Wi-Fi transmission

[911pcars]

I came across this in an apt. hunt for my daughter in SF. The Nanobridge is apparently on the receiving end of a point-to-multi-point Wi-Fi system. Person says they point this at the nearby bank rooftop to receive wi-fi. Specs say 3.5 mil range, but with an accessory dish, more range. Anyone familiar with this?





Sherwood

[MysticLlama]

Yep, Ubiquiti gear, www.ubnt.com. Good stuff.

I have various units in all of my remote sites for work, as well as at home.

Several Omni Picostations, a UniFi setup, and a Nanostation M5, which is just like that but with a built in antenna.

[911pcars]

Given the equipment, can this provide adequate internet signal strength for a small neighborhood/business park?

S

[MysticLlama]

Yeah, depends heavily on line of sight of course, and what might be in the way. But people with direct LoS and good tuning get 5-10 miles out of Nanostations, more out of Nanobridges with external antennas.

The issue you'd have if providing 360 coverage is that the Omnis don't have the greatest range, so something along the lines of 3 Rockets with 120 degree sector antennas on each one.

[MysticLlama]

Also, I'm referring to building to building links, not just a big 3 mile circle where you can run around with a laptop, that's a different kind of problem.

The output power and antennas on laptops/phones/etc. is the biggest limiting factor there.

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by MysticLlama

Also, I'm referring to building to building links, not just a big 3 mile circle where you can run around with a laptop, that's a different kind of problem.

The output power and antennas on laptops/phones/etc. is the biggest limiting factor there.

IOW, you're saying this is more of a building-to-building solution rather than serving as a transmission solution to provide Wi-Fi connectivity in an open space?

Thanks for the info
S

[MysticLlama]

That product, yeah. It could provide open air connectivity as well, but your other endpoints are your problem.

In the case of Wifi in a big open space, you'd need a bunch of radios, since the laptops, etc. can only throw their signal for requests, etc. so far.

It is a great product line for that also, just isn't going to be a single device. Deployments are about 1/10th of the cost of something like Cisco gear though, and far more reliable and higher performance than off the shelf type stuff.

[MotoSook]

Sherwood, I just installed two of those M5 antennas between my house and barn and they work wonderfully. Configuration was a pain since the instructions were out of date but I figured it out. I don't see how you could only use one to pull in a signal unless what you are pulling from is the same broadcast type. I just got two and have a router on each end. I only had to go 500 feet but for 170 bucks I didn't have to run cable. Id recommend the product. See my thread.

[911pcars]

Thanks for the follow up. Just wanted to see the capacity of this system.

Sherwood

[MotoSook]

I have no signal degradation but I'm close and have clear line of sight. For the money ($79) it's an excellent solution. It works so well I find myself looking for other uses!

[stealthn]

I just use a pringles can and steal my neighbours signal

[red-beard]

You improve a radio signal by adding more in one area, and removing it from another. Difference kinds of antennas do different thing. A 5/8 wave antenna on a car tends to flatten the signal, by removing signal strength fron the top and pushing it to the horizon. A true "omindirectional" antenna would be equally poor in all directions.

These use extremely directional antennas, wave guides and dishes, to concentrate the signal from and to a specific direction.