Wireless communication

[bgonev]

The problem: I have to connect two LANs with some wireless equipment. Point A and point B are in urban enviroment and distance is about 1km. The speed that I need is 1 Mbit/s. I know that there is some equipment that can help in solving my problem, but I don't have any information about it. I need the type of hardware/software, where I can buy it and the price.

[kwebb]

Some SOHO 802.11b Access Points will bridge. I was told the latest Linksys AP firmware allows there AP to bridge but there radios are so weak, it probably wouldnt work at that distance. You need something with an external antenna anyway. Cisco makes the best wireless bridges, 802.11b anyway. You will need 2 bridges (around 1500 dollars US list each) and couple of antennas, anywhere from 75 bucks on up, and some coax transmission cable with type depending on what length you need. At 1 KM you will likely need a mast at one side at least. Do you have line of sight? If you do not you will need to clear the trees, building, whatever is in the path. That means a very tall mast or even a tower on one or both sides. Since it is an urban area, if you have line of sight from the roof or even two windows, you probably wouldnt need a tower. If you want to talk more about it, need a quote, advice etc... check my profile and email me. This is what I do everyday. Ciao

[DougM]

If you have line of sight then you just need to determine your budget. You could probably do it for less than $500 if you use old Linux boxes as your bridges and home made antennas.

Take a look as these discussions for more ideas: http://www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum6/HTML/002625.html
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/wireless/2001/05/03/longshot.html
http://www.seattlewireless.net/
http://www.seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/WirelessHardwareLinks
http://nocat.net/

Antenna on the Cheap (er, Chip) Jul. 5, 2001
A really cheap but apparently very good antenna built in a pringles can. http://oreilly.wirelessdevnet.com/cs/user/view/wlg/448

Description of a $1400 10km link (about 6 miles), light on technical details. http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20010628.html http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20010712.html




[This message has been edited by DougM (edited 09-10-2001).]