Wireless Network hotspot at Butte La Rose
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:50 pm
I run an IT shop in Baton Rouge. We are looking to install some free WiFi around places where folks escaping hurricanes and other weird stuff that happens down SE of here) may congregate. We like a cool new Welcome Center at Butte la Rose as one site. We want to hit the parking area in front of the Center and off to one side. We also want to hit DOTD's parking lot, which is on the other side of the elevated interstate from the Welcome Center. Lots of truckers use the site to rest up nights and we thought to shoot them a nice little broadband signal so they can chat with the kiddie’s back home. Thing is, Bell wants a fortune to do a site survey and we barely have the funds to pay the dsl and install the hardware.
Do any of you know the area? I'd be interested in your ideas concerning antennae placement. I want to hit the outside of the center and there's a low radio tower (20-30 feet high) tower that might do the trick. I will probably put in some sort of Omni like the one Cisco makes. They claim it has a 100-yard radius. Any of you ever played with one? How far will it throw a signal? Ok, so that's the center. Don't even care to get a signal inside because the boss is fraid it might become an Internet cafe - right, but they do serve coffee, hummmmm?
The hard part's reaching the truckers across the way. I figure they are maybe ca. 500 yards away and there's all this elevated concrete Interstate in the way. Might could shoot under it, but that's pretty low down. I can go up the adjacent way huge DOTD tower and shoot both areas from it, but then my costs and the number of gadgets I need start going up. I am interested to see if anybody can dummy out an alternative that will actually work.
I should have some pdf's of the area showing distance soon. I will be delighted if any of you know the site and might take an interest in turning it into a free hot spot for travelers. I'm in a hurry, so let me know your thoughts if you are familiar with the area. I contacted you because I know you are familiar with the tech.
More Anon I hope
DBP
Do any of you know the area? I'd be interested in your ideas concerning antennae placement. I want to hit the outside of the center and there's a low radio tower (20-30 feet high) tower that might do the trick. I will probably put in some sort of Omni like the one Cisco makes. They claim it has a 100-yard radius. Any of you ever played with one? How far will it throw a signal? Ok, so that's the center. Don't even care to get a signal inside because the boss is fraid it might become an Internet cafe - right, but they do serve coffee, hummmmm?
The hard part's reaching the truckers across the way. I figure they are maybe ca. 500 yards away and there's all this elevated concrete Interstate in the way. Might could shoot under it, but that's pretty low down. I can go up the adjacent way huge DOTD tower and shoot both areas from it, but then my costs and the number of gadgets I need start going up. I am interested to see if anybody can dummy out an alternative that will actually work.
I should have some pdf's of the area showing distance soon. I will be delighted if any of you know the site and might take an interest in turning it into a free hot spot for travelers. I'm in a hurry, so let me know your thoughts if you are familiar with the area. I contacted you because I know you are familiar with the tech.
More Anon I hope
DBP