Choosing "Air Fiber" or equivalent option - between two buildings
I have a client who owns a 2 story building and leases another 2 story building that are about 250-300 feet apart of each other.
- We currently have Comcast as our ISP for both buildings (phone and internet).
- I would like to connect the two offices on the same subnet without having to setup a VPN
- Without getting too technical about phone systems, we are upgrading our entire phone system with a new Avaya system. In order communicate with the 2nd building via phone extensions, we have to install IP phones in the second building. Doing so, I need to create a VPN between the two building per the Avaya installation company) so the phone system can communicate the way the client needs them to comunicate.
- there's no cost effective or legal option to run a line under ground
- For now, I will setup a VPN between the two buildings
In the near future, I would like to setup a wireless connection between the two buildings. This is not my field but I believe I want to setup a wireless dish that allows a POE connection to a switch at both buildings. From what I read, the technology I should be researching is "Air Fiber". I know air fiber is used in areas where the two connection points have much greater distance then that what I need. Maybe there's a different and more cost effective technology.
- I do not want to install a "Wireless access point". It needs to support good bandwidth
Looking for feedback and recommendations
Thanks!
- We currently have Comcast as our ISP for both buildings (phone and internet).
- I would like to connect the two offices on the same subnet without having to setup a VPN
- Without getting too technical about phone systems, we are upgrading our entire phone system with a new Avaya system. In order communicate with the 2nd building via phone extensions, we have to install IP phones in the second building. Doing so, I need to create a VPN between the two building per the Avaya installation company) so the phone system can communicate the way the client needs them to comunicate.
- there's no cost effective or legal option to run a line under ground
- For now, I will setup a VPN between the two buildings
In the near future, I would like to setup a wireless connection between the two buildings. This is not my field but I believe I want to setup a wireless dish that allows a POE connection to a switch at both buildings. From what I read, the technology I should be researching is "Air Fiber". I know air fiber is used in areas where the two connection points have much greater distance then that what I need. Maybe there's a different and more cost effective technology.
- I do not want to install a "Wireless access point". It needs to support good bandwidth
Looking for feedback and recommendations
Thanks!
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Yes, the antenna is weatherproof, and there is cover to make the connection from the Cat5/6 cable weatherproof as well. I have mounted them on a larger pole to give them more range. In the above scenario, I used the M5, which had a range of 15km line of sight.
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I could call the dealer to make sure I get the appropriate model for best signal strength. Curious as to the model you have and signal thru-put your unit has. I'm reading good feedback.
This was about 6 years ago. before that I had used a Motorola antenna system to push Internet WAN connectivity to the whole city.
You can adjust the signal strength for the distance you require. In the scenario I mentioned above, the buildings were about 125 yards apart. It worked fine, was less than $750 total cost, including the Layer 2 Cisco managed switch at the remote building. I was in the exact same boat. There was no budget for a 30K fiber buildout, leased fiber was not available, it would have taken months to get the necessary permits.
I did a QoS rule for VOIP on the Layer 3 HP switch in the datacenter for that segment, created the LAN bridge on the same workstation network as my main building workstation LAN/vLAN, and the throughput on that model then was 100Mbps. I never hit max throughput and even used that office as a small DR site. I placed the backup file server, proxy, DNS, and Domain Controller in that office. During backups at night it would hit around 95Mbps, but during the day avg was around 30Mbps. I never had an issue with it. They are still using the set up today. They recently called me and asked me for the password to it.
Scenario:
BLDG1- Main building with datacenter and core switch POE, Layer 3), router, and phone system. Antenna 1
BLDG2- Satellite office - 15 users, secondary switch (POE, Layer 2).
Let me know if you have any other questions.
You can adjust the signal strength for the distance you require. In the scenario I mentioned above, the buildings were about 125 yards apart. It worked fine, was less than $750 total cost, including the Layer 2 Cisco managed switch at the remote building. I was in the exact same boat. There was no budget for a 30K fiber buildout, leased fiber was not available, it would have taken months to get the necessary permits.
I did a QoS rule for VOIP on the Layer 3 HP switch in the datacenter for that segment, created the LAN bridge on the same workstation network as my main building workstation LAN/vLAN, and the throughput on that model then was 100Mbps. I never hit max throughput and even used that office as a small DR site. I placed the backup file server, proxy, DNS, and Domain Controller in that office. During backups at night it would hit around 95Mbps, but during the day avg was around 30Mbps. I never had an issue with it. They are still using the set up today. They recently called me and asked me for the password to it.
Scenario:
BLDG1- Main building with datacenter and core switch POE, Layer 3), router, and phone system. Antenna 1
BLDG2- Satellite office - 15 users, secondary switch (POE, Layer 2).
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Wireless is feasible, Cambium Networks builds wireless bridges that work in a line-of-sight or can work in a non-line-of site connection. The devices act like a bridge. There are a number of alternatives from a price perspective as well.
You could also, compare Ubiquiti to Microtik. Appears to be similar tech.
http://www.mikrotik.com/
http://www.mikrotik.com/
On the Ubiquiti side, an appropriate NanoBeam product would be the NBE-5AC-16 ... would far more than suit your purpose (it is supposed to work up to a distance of close to 7 miles, so 100 years is nonissue).
https://www.ubnt.com/airma
I've seen other brands like Aruba and Cisco serving the same purpose as well, but you'd be coming in at far lower price point with Ubiquti's equipment.
https://www.ubnt.com/airma
I've seen other brands like Aruba and Cisco serving the same purpose as well, but you'd be coming in at far lower price point with Ubiquti's equipment.
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Sorry for not getting back to this. I want issue points and close the system is not allowing me to issue points so that I can close this. I'll try a different browser
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Thanks for everyone's input
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