Grime121
asked on
Best Way To Extend Wireless Range
I maintain the network at a publicly available computer center. We have a public hotspot, but the range is not so good. I don't know if you are familiar with IPCop, but we have an IPCop router that runs DHCP for the wireless network. An ethernet cable is run from the IPCop box to a Linksys WRT54G wireless router that is configured as an access point (the WAN port isn't being used). That AP is in the ceiling next to the door to the building (small building). The signal barely gets out to the parking lot though.
I would like to extend this range as much as possible, although we don't have thousands of dollars to spend.... I am willing to spend up to $200, but was planning on building my own antennas. I'm not really sure what the best way to hook these antennas up to my network is though. I'd rather not run them straight off of the Linksys router and replace the antennas that are already on there because then i will loose signal inside of the building. If I get another AP though I will have to design some sort of weatherproof box to keep it in outside (not to mention we are about 2000 yards from the beach and it is VERY salty). I would like a way to just run some wires through some PVC outside to a couple of antennas placed at various locations. One of the cables will probably be around 50 feet. Is this going to cause a big signal loss? What kinds of antennas should I get? Should I just make them myself? Is the best thing to do to simply get an AP and keep it inside and run the antennas outside, or if I need the wires shorter, construct a box for the AP outside? Will a regular Linksys AP work just fine? I've thought about range extenders, but I'm not so sure about them because they have to be within the "good" range of your AP in order to function well. I've also looked into the new wireless n technology, but in order for someone to REALLY benefit from that they would need an n receiver. BUT, maybe it is worth the investment if the technology is going to stick around and replace wireless g? Plus I hear you get about a 20% even for the g cards.
These are all questions that I already kind of have answers too. What I'm really looking for is for someone to tell me which solution is the best for this situation. If you want extra points you can build the weatherproof box and antenna for me too :) j/k
I would like to extend this range as much as possible, although we don't have thousands of dollars to spend.... I am willing to spend up to $200, but was planning on building my own antennas. I'm not really sure what the best way to hook these antennas up to my network is though. I'd rather not run them straight off of the Linksys router and replace the antennas that are already on there because then i will loose signal inside of the building. If I get another AP though I will have to design some sort of weatherproof box to keep it in outside (not to mention we are about 2000 yards from the beach and it is VERY salty). I would like a way to just run some wires through some PVC outside to a couple of antennas placed at various locations. One of the cables will probably be around 50 feet. Is this going to cause a big signal loss? What kinds of antennas should I get? Should I just make them myself? Is the best thing to do to simply get an AP and keep it inside and run the antennas outside, or if I need the wires shorter, construct a box for the AP outside? Will a regular Linksys AP work just fine? I've thought about range extenders, but I'm not so sure about them because they have to be within the "good" range of your AP in order to function well. I've also looked into the new wireless n technology, but in order for someone to REALLY benefit from that they would need an n receiver. BUT, maybe it is worth the investment if the technology is going to stick around and replace wireless g? Plus I hear you get about a 20% even for the g cards.
These are all questions that I already kind of have answers too. What I'm really looking for is for someone to tell me which solution is the best for this situation. If you want extra points you can build the weatherproof box and antenna for me too :) j/k
ASKER
Our goal isn't really to get the signal to the beach. Just expanding the range in general. Lets run down the list of things I will need....
1) PoE Suppling & Recieving adapters - No decisions here....
2) Access Point - Brand, and number of antennae connections
3) Antennae - Brand, dBi, and broadcast degrees
Normally when it comes to this type of stuff I make decisions really easily, but in this case for some reason I just can't make a decision. I want something that is omni-directional and will give me the largest coverage area for around $200.
I was looking at these for the antennae: http://pnt.zoovy.com/product/OD249A . I think it's a good price, for a 9dBi antenna. The omni-directional Buffalo atennea is almost twice the price, and it doesn't look to be as powerful: http://www.buffalotech.co.uk/webcontent/products/wireless/index.php?cat=PRO&itemID=wle-hg-ndc
Am I reading something wrong there though?
