ALL HARDWARE TESTED This is my thought for cheap hardware

blazerwireless · 06-17-2003

Welp after countless hours of finding a cheap solution for bridging wifi with off the shelf hardware i determined the best bang for your buck is the Dlink DWL-900AP+. I was trying it with Linksys WET11b but they kept craping out at 5 hours of use and droped speed limits to 50kbps. the dlink has more features and is a BIT weaker then the linksys WET 80mw card. but they worked great... in 22mbps mode i get constent 7mbps to 8mbps to the other end 4miles away though trees. it was tested all weekend with large files up and down with dumeter watching the statistics. sorry bout grammer here im trying to get this out fast. heres pics of the end points http://www.blazerwireless.com/antennas/node.html

p.s Linksys has the crappiest tech support that seems to be contracted out to asia. countless times no one knew why the wets would go out after 5 hours.. even tested in the house in the next room same thing happend. Linksys support and R&D have lost my sales.... i do like the wet alot but it needs more features.

HITMONEY · 06-17-2003

Very cool.

But hey, those arent trees. Come to Atlanta, I'll show you trees!!!

Odd about the WET. I have deployed 4 WETs recently and have not experienced that problem. But I know what you mean about Linksys support... I installed one of their Wireless Prinst Servers. That thing had to be the buggiest POS ever put out, the first Linksys Tech person I talked to didn't even know how to log onto the internal browser. 3 returns later I got one that worked.

And was this just an experiment, or is there a commercial function behind it?

Xenobane · 06-18-2003

Love your article, had a nice time viewing.

billfinnie · 06-18-2003

this is why the D-Link 900AP+ is a great product.

Heck it can even do repeater mode.

I wonder if this would get you even further?

Why would you consider the WET11 anyway?

the 900AP+ can be bought for like $70 and the WET11 is still up at $95.

am i wrong on this?
i just did a quick search on pricegrabber to find those numbers.

Need BB · 06-18-2003

What firmware are you using?

blazerwireless · 06-20-2003

i think the latest firmware i am using is 3.02. yes i have had problems with those linksys printservers. the wets i plan on deploying as CPE devices unless i can get senao to work me a great deal on the 200mw devices. Im sure everyone knows here you can swap the wet internal card and put a 200MW senao card. we have done it works great. but reasons for my liking on the dlinks. the mac filter and 256bit wep. shitiest part ont he linksys WETS where couldnt filter out other traffic bombarding them. oh well. the link is up and has been runing great for a week, all my streess is gone but though the rain i like to check thoughput and ping times
Pinging 10.*.*.* with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 10.*.*.*: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=126
Reply from 10.*.*.*: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=126
Reply from 10.*.*.*: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=126
Reply from 10.*.*.*: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=126
4 miles away in Thick fog in the rain and it still kicks down a great ms and just did a transfer of 40megs @ 688kbps bouncing around like wifi does but very nice indead

billfinnie · 06-27-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by blazerwireless
Im sure everyone knows here you can swap the wet internal card and put a 200MW senao card. we have done it works great.

can you take out the card in the 900AP+ and put in a 200MW senao card? what mods must you do to get it to work?

thanks

blazerwireless · 06-27-2003

well its a mini pci im sure if i was able to get the mini pci verson thats alittle bit less on power then its full pcmcia version 200mw it might work in the dlink.... not sure though. right now stock equipment works

billfinnie · 06-27-2003

well the dwl-900ap+ has a pcmcia card in it and i've seen the senao 200MW pcmcia cards and was just thinking it might work.

i didn't know you were talking about a miniPCI senao.

blazerwireless · 06-27-2003

well there are both full pcmcia and mini pci ive noticed different versions of the dwl900ap+ some had pcmcia and some with mini pci newer versions have minipci

Novilio · 07-01-2003

I've tried a fair number of APs for bridging, and nothing worked as easily or as well for as long as the DWL-900AP+. It's a very versatile little gadget, and works as advertised.

Nice Web article, by the way. I did something very similar when I was back in Scottsdale, just to experiment with bridges, and had a nice 1.3 mile full-bandwidth link to a friend's house--not that that is such a feat, but it was a lot of fun. My only fear was that a Scottsdale summer would fry the AP inside its ammo can (see the photo here ) but I moved to Colorado in April before it got up to 110 degrees and took my half of the bridge with me.

