Advice For Outdoor 802.11g Coverage

I'm looking for advice on setting up an 802.11g network providing
coverage over a fairly large outdoor area (approximately 1000 feet
across). Opinions on hardware and network arrangement would be
appreciated.

I say "outdoor" even though the clients are inside many tiny
buildings. The buildings are roughly 10-15 feet apart, all with
either very thin wood walls or canvas walls (tents). No bricks,
cinder blocks, metal or tile roofs, or anything I'd expect to hinder a
wireless signal. The area is flat.

The general project is to provide wireless internet access to
approximately 30-60 clients at a time.

Here are some of the choices I'm considering, with rough prices from
online stores:

1a. A single higher end outdoor access point like the Cisco Aironet
1310 - $900.

1b. A single higher end outdoor access point like the Cisco Aironet
1310, with an external antenna (AIR-ANT2506) - $900 plus another $300
for antenna and cable.

2a. 4-6 cheaper access points like th $100 D-Link DWL-2100AP - $400 to
$600.

2b. 4-6 cheaper access points like D-Link DWL-2100AP, plus antennas
(ANT25-0800 or -1500) - $400 to $600 plus another $600 to $900 for the
antennas ($1000 to $1500 total).

3a. 2-4 cheaper access points like D-Link DWL-2100AP plus 2-4 range
extenders (DWL-G800AP) - $200 to $400 plus $150 to $300 ($350 to $700
total).

3b. 2-4 cheaper access points like D-Link DWL-2100AP plus 2-4 range
extenders (DWL-G800AP) plus antennas for all - $200 to $400 plus $150
to $300 plus $600 to $1200 ($950 to $1900 total).


I'm sort of leaning toward 3a, for the sake of cost, wiring
convenience, and no single point of failure (as with 1a/b).

The less wiring I have to do, the better. Range extenders (repeaters)
don't need ethernet cables going to them ... so 3 access points, each
with an associated range extender looks easy. And, it's easier to
extend the network a bit at a time if I buy many cheap bits rather
than few expensive bits.

External antennas for cheap APs cost more than the APs themselves, so
I'd love to avoid using them. Opting to not use an antenna means the
APs will have to be indoors or weatherproofed somehow and put outside.
It gets hot here (90+ degrees daily) so I'm wary about exposing a
cheap AP to the desert sun. One thing the Cisco has going for it is
an operating temp of up to 131 degrees.


Would I be asking for trouble by getting one cheap access point and a
bunch of repeaters? Seems to me that it would be overly stressed by
40+ clients.

How many 802.11g access points can I use before they start interfering
with each other?

Will range extenders tied to different access points step on each
other?


Which is likely to perform better?
- one access point, indoors, with 1-3 repeaters associated with it in
surrounding areas (indoors)
- one access point, indoors, with a 3 meter cable going to an antenna
(outdoors)


Part 2 - network cards for PCs. What's the real world difference
between a $110 Cisco 802.11g PC card and a $50 LinkSys and a $35
noname card?

If I'm going to get all the cards and access points at the same time,
is there anything to be gained from sticking with one brand?

Should I shell out money for better access points, and cheaper cards?


Thanks in advance.

I would suggest a Linksys WRT54G Transmitter with a Streakwave 800mw
microamplifier antenna. In total this should cost around $200. With just the
linksys I got over 400 Meters (1312 feet) so with the amp you should get at
least 4 times that.

They pack much more of a punch that you would think.

