Need a quality outdoor antenna

wildmonkey · 06-07-2005

Hi all. I apologize if this kind of question is redundant. I have a client who has one networked office way back in a warehouse. It was cost prohibitive to run cat-5 back there for one workstation, so they were using a long distance 10base-t repeater. It went "breasts aloft" (BA in a big way) during the last thunderstorm. They had investigated a wireless solution previously and either determined or were told it wouldn't work. I took my wireless AP to the site and did some investigating. I'm sure we could make this work with a nice external antenna on the side of the building. It doesn't need to be much - line of sight distance would be ~100 feet - but I want to recommend a quality product. If I just search there are TONS of suppliers. I'm looking for suggestions as to who makes quality products. Thanks!

Thorn · 06-07-2005

FAB-Corp.

Dutch · 06-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildmonkey

Hi all. I apologize if this kind of question is redundant. I have a client who has one networked office way back in a warehouse. It was cost prohibitive to run cat-5 back there for one workstation, so they were using a long distance 10base-t repeater. It went "breasts aloft" (BA in a big way) during the last thunderstorm. They had investigated a wireless solution previously and either determined or were told it wouldn't work. I took my wireless AP to the site and did some investigating. I'm sure we could make this work with a nice external antenna on the side of the building. It doesn't need to be much - line of sight distance would be ~100 feet - but I want to recommend a quality product. If I just search there are TONS of suppliers. I'm looking for suggestions as to who makes quality products. Thanks!

The emphasized statement above, suggest to me that you might be heading for trouble, and might be in over your head, espeically if this is a paying client.

Even if it is only a 100 ft link, DO THE MATH.. Visual LOS isn't equal to RF-LOS. Calculate the fresnel zone, and the link budget. You might even find the reason they previously didn't implement a WiFi solution.

If you do consultancy and implementation of WiFi, it is a very bad businessstrategy to do it on "trial and error". Research, prepare and plan things before advising and implementing.

Dutch

johnniew · 06-11-2005

If I were you I would just give it a go, surely with a laptop, USB wireless adapter and an access point you could at least set up a temporary rig and see what success you have.

Apart from having to get some assistance from a mate, if you already have the above equipment then it's not exactly going to cost the earth to try.

However if it does work you will have to consider security and reliabilty.

I was considering something similar myself and before I'm subjected to the wrath of the veteran members, I'm clearly no expert, however a bit of practical trial and error can, for some of us, be more interesting than doing the math.

Yes it might turn out to be a complete waste of time, but many things are, however as long as there appears to be a good chance of it working then give it a whirl

Thorn · 06-11-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnniew

...
however a bit of practical trial and error can, for some of us, be more interesting than doing the math.

...

It may be "more interesting", but it's stupid.

Properly "doing the math" to see if something will work takes a lot less time, money and effort than to buy equipment, assemble it, and start testing. While it doesn't guarantee success, it will tell you whether a link is even possible. Also, the math may be the difference between a workable link and failure. For example, if you don't know that the FZ for a certain distance has to be X meters above the items on the landscape, you'll be doomed to just sittling there saying "I can see the other antenna. Why doesn't it work?"

For small links like this, doing the math should take an hour at the most. That's including bathroom breaks and trips to the kitchen for beverages.

Dutch · 06-11-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnniew

If I were you I would just give it a go, surely with a laptop, USB wireless adapter and an access point you could at least set up a temporary rig and see what success you have.

Apart from having to get some assistance from a mate, if you already have the above equipment then it's not exactly going to cost the earth to try.

However if it does work you will have to consider security and reliabilty.

I was considering something similar myself and before I'm subjected to the wrath of the veteran members, I'm clearly no expert, however a bit of practical trial and error can, for some of us, be more interesting than doing the math.

Yes it might turn out to be a complete waste of time, but many things are, however as long as there appears to be a good chance of it working then give it a whirl

Did you notice that he was doing it for a client ?
Doing "Trial and Error" setups for a paying client is unprofessional and opens up a can of worms that might cost you more than you get in on that job.