Heat is definitely an issue on long-term deployment of cheap consumer gear up in the sun, especially inside a tight enclosure. Blazerwireless, I'd appreciate your posting a report if you have problems associated with heat on the DWL-900AP+.

If anybody here is interested in a step-by-step idiot's guide to bridging with a pair of DWL-900AP+ devices, I devoted chapter 16 of my Wi-Fi book to the process. Rule #1: Calculate your link budget before you begin!

--73--

--Novilio
(Author of Jeff Duntemann's Drive-By Wi-Fi Guide)

blazerwireless · 07-01-2003

Thank you very much..... heck heat is a issue we have thought about.. hell for 200 bucks for two ap's that did a 4mile link and are giving me 4-6mbps im not gonna worry it. i have 4 more sitting here in the closet =) but yes i sure make a system for cooling the units. this is a test we put for our long hual. I plan on using MikroTik AB 5.2/5.8/2.4 client adapters with a 20 or 30db directional antenna. prety sure its not legal in the states but id love to have fullduplex 55mbps to the main distro

terabyte · 07-12-2003

Thanks for the very nice and helpful article. At work a couple of years ago I spanned a similar distance (7miles) but used Cisco 340's and Cisco's 21db dish, it's worked great until they built a building between the two sites. One 340 died and the other is an AP now. I'm sure my boss will let me take the dishes, I'd like to used the DWL 2000AP with these dishes, how well do you think it would work compared to the 900AP? Do you want to put the MikoTik card in the DLINK 900, have you tried it yet? Is that DC Injector an AMP? Sorry for the newbish questions.

hydro27405 · 07-13-2003

I never tried the 900ap+, but the other day office max had 2 on clearence for $50.00, I now have 2 of them and hope to get a chance to play with them soon.
Dad had heart sugery so might be a week or so before I get a chance.
Hydro

06-17-2003	#1 (permalink)
blazerwireless Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rancho Cucamonga ca Posts: 18	ALL HARDWARE TESTED Cheap Bridging Great results Welp after countless hours of finding a cheap solution for bridging wifi with off the shelf hardware i determined the best bang for your buck is the Dlink DWL-900AP+. I was trying it with Linksys WET11b but they kept craping out at 5 hours of use and droped speed limits to 50kbps. the dlink has more features and is a BIT weaker then the linksys WET 80mw card. but they worked great... in 22mbps mode i get constent 7mbps to 8mbps to the other end 4miles away though trees. it was tested all weekend with large files up and down with dumeter watching the statistics. sorry bout grammer here im trying to get this out fast. heres pics of the end points http://www.blazerwireless.com/antennas/node.html p.s Linksys has the crappiest tech support that seems to be contracted out to asia. countless times no one knew why the wets would go out after 5 hours.. even tested in the house in the next room same thing happend. Linksys support and R&D have lost my sales.... i do like the wet alot but it needs more features. Last edited by blazerwireless : 06-17-2003 at 08:01 PM.

06-17-2003	#2 (permalink)
HITMONEY Who Wants Butter??? Join Date: May 2003 Location: St. Pete Beach, FL. Posts: 529	Very cool. But hey, those arent trees. Come to Atlanta, I'll show you trees!!! Odd about the WET. I have deployed 4 WETs recently and have not experienced that problem. But I know what you mean about Linksys support... I installed one of their Wireless Prinst Servers. That thing had to be the buggiest POS ever put out, the first Linksys Tech person I talked to didn't even know how to log onto the internal browser. 3 returns later I got one that worked. And was this just an experiment, or is there a commercial function behind it? Last edited by HITMONEY : 06-17-2003 at 10:39 PM.

06-18-2003	#3 (permalink)
Xenobane Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 17	Love your article, had a nice time viewing. __________________ )/\(ARDRIVING

06-18-2003	#5 (permalink)
Need BB Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 11	What firmware are you using? __________________ I NEED SOME BB

