Case Problem - WiMAX?: Wireless network for 15km suburban radius

Greetings,

I have a case study perhaps you in the newsgroup could attack. I am working
on wirelessley connecting a few households (15 families to begin with but
the potential to handle hundreds more in the future) in a 15km (or 10 mile)
suburban radius.

Currently I understand that WiMAX may be a viable solution, or
mesh-networking, however WiMAX is not the super-solution I once thought it
may be and mesh-networking will require more study.

The local council is willing to assist in this undertaking by allowing the
placement of WiMAX basestations (if that is a viable solution), in crucial
areas within the 15km radius.

The key point to this, is that we are looking for a solution where families
will not have to do anything more (such as installing external antennas)
than simply insert a wireless WiMAX PCI card, or USB stick into their
computers to access the WiMAX network. If you can show me another method -
feel free!

What we are after is a means of supporting hundreds of more families later
down the track.

What will be required? Budget requirements? (i.e. does anyone know of
current/approximate pricing on WiMAX basestations?).

All your thoughts are much appreciated

ZionIFL wrote:

> Greetings,
>
> I have a case study perhaps you in the newsgroup could attack. I am working
> on wirelessley connecting a few households (15 families to begin with but
> the potential to handle hundreds more in the future) in a 15km (or 10 mile)
> suburban radius.
>
> Currently I understand that WiMAX may be a viable solution, or
> mesh-networking, however WiMAX is not the super-solution I once thought it
> may be and mesh-networking will require more study.
>
> The local council is willing to assist in this undertaking by allowing the
> placement of WiMAX basestations (if that is a viable solution), in crucial
> areas within the 15km radius.
>
> The key point to this, is that we are looking for a solution where families
> will not have to do anything more (such as installing external antennas)
> than simply insert a wireless WiMAX PCI card, or USB stick into their
> computers to access the WiMAX network. If you can show me another method -
> feel free!
>
> What we are after is a means of supporting hundreds of more families later
> down the track.
>
> What will be required? Budget requirements? (i.e. does anyone know of
> current/approximate pricing on WiMAX basestations?).
>
> All your thoughts are much appreciated

No outside antennas? You've got to be joking.

Rôgêr wrote:
> ZionIFL wrote:
>
>> Greetings,
>>
>> I have a case study perhaps you in the newsgroup could attack. I am
>> working on wirelessley connecting a few households (15 families to
>> begin with but the potential to handle hundreds more in the future) in
>> a 15km (or 10 mile) suburban radius.
>>
>> Currently I understand that WiMAX may be a viable solution, or
>> mesh-networking, however WiMAX is not the super-solution I once
>> thought it may be and mesh-networking will require more study.
>>
>> The local council is willing to assist in this undertaking by allowing
>> the placement of WiMAX basestations (if that is a viable solution), in
>> crucial areas within the 15km radius.
>>
>> The key point to this, is that we are looking for a solution where
>> families will not have to do anything more (such as installing
>> external antennas) than simply insert a wireless WiMAX PCI card, or
>> USB stick into their computers to access the WiMAX network. If you can
>> show me another method - feel free!
>>
>> What we are after is a means of supporting hundreds of more families
>> later down the track.
>>
>> What will be required? Budget requirements? (i.e. does anyone know of
>> current/approximate pricing on WiMAX basestations?).
>>
>> All your thoughts are much appreciated
>
>
> No outside antennas? You've got to be joking.
What you are suggesting won't work. All the Mesh network approaches
implemented require an outside antenna in houses/buildings.

Bob

"Bob Alston" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:nt3ge.23992$yV4.23048@okepread03...
> Rôgêr wrote:
>> ZionIFL wrote:
>>
>>> Greetings,
>>>
>>> I have a case study perhaps you in the newsgroup could attack. I am
>>> working on wirelessley connecting a few households (15 families to begin
>>> with but the potential to handle hundreds more in the future) in a 15km
>>> (or 10 mile) suburban radius.
>>>
>>> Currently I understand that WiMAX may be a viable solution, or
>>> mesh-networking, however WiMAX is not the super-solution I once thought
>>> it may be and mesh-networking will require more study.
>>>
>>> The local council is willing to assist in this undertaking by allowing
>>> the placement of WiMAX basestations (if that is a viable solution), in
>>> crucial areas within the 15km radius.
>>>
>>> The key point to this, is that we are looking for a solution where
>>> families will not have to do anything more (such as installing external
>>> antennas) than simply insert a wireless WiMAX PCI card, or USB stick
>>> into their computers to access the WiMAX network. If you can show me
>>> another method - feel free!
>>>
>>> What we are after is a means of supporting hundreds of more families
>>> later down the track.
>>>
>>> What will be required? Budget requirements? (i.e. does anyone know of
>>> current/approximate pricing on WiMAX basestations?).
>>>
>>> All your thoughts are much appreciated
>>
>>
>> No outside antennas? You've got to be joking.
> What you are suggesting won't work. All the Mesh network approaches
> implemented require an outside antenna in houses/buildings.
>
> Bob

Point taken!

