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dusiaa

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Wireless network hardware for hotspot

Hello all

I need help to choose wireless hardware for providing wireless network (hot spot ) in campus

CAMPUS MAP
http://img413.imageshack.us/my.php?image=49474362aw4.jpg

I can deploy all hardware in red house on the map/ have full roof access on all buildings
I all ready have cisco router with 3 Internet lines coming in to it for load balancing. need some kind access point (or access points) and antenna to cover whole area and provide Internet for clients without any additional hardware on client side only build in network cards into laptops
amount of clients connected will be more then 100 at the time.
I need solution somehow easy to enable and disable Internet access's to client. Something like hot spots in airports or hotels.
want to sell them internet with monthly subscription and data download cap.
My budget is limited to 2K-3K Eur
Avatar of kyleb84
kyleb84
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As for hardware, a couple of options:

2.4GHz hotspots, with 5.8GHz backhauls:
(http://www.rfshop.com.au/Products/Hardware/tabid/426/List/1/CategoryID/756/Category2ID/928/Level/2/Default.aspx)

Those Mikrotiks do RADIUS based WFI access, attached is an example layout.

- Blue Squares are 802.11a Access Point, one is on CH 1, other on CH 11, same SSID, WPA Enabled.
- Green Squares are Mikrotik Boxtennas, Open WiFi hotspots, RADIUS configured, backhaul set to the APs.

RADIUS server located in the red building.


49474362aw4-2.JPG
Avatar of Darr247
kyleb84,
While you spread them evenly, I don't think 6 will give good enough coverage, and you've mixed up your channels.

I would use four of the 11a backhaul units on the red building... with each one feeding two of the dual channel a/g bridge units (for 8 total instead of 6). For EU locations I'd go with those four 11a units using channels 100, 104, 108 and 112.
e.g. http://www.moonblinkwifi.com/80211a_frequency_channel_map.cfm
Directional 5GHz antennae pointing back to similar units on the red building, with hi-gain omni 2.4GHz for the wifi distribution.

On the a/g bridge units I'd rotate their channels 1, 6, 11, 1, 6, 11, 6, 1 with that last '6' being in the far-right corner... I need to do a fresh install of Visio and I can post a drawing similar to that later today (probably tonight, your time, dusiaa), if that's a confusing description.

Unfortunately, using that many Mikrotiks blows the budget you spec'd (the Euro-USD exchange rate was much better for you back in the summer), unless that site will give you a quantity discount on all of them for buying a dozen pieces total.... using the prices on that site I figure about 4000 Euro, with a 16 directional antennae and pigtails (hold off on the omni's until you see how the stock omni's perform).
> using the prices on that site I figure about 4000 Euro, with a 16 directional antennae and pigtails

I'm finding no specs anywhere for the gain pattern of the patch/panel antenna used on those boxtenna units to see for sure if the directional antennae would be required... it would cut ~600 Euro off that estimate if the stock antenna in the door is directional enough.
We've got many installations with these units doing PtP 5.8GHz shots, ranging from 400 meters to several kms.

A couple of site are about 1km, throughput sits around the 20mbps mark.

I'm pretty sure they're 12dBi panels, with reasonable grade Omni's that fit onto the bottom, a nice big WaveGuide would definitely improve cover though.
Avatar of dusiaa
dusiaa

ASKER

Why I will  need directional antennas ir  max range in the site is 100 meters from the red building
http://www.insidestore.eu/ENG/contents/en-uk/d26.html
what you think about last antenna ?
Gain: 30 dBi
Lenght: 2000 mm
Diameter: 32 mm
Weight: 1.420 kg
Connector: N female
Frequency band: 2400.2500 Mhz
Impedance: 50&
Polarization: Horizontal 360° - Vertical 20°

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of Darr247
Darr247
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I don't see and reason to use more than a 6dBi Omni's for the hot spots, otherwise your EIRP sphere will be squashed too much, and you'll just reduce your ground coverage and interfere with the other hotspots even more.

That and there's no such thing as a 30dBi omni.

Check out sveasoft.com.  They have some hotspot firmware for wireless devices, however it is manufacturer specific.  Still might be worth a look
dusiaa,
You didn't request further assistance, nor clarification of the accepted solution, so (in the interest of continuous improvement) could you please explain why it was considered deficient enough to be unworthy of an A grade?

Thanks,
Darr247


To other premium members who may have happened onto this thread with a search for similar symptoms,

Sorry to clutter up the database with extraneous comments, but the admins insist this query be posted in a thread before a grading review will be conducted.

To other experts researching Premium User threads for clues to grading history (since that functionality was removed from the EE interface),

the asker graded the solution a 'B' without seeking further comments/information, so you may want to consider that before taking the time to answer future questions from dusiaa.  :-)
No comment from asker. Grade changed to A.

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