As for the AP I can't decide. I suppose that no matter what I will need to place it outside, so the only question is which AP (with two antennae connections) will give me the most bang for my buck? I'll set the price ceiling on the AP at $200, and I will count the antennae seperately ;)
This one looks nice, but it's a little too much. Plus I don't need all of the security features (it is an open hotspot after all...): http://www.dealtime.com/xPO-Buffalo_Technology_Buffalo_54_Mbps_High_Functionality_Airstation_Pro_for_Outd
Repeaters are good in theory, but I think that it will be easier just get another AP. That way I can put it wherever I want and not worry about the signal from the other AP being too weak. In order to cover the same range as an AP with repeaters I think I would need at least 2 of them, and although that might cost a little less initially, it will be a lot less hassle to just deal with the one AP.
So to sum up, can someone take a look at those antennae and tell me whether or not they look like a good deal. Also, please suggest an AP because for some reason I just can't bring myself to making a decision. Keep in mind that I really don't need a whole lot of bells and whistles since it is just a public hotspot and therefore doesn't need any security, etc...
1) PoE Suppling & Recieving adapters - No decisions here....
2) Access Point - Brand, and number of antennae connections
3) Antennae - Brand, dBi, and broadcast degrees
Normally when it comes to this type of stuff I make decisions really easily, but in this case for some reason I just can't make a decision. I want something that is omni-directional and will give me the largest coverage area for around $200.
I was looking at these for the antennae: http://pnt.zoovy.com/product/OD249A . I think it's a good price, for a 9dBi antenna. The omni-directional Buffalo atennea is almost twice the price, and it doesn't look to be as powerful: http://www.buffalotech.co.uk/webcontent/products/wireless/index.php?cat=PRO&itemID=wle-hg-ndc
Am I reading something wrong there though?
As for the AP I can't decide. I suppose that no matter what I will need to place it outside, so the only question is which AP (with two antennae connections) will give me the most bang for my buck? I'll set the price ceiling on the AP at $200, and I will count the antennae seperately ;)
This one looks nice, but it's a little too much. Plus I don't need all of the security features (it is an open hotspot after all...): http://www.dealtime.com/xPO-Buffalo_Technology_Buffalo_54_Mbps_High_Functionality_Airstation_Pro_for_Outd
Repeaters are good in theory, but I think that it will be easier just get another AP. That way I can put it wherever I want and not worry about the signal from the other AP being too weak. In order to cover the same range as an AP with repeaters I think I would need at least 2 of them, and although that might cost a little less initially, it will be a lot less hassle to just deal with the one AP.
So to sum up, can someone take a look at those antennae and tell me whether or not they look like a good deal. Also, please suggest an AP because for some reason I just can't bring myself to making a decision. Keep in mind that I really don't need a whole lot of bells and whistles since it is just a public hotspot and therefore doesn't need any security, etc...
ASKER
Oh, heheh... I didn't even notice until after I posted that you use IPCop as well. Very nice... :)
I'm running about 35 client XP Pro machines, 2 W2k3 servers (including FTP, WEB, VPN, and Exchange 2003), and a publicly accessable wireless network through mine, and it's kicking ass. I have Cop+ w/ Dansguardian installed for web content filtering and IPTraf for monitoring network usage.
I still can't believe something so amazing is absolutely FREE. Especially the web content filter.... I priced some of those before I found this and it was astounding.
I'm running about 35 client XP Pro machines, 2 W2k3 servers (including FTP, WEB, VPN, and Exchange 2003), and a publicly accessable wireless network through mine, and it's kicking ass. I have Cop+ w/ Dansguardian installed for web content filtering and IPTraf for monitoring network usage.
I still can't believe something so amazing is absolutely FREE. Especially the web content filter.... I priced some of those before I found this and it was astounding.
Yeah, there are some really great open source solutions out there for server-oriented stuff. IPCop rox, I've got about 5 of them around town .
I spent a good bit of time on google and came up with what looks to me to be a pretty durn good deal. Check out:
http://www.demarctech.com/products/reliawave-rwo/rwo-plus-19a.htm
PoE, integrated 19dBi antennae, outdoor enclosure, for $220. I know nothing about it's quality but it's worth looking in to!
I spent a good bit of time on google and came up with what looks to me to be a pretty durn good deal. Check out:
http://www.demarctech.com/products/reliawave-rwo/rwo-plus-19a.htm
PoE, integrated 19dBi antennae, outdoor enclosure, for $220. I know nothing about it's quality but it's worth looking in to!
eek...downside is the 15° horizontal and 16° vertical signal pattern, but it might still work depensing on your exact requirements
Actually, just back up that URL to http://www.demarctech.com/. There are other units there with wider signal patterns.
