802.11b Question

[Sorcerer]

Anyone here set up an 802.11b network that covers much distance?

What we are looking at, is setting up about a dozen or so houses, all around town, with this.

The max distance between any two points, looks to be about 5 miles now.

Any suggestions on brand of equipment?
We need hub's & cards with external antenna's (detachabe)

We've been looking at Cisco's 13.5dBi Yagi AIR-ANT1949
This looks like it would work for our needs, but at ~$300 kinda steep for the buy in to the network.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[ScottMac]

You can get many of exactly the same antennas at Amateur Radio shops. Actually, you can probably get BETTER antennas at Amateur Radio shops...cheaper.

Check out www.aesham.com they're probably the largest Ham Radio supplier int he country.

Be aware that the operating parameters for the emission (Effective Radiated Power - ERP) would probably be exceeded (Federal Violation). Most of that stuff is operating in un-licensed spectrum, and has output restrictions.

FWIW

Good Luck

Scott

 

[Sorcerer]

Do you know where I can look up regulations like that, to make sure we don't cause any problems?

(we are quite near a small airport..)

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< Do you know where I can look up regulations like that, to make sure we don't cause any problems?

(we are quite near a small airport..) >>



Check fcc.gov (?). 802.11b shouldnt be too much of a problem. It is in the 2.4ghz range right? That is a free for all. But the airport thing might be a problem.

 

[JackMDS]

This is fun to look at:

Wireless Networking Reference - Antennas / Range Boosting