phillips wrote:
>
>   
>> Russell Senior wrote:
>>     
>>>>>>>> "Wes" == Wes Phibbs <[email protected]> writes:
>>>>>>>>                 
>>> Wes> Setting up free wifi for 500-1000 meter range.  Theres a  
>>> farmacia
>>> Wes> here in the Dominican Republic (Samana) that wants to setup free
>>> Wes> wifi for 500-1000 meters range. The town is made from
>>> Wes> moslty cement buildings 1 - 2 stories high. *His is 2 stories*
>>>       
>>> Wes> The problem i see is that it seems hard
>>> Wes> to find directional antenas that have a wide degree spread, i
>>> Wes> guess i would need 90deg on each at least.
>>>       
>> 9 dBi 120-degree sector:
>> http://www.fab-corp.com/product.php?productid=2659&cat=263&page=1
>>
>> 9.5 dBi 90-degree sector:
>> http://www.fab-corp.com/product.php?productid=2657&cat=263&page=1
>>
>> Both are around $55.
>>
>> Looking around, there are lots of sector antennas in the $100+ range.
>> Personally, I've never paid more than $60 for an antenna and I'm
>> unconvinced those $160 sectors are worth it. Maybe someone else will
>> disagree though...
>>     
>
> Actually, a $1000 90deg andrews sector will far outperform any $50  
> 90deg sector.
> It's the VSWR matching (tuning), front to back ratio, cross  
> polarization rejection, etc numbers
> that make all the difference. When you're dealing with antennas (just  
> like everything else in the
> world) you get what you pay for.
>
>   
>>> Outdoors without too many obstructions, an access point is going to  
>>> be
>>> able to provide service for ordinary laptops in the space within a  
>>> few
>>> hundred feet, maybe 100 meters.  To cover an area the size you are
>>> talking about is going to need numerous devices.
>>>       
>> I tend to agree with Russell. However, don't be overwhelmed -- you can
>> start by deploying gear on the one rooftop and then walk around with a
>> laptop and see how far away it is usable. Then, pick another rooftop  
>> to
>> extend the network in the direction of interest. If at some point the
>> cost outweighs the benefit, you can stop deploying.
>>
>> Those cement buildings are going to pose a problem. We've found that
>> indoor repeaters ($50-100) can be helpful in this case.
>>
>> When you start deployment, take pictures!
>>     
>
> This is a case where merakis would probably be a great solution. Start  
> with 4 outdoor units on the roof, then
> hand out some indoor or outdoor meraki repeaters to neighbors with the  
> incentive of free internet access.
> Meraki has built in captive portal advertising support.
>
>   
>> --
>> Caleb Phillips
>>
>> -- 
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>>     
>
>   


-- 
-Irving Popovetsky                         Principal Consultant
ProStructure Consulting             http://www.prostructure.com
Network and Security Consulting      phone: (503) 288-1566 x201
            "Crafting Connectivity that Matters"

-- 
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