Wireless Question

[whipped]

I'm currently investigating the prospect of wireless networking at work (A University).

What I'm after is a base station that can provide a footprint of about 1-2 miles, includes the ability to lock access down to MAC address and provides encryption. Also it should be able to deliver about 10 MBPs (Not sure if this is possible) of bandwidth. That's in total, not to each connection.

I haven't looked around for anything specific yet, although I will be contacting other Universities that already offer wireless connectivity for its students, and finding out their solutions.

Basically, if anyone has any experience with large scale wireless networking I would appriciate any info on the kind of kit that could provide the requirements listed above.

 

[bids]

At one of the Trust's we do work for, they have used microwave between sites with that sort of distance between them - needs line of sight and some serious hardware, but works a treat.

Not sure you'll get 'normal' 2.4Ghz wireless to work over that distance - especially with the bandwidth you're after.

 

[smurkin]

about 1-2 miles

More like 10 - 20 meters through walls Also, wireless networks have a habit of interfering with each other as the bandwidths overlap and there are only 15 bands....resulting in usually only three usable bandwidths...so if you had a conventional network that could operate over a mile it would likely interfere with other networks.


Doesn't that long range thing need a microwave dish ?!?

 

[PR.]

I read about some bloke on the BBC site who had a wireless accesspoint in his neighbours house and used dog food tins to boost the signal to his house (cos he couldn't get ADSL) and his works.

But they didn't reveal how it was done

 

[Jonty]

This is going way off topic, but PR.'s post reminds me of the Pringles story. Basically, all you have to do is take a Pringles tube, invert it so the foil on the inside shows, and reform it into a cylinder. You essentially then have a omni-directional antenna for use with a 802.11b network. People use them in open spaces which, on a good day, can transmit up to around half a kilometer.

I can't say I've ever tried it myself, nor do I quite know the specifics, but it is fairly well known

Kind Regards

 

[smurkin]

can transmit up to around half a kilometer.

holy shit...thats impressive (i assume no string was involved )

 

[Embattle]

Buffalo offer a good wireless router which I've been looking at but even with the optional antenna you're looking at a max of 1.9miles.


http://www.buffalotech.com/wireless/index.php

 

[Jonty]

Forgot to mention, the 802.11b at the LSE operates for around 500m-750m. That said, the equipment is still being tested, so whether the network could be extended, I don't quite know (plus the LSE itself is situated right in the heart of London, so the buildings themselves are situated very close together anyway).

Kind Regards and Good Luck

 

[whipped]

Cheers for all the replys guys, you've given me something to go on at least.

We do have a couple of microwave links already, unfortunately the building we want to connect to has no line of sight from our main campus.

To be honest I doubt we will get any money released for this for at least 2 years, so maybe by then the technology will have advanced a little further and will be able to accomodate my needs a little better.

 

[bids]

What about a leased line from NTL or BT ? We have a few sites that use 2 meg links, and from what the techies say, it's only a few grand a year (one said it was about 3 grand, but it was a off-the-top-of-the-head figure).

 

[whipped]

We're trying to avoid anything that will mean a) digging up roads or b) wiring the building.

 

[Quige]

Originally posted by whipped
We're trying to avoid anything that will mean a) digging up roads or b) wiring the building.

The county coucil I work for has a lot of remote offices and we're often currently using 2MB DSL links, so if you can get DSL in your area (and even if you can't now, maybe you will in 2 years) you shouldn't be digging up any roads (probably!). It's suprising how usable a 2MB link is, though reading through your original spec you seem to need at least 10 and it of course depends on the number of users. We try and relieve the strain on the link by providing local member servers for data storage, roaming profiles etc., and so the links are mainly used for Internet access and email.

So if the bandwidth requirements are met, you could have your sites linked by DSL via your local exchange, and then use wireless to the desktop.

I'm using a 3Com Airconnect at home and that does do 128bit WEP and MAC address access control lists, but it certainly doesn't have the range you're needing

Another thought - though you don't have line of site, can you perhaps rent repeater space on a third point/building to make a 'triangle' microwave link. Does that make sense?