Paul


On 11/7/04 6:24 pm, in article
(E-Mail Removed), "MonkeyOmen"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I'm looking for advice on setting up an 802.11g network providing
> coverage over a fairly large outdoor area (approximately 1000 feet
> across). Opinions on hardware and network arrangement would be
> appreciated.
>
> I say "outdoor" even though the clients are inside many tiny
> buildings. The buildings are roughly 10-15 feet apart, all with
> either very thin wood walls or canvas walls (tents). No bricks,
> cinder blocks, metal or tile roofs, or anything I'd expect to hinder a
> wireless signal. The area is flat.
>
> The general project is to provide wireless internet access to
> approximately 30-60 clients at a time.
>
> Here are some of the choices I'm considering, with rough prices from
> online stores:
>
> 1a. A single higher end outdoor access point like the Cisco Aironet
> 1310 - $900.
>
> 1b. A single higher end outdoor access point like the Cisco Aironet
> 1310, with an external antenna (AIR-ANT2506) - $900 plus another $300
> for antenna and cable.
>
> 2a. 4-6 cheaper access points like th $100 D-Link DWL-2100AP - $400 to
> $600.
>
> 2b. 4-6 cheaper access points like D-Link DWL-2100AP, plus antennas
> (ANT25-0800 or -1500) - $400 to $600 plus another $600 to $900 for the
> antennas ($1000 to $1500 total).
>
> 3a. 2-4 cheaper access points like D-Link DWL-2100AP plus 2-4 range
> extenders (DWL-G800AP) - $200 to $400 plus $150 to $300 ($350 to $700
> total).
>
> 3b. 2-4 cheaper access points like D-Link DWL-2100AP plus 2-4 range
> extenders (DWL-G800AP) plus antennas for all - $200 to $400 plus $150
> to $300 plus $600 to $1200 ($950 to $1900 total).
>
>
> I'm sort of leaning toward 3a, for the sake of cost, wiring
> convenience, and no single point of failure (as with 1a/b).
>
> The less wiring I have to do, the better. Range extenders (repeaters)
> don't need ethernet cables going to them ... so 3 access points, each
> with an associated range extender looks easy. And, it's easier to
> extend the network a bit at a time if I buy many cheap bits rather
> than few expensive bits.
>
> External antennas for cheap APs cost more than the APs themselves, so
> I'd love to avoid using them. Opting to not use an antenna means the
> APs will have to be indoors or weatherproofed somehow and put outside.
> It gets hot here (90+ degrees daily) so I'm wary about exposing a
> cheap AP to the desert sun. One thing the Cisco has going for it is
> an operating temp of up to 131 degrees.
>
>
> Would I be asking for trouble by getting one cheap access point and a
> bunch of repeaters? Seems to me that it would be overly stressed by
> 40+ clients.
>
> How many 802.11g access points can I use before they start interfering
> with each other?
>
> Will range extenders tied to different access points step on each
> other?
>
>
> Which is likely to perform better?
> - one access point, indoors, with 1-3 repeaters associated with it in
> surrounding areas (indoors)
> - one access point, indoors, with a 3 meter cable going to an antenna
> (outdoors)
>
>
> Part 2 - network cards for PCs. What's the real world difference
> between a $110 Cisco 802.11g PC card and a $50 LinkSys and a $35
> noname card?
>
> If I'm going to get all the cards and access points at the same time,
> is there anything to be gained from sticking with one brand?
>
> Should I shell out money for better access points, and cheaper cards?
>
>
> Thanks in advance.