Is there some way of using existing television aerials to "collect" WiMAX
waves, so to speak?

ZionIFL wrote:
> "Bob Alston" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:nt3ge.23992$yV4.23048@okepread03...
>
>>Rôgêr wrote:
>>
>>>ZionIFL wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Greetings,
>>>>
>>>>I have a case study perhaps you in the newsgroup could attack. I am
>>>>working on wirelessley connecting a few households (15 families to begin
>>>>with but the potential to handle hundreds more in the future) in a 15km
>>>>(or 10 mile) suburban radius.
>>>>
>>>>Currently I understand that WiMAX may be a viable solution, or
>>>>mesh-networking, however WiMAX is not the super-solution I once thought
>>>>it may be and mesh-networking will require more study.
>>>>
>>>>The local council is willing to assist in this undertaking by allowing
>>>>the placement of WiMAX basestations (if that is a viable solution), in
>>>>crucial areas within the 15km radius.
>>>>
>>>>The key point to this, is that we are looking for a solution where
>>>>families will not have to do anything more (such as installing external
>>>>antennas) than simply insert a wireless WiMAX PCI card, or USB stick
>>>>into their computers to access the WiMAX network. If you can show me
>>>>another method - feel free!
>>>>
>>>>What we are after is a means of supporting hundreds of more families
>>>>later down the track.
>>>>
>>>>What will be required? Budget requirements? (i.e. does anyone know of
>>>>current/approximate pricing on WiMAX basestations?).
>>>>
>>>>All your thoughts are much appreciated
>>>
>>>
>>>No outside antennas? You've got to be joking.
>>
>>What you are suggesting won't work. All the Mesh network approaches
>>implemented require an outside antenna in houses/buildings.
>>
>>Bob
>
>
> Point taken!
>
> Is there some way of using existing television aerials to "collect" WiMAX
> waves, so to speak?
>
>
The only solution requires a suitably constructed external Ariel ,
properly installed ( many can self install unless utterly inept)

For starters- Wimax may well come to the party, but it's only just been
given a green light. Hence allow ~2 years before it's cost effective
compared with WiFi. In the meantime suggest you focus on normal WiFi,
since "b" gear is cheap (even now free after rebates) as faster "g"
versions take over AND drivers are abundant. To get the 15km radius
however you'd need APs setup as repeaters as well - exact number depend
on terrain etc. Powering & locating these could be a hassle -solar PV ?
Here in Wellington, New Zealand we get great WiFi (& IPWireless)
signals over 10km LOS away across the harbour, but inner city you're
lucky to get round a block...

Wireless coverage at typical microwave freqs. (2-5GHz) is very line of
sight (LOS) & heavily influenced by terrain, buildings & their
material. Where are you ? In built up areas a decent antenna is nearly
essential unless you're within a stones throw of the transmitter. This
antenna doesn't have to be gold plated,OR outdoors, since even the
celebrated cookware parabola versions can greatly boost weak signals,
with LOS ranges of several km. For bare bones setups,I'd STRONGLY
recommend you go the USB way for dirt cheap lossless leads, no brainer
connectors & versatile ease of installation.

There've been numerous community networks setup around such established
WiFi gear of course. Just take an AP (<US$100), USB adaptors ("b"
~US$20 each), 5m ( 15') USB extension cable (~US$5) & maybe a indoor
DIY boutique parabolic antenna (~US$20). Most APs can handles dozens
of clients at once too, or can even act as repeaters for distant
transmitters. Increasingly even "SoftAP"s can be setup - based on the
PC sharing the load. All up cost per client ~US$50-$100, which
includes a share in AP purchase. But naturally traffic charges may
apply,as my also boring old security & maintenance too.

We've many "Poorman's WiFi" parabolic cookware antenna ideas/tests =>
www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz These are great for a few LOS km. Stan. in NZ