07-01-2003	#11 (permalink)
Novilio ScrivenStumbler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 254	Another endorsement for the DWL-900AP+ I've tried a fair number of APs for bridging, and nothing worked as easily or as well for as long as the DWL-900AP+. It's a very versatile little gadget, and works as advertised. Nice Web article, by the way. I did something very similar when I was back in Scottsdale, just to experiment with bridges, and had a nice 1.3 mile full-bandwidth link to a friend's house--not that that is such a feat, but it was a lot of fun. My only fear was that a Scottsdale summer would fry the AP inside its ammo can (see the photo here ) but I moved to Colorado in April before it got up to 110 degrees and took my half of the bridge with me. Heat is definitely an issue on long-term deployment of cheap consumer gear up in the sun, especially inside a tight enclosure. Blazerwireless, I'd appreciate your posting a report if you have problems associated with heat on the DWL-900AP+. If anybody here is interested in a step-by-step idiot's guide to bridging with a pair of DWL-900AP+ devices, I devoted chapter 16 of my Wi-Fi book to the process. Rule #1: Calculate your link budget before you begin! --73-- --Novilio (Author of Jeff Duntemann's Drive-By Wi-Fi Guide)

06-18-2003	#4 (permalink)
billfinnie Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 21	this is why the D-Link 900AP+ is a great product. Heck it can even do repeater mode. I wonder if this would get you even further? Why would you consider the WET11 anyway? the 900AP+ can be bought for like $70 and the WET11 is still up at $95. am i wrong on this? i just did a quick search on pricegrabber to find those numbers.

06-20-2003	#6 (permalink)
blazerwireless Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rancho Cucamonga ca Posts: 18	i think the latest firmware i am using is 3.02. yes i have had problems with those linksys printservers. the wets i plan on deploying as CPE devices unless i can get senao to work me a great deal on the 200mw devices. Im sure everyone knows here you can swap the wet internal card and put a 200MW senao card. we have done it works great. but reasons for my liking on the dlinks. the mac filter and 256bit wep. shitiest part ont he linksys WETS where couldnt filter out other traffic bombarding them. oh well. the link is up and has been runing great for a week, all my streess is gone but though the rain i like to check thoughput and ping times Pinging 10...* with 32 bytes of data: Reply from 10...: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=126 Reply from 10...: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=126 Reply from 10...: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=126 Reply from 10...: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=126 4 miles away in Thick fog in the rain and it still kicks down a great ms and just did a transfer of 40megs @ 688kbps bouncing around like wifi does but very nice indead

06-27-2003	#8 (permalink)
blazerwireless Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rancho Cucamonga ca Posts: 18	well its a mini pci im sure if i was able to get the mini pci verson thats alittle bit less on power then its full pcmcia version 200mw it might work in the dlink.... not sure though. right now stock equipment works

06-27-2003	#9 (permalink)
billfinnie Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 21	well the dwl-900ap+ has a pcmcia card in it and i've seen the senao 200MW pcmcia cards and was just thinking it might work. i didn't know you were talking about a miniPCI senao.

06-27-2003	#10 (permalink)
blazerwireless Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rancho Cucamonga ca Posts: 18	well there are both full pcmcia and mini pci ive noticed different versions of the dwl900ap+ some had pcmcia and some with mini pci newer versions have minipci

07-01-2003	#12 (permalink)
blazerwireless Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rancho Cucamonga ca Posts: 18	Thank you very much..... heck heat is a issue we have thought about.. hell for 200 bucks for two ap's that did a 4mile link and are giving me 4-6mbps im not gonna worry it. i have 4 more sitting here in the closet =) but yes i sure make a system for cooling the units. this is a test we put for our long hual. I plan on using MikroTik AB 5.2/5.8/2.4 client adapters with a 20 or 30db directional antenna. prety sure its not legal in the states but id love to have fullduplex 55mbps to the main distro

07-12-2003	#13 (permalink)
terabyte Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4	Thanks for the very nice and helpful article. At work a couple of years ago I spanned a similar distance (7miles) but used Cisco 340's and Cisco's 21db dish, it's worked great until they built a building between the two sites. One 340 died and the other is an AP now. I'm sure my boss will let me take the dishes, I'd like to used the DWL 2000AP with these dishes, how well do you think it would work compared to the 900AP? Do you want to put the MikoTik card in the DLINK 900, have you tried it yet? Is that DC Injector an AMP? Sorry for the newbish questions. Last edited by terabyte : 07-12-2003 at 03:08 PM.

07-13-2003	#14 (permalink)
hydro27405 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: MN Posts: 96	I never tried the 900ap+, but the other day office max had 2 on clearence for $50.00, I now have 2 of them and hope to get a chance to play with them soon. Dad had heart sugery so might be a week or so before I get a chance. Hydro

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