ASKER
I see a lot of antennas there, and the outdoor enclosures look nice, but I don't see any APs that look particularly appealing.
ASKER
I found a GREAT deal on a Cisco 1100. It's $250. Here's a link to the specs: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps4570/products_data_sheet09186a00800f9ea7.html
What kind of range do you think I can get on that? It doesn't have any connections for external antennae, so I'm a little worried it won't be able to broadcast as far as something else I might get. If I'm reading that data sheet correctly though it can broadcast at up to 20 dBi. Is that correct?
I figure I could get one of these and a weatherproof box. I wouldn't need to get the extra antennae with this unit either. Like I said though, I'm worried about the broadcast radius. Can you find that info in the data sheet? I can't....
What kind of range do you think I can get on that? It doesn't have any connections for external antennae, so I'm a little worried it won't be able to broadcast as far as something else I might get. If I'm reading that data sheet correctly though it can broadcast at up to 20 dBi. Is that correct?
I figure I could get one of these and a weatherproof box. I wouldn't need to get the extra antennae with this unit either. Like I said though, I'm worried about the broadcast radius. Can you find that info in the data sheet? I can't....
ASKER
Oh, nevermind. I found it:
Outdoor:
• 110 ft (34 m) @ 54 Mbps
• 200 ft (60 m) @ 48 Mbps
• 225 ft (69 m) @ 36 Mbps
• 325 ft (100 m) @ 24 Mbps
• 400 ft (122 m) @ 18 Mbps
• 475 ft (145 m) @ 12 Mbps
• 490 ft (150 m) @ 11 Mbps
• 550 ft (168 m) @ 9 Mbps
• 650 ft (198 m) @ 6 Mbps
• 660 ft (201 m) @ 5.5 Mbps
• 690 ft (210 m) @ 2 Mbps
• 700 ft (213 m) @ 1Mbps
Is that good or bad? :)
Outdoor:
• 110 ft (34 m) @ 54 Mbps
• 200 ft (60 m) @ 48 Mbps
• 225 ft (69 m) @ 36 Mbps
• 325 ft (100 m) @ 24 Mbps
• 400 ft (122 m) @ 18 Mbps
• 475 ft (145 m) @ 12 Mbps
• 490 ft (150 m) @ 11 Mbps
• 550 ft (168 m) @ 9 Mbps
• 650 ft (198 m) @ 6 Mbps
• 660 ft (201 m) @ 5.5 Mbps
• 690 ft (210 m) @ 2 Mbps
• 700 ft (213 m) @ 1Mbps
Is that good or bad? :)
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As I read your requirements, all kinds of answers and products came to mind...but all were substantially over $200.
If you can squeak out the bucks, I've seen full 1-watt (1,000mW) 802.11x AP's I think in the $650 range. Due to the high powqer output tho, professional installation is required (an dperhaps an FCC license? Not certain on that one).
Buffalo sells AP's that can be repeaters up to a maximum of 6 AP's for around $70 if memory serves, and they have MC antennae connections.
There are also 200mW access points available as well, and of course you'd want to go with as high gain of an antennae as you can. If you only need to spread the signal to the beach (as in not shooting your signal back to town), then perhaps you could use 2 directional antennaes each having ~90° bandwidth patterns an dplace them accordingly.
As for signal loss....it will depend greatly on the cable you use AND will definately be lossy. If at all possible, move the AP closer to the antennae and run ethernet cable instead (obviously that doesn't work if the 50 foot run was outside!)
There are outdoor antennaes that should stand up to weather. Make absolutely certain that the connections outside from the cables to the antennaes are as air tight as you can get them! I would probably use a silicone sealant and completely cover the outside of the connectiors once all plugged in. Make sure it is a removable sealant, too...like the automotive 6-B blue stuff, in case you need to change cables later.
I'm really not a wireless fan and don't set up any myself unless they use RADIUS based authentication to the AP, and rotating keys in addition to mac filtering, etc. There should be many people more into wireless than I that would give better advice for your situation. dslreports.com has very informative wireless forums...have you tried searching or posting there? I know there are lots of home-brew antennae guys (and gals) hanging out there.