Dutch

wrzwaldo · 06-11-2005

I would never do a trial and error setup for a client as it seems like a good way to negate any follow-on business. You can sometimes cheat physics but you'll never be it outright. Do the math, purchse equipment accordingly. It's the right thing to do!

johnniew · 06-16-2005

Ah yes, if it's for a client perhaps more preperation is needed, sorry I must have had my selective vision glasses on.

From what I can tell, assuming you have a relatively flat warehouse roof, if you were to mount an antenna at opposite ends of the apex approx 100ft apart surely at this distance the fresnel zone would only be a couple of feet, so as long as the base of the antenna was at least 2ft above the apex and you use the correct antenna I don't see you having problems with the rf los.

Please advise if I've missed anything obvious.

wrzwaldo · 06-16-2005

There are still other things to consider. First off would be what is the EMI profile for the area? FZ, SOM, link budget mean dick if there is an interferrence problem.

skizziks · 06-20-2005

MTI WIRELESS EDGE makes some good outdoor equipment..

06-07-2005	#1 (permalink)
wildmonkey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 7	Need a quality outdoor antenna Hi all. I apologize if this kind of question is redundant. I have a client who has one networked office way back in a warehouse. It was cost prohibitive to run cat-5 back there for one workstation, so they were using a long distance 10base-t repeater. It went "breasts aloft" (BA in a big way) during the last thunderstorm. They had investigated a wireless solution previously and either determined or were told it wouldn't work. I took my wireless AP to the site and did some investigating. I'm sure we could make this work with a nice external antenna on the side of the building. It doesn't need to be much - line of sight distance would be ~100 feet - but I want to recommend a quality product. If I just search there are TONS of suppliers. I'm looking for suggestions as to who makes quality products. Thanks!

06-07-2005	#2 (permalink)
Thorn Did you do the math? Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Villa Straylight Posts: 10,084	FAB-Corp. __________________ Thorn "I'm The Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I am from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old and I am the man who is going to save your lives and all 6 billion people on the planet below... You got a problem with that?"

06-11-2005	#4 (permalink)
johnniew www.wolseleycentres.com Join Date: May 2004 Location: email: johnnie@rescuemypc.co.uk Posts: 9	If I were you I would just give it a go, surely with a laptop, USB wireless adapter and an access point you could at least set up a temporary rig and see what success you have. Apart from having to get some assistance from a mate, if you already have the above equipment then it's not exactly going to cost the earth to try. However if it does work you will have to consider security and reliabilty. I was considering something similar myself and before I'm subjected to the wrath of the veteran members, I'm clearly no expert, however a bit of practical trial and error can, for some of us, be more interesting than doing the math. Yes it might turn out to be a complete waste of time, but many things are, however as long as there appears to be a good chance of it working then give it a whirl __________________ www.dealsonice.net for all you In Car Entertainment Accessories.

06-16-2005	#8 (permalink)
johnniew www.wolseleycentres.com Join Date: May 2004 Location: email: johnnie@rescuemypc.co.uk Posts: 9	Ah yes, if it's for a client perhaps more preperation is needed, sorry I must have had my selective vision glasses on. From what I can tell, assuming you have a relatively flat warehouse roof, if you were to mount an antenna at opposite ends of the apex approx 100ft apart surely at this distance the fresnel zone would only be a couple of feet, so as long as the base of the antenna was at least 2ft above the apex and you use the correct antenna I don't see you having problems with the rf los. Please advise if I've missed anything obvious. __________________ www.dealsonice.net for all you In Car Entertainment Accessories.

06-20-2005	#10 (permalink)
skizziks Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 118	Outdoor Equipment MTI WIRELESS EDGE makes some good outdoor equipment..

06-11-2005	#7 (permalink)
wrzwaldo I amuse you? Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 9,127	I would never do a trial and error setup for a client as it seems like a good way to negate any follow-on business. You can sometimes cheat physics but you'll never be it outright. Do the math, purchse equipment accordingly. It's the right thing to do!

06-16-2005	#9 (permalink)
wrzwaldo I amuse you? Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 9,127	There are still other things to consider. First off would be what is the EMI profile for the area? FZ, SOM, link budget mean dick if there is an interferrence problem.

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