[ale] Outdoor Wifi - quick summary

Mon Jun 28 12:08:05 EDT 2021

Thanks.  Please, keep the ideas coming.   There were comments about 
power - nope, no conduit, Scout building and rear tent power all come 
from separate lines back to the transformers on the pole.

What I'm getting from the Ubiquiti forum is that UAP-AC-LR-US 802.11ac 
Long Range Access Point will likely peter out at 300 ft.

Note that the satellite view is stale - the two trees right at the back 
of the church building are gone - they were sending roots towards the 
foundation. So, it's a clear shot up to the trees beyond the driveway.  
Unclear to me how much a couple of trees at that distance can block 
WiFi.

Responses do suggest that we may have TWO distinct groups to cover or 
not: Vendors in the parking lot, and our beer/food vendors at the back 
of the tent.   The parking lot may have to get tossed over the side as 
2nd priority.   Frankly, I think most of the vendors do other festivals, 
and have worked out how to do their credit cards on their phones; they 
would just rather not spend their data.  I think cell coverage in the 
parking lot is adequate.

So, if I understand your approach, it involves two NanoStations?  Or two 
NanoStations to get from building to back field, and an access point on 
the field NanoStation to provide the Wifi to the tablets?

regards,

Neal

On 2021-06-28 10:40, Alex Carver via Ale wrote:
> Just to add fun to the festivities I have a couple of these 
> NanoStations
> that work very well as PTP bridges:
> 
> https://store.ui.com/collections/operator-airmax-and-ltu/products/nanostation-loco5ac
> 
> The radiation pattern is more directional than the UFO-style AP's like
> the UAP AC so it tends to work better for that purpose.  They're also
> able to work in a multi-drop configuration so you can have multiple
> endpoints instead of cable.  When they're in PTP mode they're not
> directly accessible with normal WiFi products, the protocol is 
> different
> so it's harder to have someone "tap" into your connection from a 
> sidelobe.
> 
> They're also inexpensive at $50 each and rated for outdoor use.
> 
> These should work at the range you're wanting but you can always go up 
> a
> bit and get something like this if range really is an issue:
> 
> https://store.ui.com/collections/operator-airmax-and-ltu/products/litebeam-5ac-long-range
> 
> Built-in dish makes a tighter beam and a lot of range (like several
> miles in unobstructed LOS).
> 
> Many options in Ubiquiti's airMAX and airFiber device groups.
> 
> 
> On 2021-06-26 09:12, Neal Rhodes via Ale wrote:
>> Thanks to all that replied.   My goal was to figure out the options, 
>> and
>> focus some other people's attention in a productive direction.   I do
>> NOT want to be the expert on this, as on the day, I'm busy doing sound
>> or playing music on stage.
>> 
>> I will quickly summarize the high points I've passed on.  Not to
>> preclude further comments from the ALE group, which I value.   But I'm
>> gonna let this simmer and see if some other folks pick up the ball.
>> 
>> 
>> WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENT? You can look at Google Maps for 1826 Killian
>> Hill road, Lilburn
>> From back window to the far tree line at back of field: 450ft (137 
>> meters)
>> From back window to the scout building: 170ft (52 meters)
>> From scout building to back of field: 304ft (92meters)
>> A straight line of Cat6e wire from back door, across the driveway on 
>> the
>> choir room side, to the trees, then along the side of the property, 
>> back
>> to the cross near the fire-pit: 500 ft ( 152 meters)
>> 
>> So from Back wall of building to where the Beer is sold is 480ft.
>> 
>> OPTIONS:
>> A) Run a 500 foot Cat6e cable from the switch in the sanctuary, out 
>> the
>> choir room fire escape, out the Choir fire escape door, across the
>> driveway in a 1/2” PVC pipe,  with pieces of 2x4 slant cut on either
>> side to make a ramp to drive over, along the tree line, to the cross
>> near the fire pit, and place an access point there.  We would already
>> have power there for audio speaker.
>> 
>> B) Implement a Mesh network, using existing Virtual Studio Raspberry 
>> PI
>> processors, from the back window, to the scout building, to a unit at
>> the tent.   While possible, this leaves one more essential component 
>> of
>> Oktoberfest that Only Neal Understands.
>> 
>> C) Place a purpose built long range Access point outside, perhaps on 
>> the
>> classroom fire-escape wall, where it will be in the shade of the 
>> steps. 
>>   This could be a permanent installation.   Some of these can be 
>> powered
>> by the CAT6 cable connection.  (POE)   Neal is not an expert.  I am
>> reading that some units claim coverage of up to 600 ft.  This would
>> include coverage of the rear parking lot.
>> 
>> 
>> Possible products: This is by no means exhaustive; consider
>> https://www.mbreviews.com/best-outdoor-wifi-range-extender/ for more
>> details/ideas.
>> 
>> A) Ubiquiti Networks UAP-AC-LR-US 802.11ac Long Range Access Point  
>> $109
>> https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1189144-REG/ubiquiti_networks_uap_ac_lr_us_802_11ac_long_range.html
>>   There are indoor, and indoor/outdoor flavors of these.  Some powered
>> by POE.
>> 
>> B) TP-LINK CPE210 N300 Outdoor Access Point $39
>> https://www.microcenter.com/product/482831/tp-link-cpe210-n300-outdoor-access-point
>> This unit appears to be designed to mount on an outside wall, and has
>> directional antenna which focus the signal in one direction only.
>> 
>> C) CPE510 5GHz 300Mbps 13dBi Outdoor $49
>> CPEhttps://www.tp-link.com/us/business-networking/outdoor-radio/cpe510/ 
>> Unclear what you get for the additional $10.
>> 
>> Now that I'm writing this, I'm wondering if the TP-Link units really
>> only work talking to each other, and not to a tablet out in the grass.
>> 
>> regards,
>> 
>> Neal
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