"Paul Bayley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:BD173CD8.B80%(E-Mail Removed). uk...
> I would suggest a Linksys WRT54G Transmitter with a Streakwave 800mw
> microamplifier antenna. In total this should cost around $200. With just
the
> linksys I got over 400 Meters (1312 feet) so with the amp you should get
at
> least 4 times that.
>
> They pack much more of a punch that you would think.
>
> Paul
>
>
> On 11/7/04 6:24 pm, in article
> (E-Mail Removed), "MonkeyOmen"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> > I'm looking for advice on setting up an 802.11g network providing
> > coverage over a fairly large outdoor area (approximately 1000 feet
> > across). Opinions on hardware and network arrangement would be
> > appreciated.
> >
> > I say "outdoor" even though the clients are inside many tiny
> > buildings. The buildings are roughly 10-15 feet apart, all with
> > either very thin wood walls or canvas walls (tents). No bricks,
> > cinder blocks, metal or tile roofs, or anything I'd expect to hinder a
> > wireless signal. The area is flat.
> >
> > The general project is to provide wireless internet access to
> > approximately 30-60 clients at a time.
> >
> > Here are some of the choices I'm considering, with rough prices from
> > online stores:
> >
> > 1a. A single higher end outdoor access point like the Cisco Aironet
> > 1310 - $900.
> >
> > 1b. A single higher end outdoor access point like the Cisco Aironet
> > 1310, with an external antenna (AIR-ANT2506) - $900 plus another $300
> > for antenna and cable.
> >
> > 2a. 4-6 cheaper access points like th $100 D-Link DWL-2100AP - $400 to
> > $600.
> >
> > 2b. 4-6 cheaper access points like D-Link DWL-2100AP, plus antennas
> > (ANT25-0800 or -1500) - $400 to $600 plus another $600 to $900 for the
> > antennas ($1000 to $1500 total).
> >
> > 3a. 2-4 cheaper access points like D-Link DWL-2100AP plus 2-4 range
> > extenders (DWL-G800AP) - $200 to $400 plus $150 to $300 ($350 to $700
> > total).
> >
> > 3b. 2-4 cheaper access points like D-Link DWL-2100AP plus 2-4 range
> > extenders (DWL-G800AP) plus antennas for all - $200 to $400 plus $150
> > to $300 plus $600 to $1200 ($950 to $1900 total).
> >
> >
> > I'm sort of leaning toward 3a, for the sake of cost, wiring
> > convenience, and no single point of failure (as with 1a/b).
> >
> > The less wiring I have to do, the better. Range extenders (repeaters)
> > don't need ethernet cables going to them ... so 3 access points, each
> > with an associated range extender looks easy. And, it's easier to
> > extend the network a bit at a time if I buy many cheap bits rather
> > than few expensive bits.
> >
> > External antennas for cheap APs cost more than the APs themselves, so
> > I'd love to avoid using them. Opting to not use an antenna means the
> > APs will have to be indoors or weatherproofed somehow and put outside.
> > It gets hot here (90+ degrees daily) so I'm wary about exposing a
> > cheap AP to the desert sun. One thing the Cisco has going for it is
> > an operating temp of up to 131 degrees.
> >
> >
> > Would I be asking for trouble by getting one cheap access point and a
> > bunch of repeaters? Seems to me that it would be overly stressed by
> > 40+ clients.
> >
> > How many 802.11g access points can I use before they start interfering
> > with each other?
> >
> > Will range extenders tied to different access points step on each
> > other?
> >
> >
> > Which is likely to perform better?
> > - one access point, indoors, with 1-3 repeaters associated with it in
> > surrounding areas (indoors)
> > - one access point, indoors, with a 3 meter cable going to an antenna
> > (outdoors)
> >
> >
> > Part 2 - network cards for PCs. What's the real world difference
> > between a $110 Cisco 802.11g PC card and a $50 LinkSys and a $35
> > noname card?
> >
> > If I'm going to get all the cards and access points at the same time,
> > is there anything to be gained from sticking with one brand?
> >
> > Should I shell out money for better access points, and cheaper cards?
> >
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
>

Wow! Just looked at the Streakwave site. Great looking antenna stuff!

Bob Alston


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(E-Mail Removed) (MonkeyOmen) wrote:

>3a. 2-4 cheaper access points like D-Link DWL-2100AP plus 2-4 range
>extenders (DWL-G800AP) - $200 to $400 plus $150 to $300 ($350 to $700
>total).

They don't work as advertized. I bought three of the DWL-G800AP
boxes, and they don't repeat each other, and in AP mode will hang when
another shows up as repeater. Run screaming.

[I have managed to make them work in AP mode when hard-wired to a
wireless router, but that's hardly the point of a repeater...]

I'd go with distributing APs around and hard-wiring them back to a
central point. Repeating costs bandwidth (cuts it in half for each
repeater, plus or minus), and is (IMHO) a really bad idea...


--
William Smith
ComputerSmiths Consulting, Inc. www.compusmiths.com

William P.N. Smith wrote in message news:<(E-Mail Removed)>. ..

> I'd go with distributing APs around and hard-wiring them back to a
> central point. Repeating costs bandwidth (cuts it in half for each
> repeater, plus or minus), and is (IMHO) a really bad idea...

Thanks for the feedback. I've yet to hear any positive things about
repeaters, unless it's just a handful of users on an otherwise
uncongested network.

Do external antennas really improve range that much? Some of them
cost more than the access point itself, and decent cables are $50-100
or more too.

Thanks.

Do external antennas work to improve range. Yes very much so but they
must be used properly. I will give my take on type on best use for
antennas. BTW I do this for a living.

As for the original question. Are the 60 clients going to be active
all at once? What is the intended use IE web surfing, email, games? Is
the distribution point to the clients in the center, a side or, a
corner of the area in question? Is the ground flat with all buildings
in the same plane? If internet access is the goal what is the link
speed to the internet?

That being said in a center feed location the omni may be the best
choice but I would not go more than about 8 dBi in gain. For a
location on a side or corner I would suggest flat panel antennas. For
a corner it would need two flat panels of 75 degrees beam width to
cover the area. Each one connected to a separate access point. For a
side location it might take three access points.

