Question Help build the greatest Wi-Fi network of all times :-)

[YuliApp]

Hello everybody,

I will be building a large WiFi network on a small village about 800m² (about 9000 square ft) but should be covering houses too.

I have some experience building large networks for exhibitions, show and group networking orgies, but there usually was no budget and little less mission critical and little less scale than this.

I will have about 5 Internet connections where i can wire HotSpot directly. Others have to be improvised or extended. First measurements look good, i can reach about 50m between houses with standard router sticked out of the window, but would like to have a great system.

Anybody got experience with covering large areas on a budget? Suggestions about choosing the protocol, devices, etc etc?
I am very DiY friendly and willing to experiment.

Thanks in advance!
Yuli

 

[JackMDS]

You will need Pro WIFI hardware that usually is Not aavilable through regular consumers channles.

Look here for and example for you would have to use.

https://www.data-alliance.net/antennas/

 

[YuliApp]

my heart is pumping, this will be fun
Thanks for the suggestion. I am aware there is lots of stuff to buy, was looking mainly for personal experiences. This has to be perfect on a first try.

 

[fralexandr]

you also might be able to use the netgear orbi mesh network. They have kits that go up to ~8000 sqft, and some people have mentioned pairing up 6 or 7 satellites.
The orbi is intended as consumer equipment though, and might not hold up with the amount of connections you may be dealing with.
the orbi can support up to 250 clients, though recommends a max of 50 for better performance.
https://www.netgear.com/orbi/

What kind of budget are you looking at?
You're probably better off looking at some ubiquiti/unifi mesh networks though.

 

[YuliApp]

Thank You. I will look at it, though would prefer to have infrastructure without the WiFi bridges.
People count is not high, just the terrain and buildings makes it difficult. I need an infrastructure for groups about 10 to 20 tourists.
I would say < 10000€ incl. installation & co...

 

[mxnerd]

https://unifi-planner.ui.com/

or chat with them

 

[YuliApp]

i will try, thank you.
Actually my original idea was to get a load of good old WRTs with some external antenas, cover them in IP housing and make custom power supply.
Now i feel bad

 

[VirtualLarry]

Sounds like a job for one of the commercial Mesh Networking / WISP vendors, at least the equipment. Getting it "right" the first time? GL.

(Way outta my league.)

 

[YuliApp]

This would be too easy (not my way of doing things ) and probably financially ineffective (as in, give me 1000€ to even tell you what you want).
As this is a price sensitive community project, i prefer to create and maintain it my self then to lock me self in some vendor loophole and throw cisco with monthly service fees on the problem.

 

[JackMDS]

you also might be able to use the netgear orbi mesh network. They have kits that go up to ~8000 sqft, and some people have mentioned pairing up 6 or 7 satellites..

Rating WIFI in Sq Ft is ridicules unless it meant for one big indoor space free of obstructions.
E.g a large open space Office floor with numerous amount of working table.

Actually my original idea was to get a load of good old WRTs with some external antenna, cover them in IP housing and make custom power supply.
Now i feel bad

Using WIFI Antenna fed with coax that comes from the output of an AP or a Router is “terrible” since the loses of 2.4/5GHz signal strength are very significant when coax is used.

WIFI with external Antenna needs a special arrangement that is consists on AP with Antenna directly attached to them. The AP has to be Weather protected and fed with CAT6 POE cables.

 

[YuliApp]

In this case sqft should be ok, as it is (maybe) even better then indoors. Most of the area is outdoor with natural obstructions and those houses which need to be covered inside will have separate APs inside.

That was my experience as well sofar that loss in the cable was not worth the gain from the antenna and only made sense if router has to be inside.
My idea was to take a good router, build an weatherproof housing and stick the original (or better but directly attached) antennas out and seal them with RTV.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Ubiquiti has options: https://www.ui.com/unifi/unifi-ap-outdoor/

but for mesh: https://unifi-mesh.ui.com/

Mesh data sheet: http://dl.ui.com/datasheets/unifi/UniFi_AC_Mesh_DS.pdf

 

[YuliApp]

Ubiquiti has options: https://www.ui.com/unifi/unifi-ap-outdoor/

but for mesh: https://unifi-mesh.ui.com/

Mesh data sheet: http://dl.ui.com/datasheets/unifi/UniFi_AC_Mesh_DS.pdf

thanks, again, i know there are options, but was looking rather at first hand experience

 

[ch33zw1z]

thanks, again, i know there are options, but was looking rather at first hand experience

I use Ubiquiti on a small scale. Their hardware is easy to deploy and configure. I dont have an outdoor WAP....yet

 

[YuliApp]

How long? are you happy with them? Reliable?

 

[mxnerd]

Join Ubiquiti communty, they have a huge user base.

https://community.ubnt.com/t5/custom/page/page-id/Forums

 

[ch33zw1z]

How long? are you happy with them? Reliable?

I've had Ubiquiti router / wap for a couple years. It's only gotten better as they refine their firmware

 

[YuliApp]

Thank you guys, i will look at it.
Yulia

 

[killster1]

Rating WIFI in Sq Ft is ridicules unless it meant for one big indoor space free of obstructions.
E.g a large open space Office floor with numerous amount of working table.



Using WIFI Antenna fed with coax that comes from the output of an AP or a Router is “terrible” since the loses of 2.4/5GHz signal strength are very significant when coax is used.

WIFI with external Antenna needs a special arrangement that is consists on AP with Antenna directly attached to them. The AP has to be Weather protected and fed with CAT6 POE cables.

I think you are incorrect, they do infact make low loss cables, i purchased many rmf400 i believe they are about 1$ per foot? (and they say USA made are preferred big export).
http://www.l-com.com/content/Article.aspx?Type=N&ID=10022

i have thought slightly of the same idea. i have purchased 4 lte cat 6 cards with 4 routers wg3526. the plan was will combine 2 or create 4 different networks to span the area's needed. I would enjoy load balancing bridging routing etc. Slow learner but im persistent. im 100% sure the wg3526 is a bad idea but i will let them ride while figure out the best modems/routers/technique/network/catwhatever. Will a ubiquie work with a lte usb modem? or pcie mini or m.2. I guess google can tell me now. perhaps a passthrough to it after a lte modem router ;(