Network Neighborhood

dtk13 · 01-02-2005

Hey all,
I live in the middle of nowhere (like my closest neighbor is two tenths of a mile away) with a around 14 neighbors. The only dsl that is avalable is by satlite (which doesnt allow you to share your connecton). SO I was thinking about bringing in a T1 line ($500/mo from speakeasy. Yikes!) and sharing it (speak easy allows sharing) All 17 of my neighbors are in front of me (I live at the end of a street) and the area that needs to be covered is about 1/2 a mile. I think i would need a 1watt amp with a yagi antenna and maybe a repeter. Please give me your thoughts. Thanks.
Also how meny users can you have on a wlan before it bogs down? Thanks again.

----
Atached is a map of the desired coverage.

Thorn · 01-02-2005

A yagi is too narrow. A sector would be the prefered antenna. An RF amp is probably unneeded, and certainly 1W is too much. A repeater may or may not be needed (probably not), but there is no way to tell without a site survey.

Bottom line: You need to properly design this. It can be done, but just from the questions you asked you need to learn some RF engineering basics and to learn about running a Wireless ISP. If doing the math is too much for you, then hire someone to do the design.

You will also need to learn proper networking. If you only experience is with NAT on a home router, you need to hit the books. Again, if this is too much you may need to hire an expert at least for the initial design is done, and you are up to speed on the finer points of how networks run.

Also, come up with a solid business plan. This IS a business, and your about to start playing with the big boys. The $500/month figure usually reflects a multi-year contract for a T1, which effectively will lock you into a $12,000 to $18,000 commitment over 2 or three years. (T1s are not cheap to install. No provider will let you just try it for one month.)

Search Google for "WISP" and "Wireless ISP".

dtk13 · 01-02-2005

Beleve me I know about the contracts that go along with the t1s

I wish i had another alternitave other than sattlite. But i live too far away from the C.O.

So maybe 1 Watt @ 802.11 power is a little extream.

I have more networking experience than just NAT.

Maybe a ~10dBi sector. I dont know i have yet to really look.

Mr.White · 01-02-2005

What do you do for a living?

Thorn · 01-02-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtk13

Beleve me I know about the contracts that go along with the t1s

I wish i had another alternitave other than sattlite. But i live too far away from the C.O.

So maybe 1 Watt @ 802.11 power is a little extream.

I have more networking experience than just NAT.

Maybe a ~10dBi sector. I dont know i have yet to really look.

What about running your own closed SDSL from the C.O.? You can still run a WISP from your home. Start up costs run about $50/mo for a dry pair and the SDSL modems run in the $1500 range. Certainly cheaper than the T1.

A 10dBi (or even less) sector may be ideal, but you still need to do the site survey and the design to know positively. Terrain and trees play a big part, too.

The other question to ask is: Do you have a market? (i.e. Can you get a commitment from enough of the neighbors for this to work?)

dtk13 · 01-04-2005

Oh do I have a market. The people that currently have satlite are paying around $100-$150/mo!!

I have heard of ADSL and DSL but not SDSL. What is it? My local telco is Verizon.

SO here's what i was thinking:
Linksys WRT54G AP W/12dBi Pach Ant.
With a Buffalo Range Extender if needed with 9dBi Omni Ant.

streaker69 · 01-04-2005

http://www.odessaoffice.com/sdsl.htm

SDSL. Might give you some info.

Thorn · 01-04-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by streaker69

http://www.odessaoffice.com/sdsl.htm

SDSL. Might give you some info.

I second that. And Marvin's a nice guy, too.

01-02-2005	#2 (permalink)
Thorn Did you do the math? Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Villa Straylight Posts: 10,000	A yagi is too narrow. A sector would be the prefered antenna. An RF amp is probably unneeded, and certainly 1W is too much. A repeater may or may not be needed (probably not), but there is no way to tell without a site survey. Bottom line: You need to properly design this. It can be done, but just from the questions you asked you need to learn some RF engineering basics and to learn about running a Wireless ISP. If doing the math is too much for you, then hire someone to do the design. You will also need to learn proper networking. If you only experience is with NAT on a home router, you need to hit the books. Again, if this is too much you may need to hire an expert at least for the initial design is done, and you are up to speed on the finer points of how networks run. Also, come up with a solid business plan. This IS a business, and your about to start playing with the big boys. The $500/month figure usually reflects a multi-year contract for a T1, which effectively will lock you into a $12,000 to $18,000 commitment over 2 or three years. (T1s are not cheap to install. No provider will let you just try it for one month.) Search Google for "WISP" and "Wireless ISP". __________________ Thorn Sex and Violence. You can't enjoy one, if you don't survive the other. (And that works both ways...)

01-02-2005	#3 (permalink)
dtk13 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 8	A little too much. Beleve me I know about the contracts that go along with the t1s I wish i had another alternitave other than sattlite. But i live too far away from the C.O. So maybe 1 Watt @ 802.11 power is a little extream. I have more networking experience than just NAT. Maybe a ~10dBi sector. I dont know i have yet to really look.

01-02-2005	#4 (permalink)
Mr.White OH such tacos will I give Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,049	What do you do for a living? __________________ A good way to threaten somebody is to light a stick of dynamite. Then you call the guy and hold the burning fuse up to the phone. "Hear that?" you say. "That's dynamite, baby." -Jack Handey

01-04-2005	#6 (permalink)
dtk13 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 8	SDSL eh? Oh do I have a market. The people that currently have satlite are paying around $100-$150/mo!! I have heard of ADSL and DSL but not SDSL. What is it? My local telco is Verizon. SO here's what i was thinking: Linksys WRT54G AP W/12dBi Pach Ant. With a Buffalo Range Extender if needed with 9dBi Omni Ant.

01-04-2005	#7 (permalink)
streaker69 Psychic Amish Stumbler Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Virginville, BlueBall, Bird In Hand, Intercourse, Paradise, PA Posts: 11,638	http://www.odessaoffice.com/sdsl.htm SDSL. Might give you some info. __________________ "One of these days, I'm going to cut you to pieces." If you're offended by this post, please feel free to report it to one of the many helpful moderators of this forum. Thank you.

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