High gain omni

Pros are low in cost for the gain achieved, easy to install, low wind
load,

Cons are higher gain equals a very small usable beam width maybe 5
degrees or less. All clients must be in the plane of the beam width
and this is very limited. Gain is omni direction and usually that is
not what is needed. If multiple antennas are located within a small
area they will need vertical separation to function well. This
vertical separation will likely place one or more outside of the
desired plane.

Flat Panels

Pros are moderate cost, high gain in a more limited direction, small
size. wider beam width than omni antennas but in a more limited
direction typical beam width is around 75 degrees horizontal and 25
vertical (Andrew dl 2412)The limited beam width in any given direction
can be a big asset in reducing interference and making better use of
channels or frequency reuse.

Cons are more difficult to install, less esthetically pleasing, more
may be required to cover a large area.

Dish antennas

Pros, Highest gain and smallest beam width. Best suited for point to
point links only.

Cons, Alignment can be difficult for long links beyond the visual
range. Wind load can be very high for solid dish antennas and mounting
becomes more difficult. Solid dishes get very expensive as the size
gets bigger.

Yagi antennas

Pros, Low cost for the gain achieved. Easy to mount, Low wind loading.

Cons, Suitable for point to point links only.


Now for access points and a recommendation. the choice depends on the
use and needs. For a corporate environment I would suggest Cisco or
maybe proxim. Both
are much more difficult to configure but offer better range and
security. For home use I would not suggest any access point from any
manufacturer that also sells a booster. Why buy something that even
the manufacturer knows has a range problem.

MonkeyOmen <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> I'm looking for advice on setting up an 802.11g network providing
> coverage over a fairly large outdoor area (approximately 1000 feet
> across). Opinions on hardware and network arrangement would be
> appreciated.

1000 feet across? Does that mean you could locate a WAP in the center and
have no more than 500 feet to any client?

> Part 2 - network cards for PCs. What's the real world difference
> between a $110 Cisco 802.11g PC card and a $50 LinkSys and a $35
> noname card?

I would get DLink DWL-122 mini-USB "dongles", and put them permanently up
high in the tent/cabin, and run the USB cable to the appropriate place
inside the tent. Some of the dongles could be in front of reflectors, some
could be in cans for better performance. There's a separate thread running
in this group about the mini-USB dongle.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?L308519C8

The price of the dongle and USB cable will be far less than a PCMCIA card
and external antenna. Also, the high-value item will be semi-permanently
mounted, instead of installed in a client computer. You didn't say, but I
expect that the clients will be transient. The Dongle is currently on
closeout for as low as $12.99 locally. This might be the last opportunity
for purchasing new 802.11b equipment instead of "g".

That way, people could use their own laptops, as long as they had a USB
connector, and were willing to install the drivers. Or they could use
their own wireless setup, if it happened to work.


> If I'm going to get all the cards and access points at the same time,
> is there anything to be gained from sticking with one brand?

I'd buy all of one brand, just because you'll know how to run various
programs and web pages without thinking about it much.

---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5

Bob Alston <bobalston AT aol DOT com> wrote:

> Wow! Just looked at the Streakwave site. Great looking antenna stuff!

But it's so expensive.
If you did the Marina over again, would you go with StreakWave?
I didn't notice: Is your USB-cantenna for your personal use, and not
typical of the marina installation?

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5

(E-Mail Removed) (MonkeyOmen) wrote:
>Do external antennas really improve range that much? Some of them
>cost more than the access point itself, and decent cables are $50-100
>or more too.

They can, but as you've noted, they are expensive, and APs are cheap.
Study your RF theory to see if they'll help, but I'd still think you
were better off with a bunch of APs...

--
William Smith
ComputerSmiths Consulting, Inc. www.compusmiths.com

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ccvbb8$23o$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Bob Alston <bobalston AT aol DOT com> wrote:
>
> > Wow! Just looked at the Streakwave site. Great looking antenna stuff!
>
> But it's so expensive.
> If you did the Marina over again, would you go with StreakWave?
> I didn't notice: Is your USB-cantenna for your personal use, and not
> typical of the marina installation?
>
> --
> ---
> Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5
>

Not sure I would change the antenna I bought from www.fab-corp.com

It was about $70 for a +11dBi antenna. Has worked out real well.

Yes, the cantenna is for my personal use, at my desktop PC in my condo,
adjacent to the marina.

--
Bob Alston



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