• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Wireless setup for acre sized resort?

W

wirednuts

Diamond Member
Im staying at my family's little retreat on a lake up north... we have 4 cabins crammed into this little acre lot, its pretty neat.

i just got internet hooked up out here, and im planning on expanding the wifi coverage to work anywhere on the property- that way we can charge our renters for the summer months that they are here and subsidize my bill a little bit.

its 30mb internet, so speed should be good for 4 or 5 netflix devices i would think...

kaaaaaa.png


what do you guys think i should do? i have an e3000 right now to start with..

i am hoping for a low power consumption setup, and as simple as possible while being effective of course. would it be feasible to get directional antennas and try to keep most of the signal inside the property?
 
I would suggest trying one of the 802.11AC routers just to see what kind of range you can get with it. I have a wireless N router that I can see and use from a few houses away from ours. Might not give you the speeds you need but it's worth a try.

If you can run a cable underground to another building that would really help to spread the signal with a unit in another building.
 
JackMDS said:
Yap, you can use your current e3000 and add couple of UniFi APs.

http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Netwo.../dp/B004XXMUCQ



😎
Click to expand...


that looks pretty nice, and the price isnt too bad.

my first thought was to use three e3000's and connect them all on the 5ghz bands for the backbone, and then use the 2.4ghz radios for the client connections.

it would leave me without a 5ghz client connection for me though... 2.4ghz is too slow for me 😀 but really, it would probably be fine as there are a whopping 3 ap's that i can see in my area... thats down from 23 at my old apartment!!
 
can anyone tell me if there is any benefit of leaving the network open and securing it with an html access page like a lot of companies do? you know how you go to mcdonalds and you get prompted in a web page to login first? they dont have a password there, but some do.

since this will be used for customers that come and go, i think at very least it would be nice to have them click a disclaimer off that would indicate they know they arent allowed to abuse the system, and any illegal activity will be their responsibility...
 
Depends how many random strangers would drive by and use your connection as well, I guess. You could always put in the captive portal on top of WPA2 security... though maybe not on the built-in UniFi firmware (you could implement it on the E3000 though).
 
i dont think im going to do unifi's. i can get e2500's for $35 each and run ddwrt on all of them. ill probably have 3 which is the cost of just one unifi.
 
wirednuts said:
i just got internet hooked up out here, and im planning on expanding the wifi coverage to work anywhere on the property- that way we can charge our renters for the summer months that they are here and subsidize my bill a little bit.
...
kaaaaaa.png
Click to expand...

If you are going to be selling access, IMO you should do a few things.
1) Make it as reliable as you can, even if you have to pay more initially.
2) Be able to control access through captive portals.

I would personally use something like the Ubiquity UniFi, as the controller software supports portals. Heck, people can even pay using PayPal and gain immediate access!

What is the construction of the buildings like? If any have metal walls, then you may have to wire them up (or do point-to-point wireless) and do an AP per building.

I would use two UniFi, in the upper and lower left corners of the main building (outside under eaves if possible) to hit the outer buildings. They come with their own proprietary PoE injector, so you don't need power outlets at the device. Do you need access in the shed? If so, the lower left UniFi can be installed in lower right instead, to help signal propagation in that direction.

You can have a centralized area for the incoming Charter cable connection, broadband wireless router, two UniFi plugged into router and a controller computer plugged into router. There is an empty port, should you need to have a desktop computer hard-wired in (or a switch). You can use the wireless router with encryption for your own connection (so you can have your 5GHz and eat it too), and use the two UniFi for guest access.

The controller computer can be something like this. IIRC the UniFi software supports Linux, which the system comes with. It is power efficient and small, and all the centralized gear can be housed somewhere out of the way.

tvanduzee said:
You might also check out Meraki. They have great AP devices; including indoor/outdoor models.

http://www.meraki.com/
Click to expand...

They use the Meraki cloud controller. IIRC after Cisco bought them out, they discontinued the "free" basic cloud controller service and you now have to pay for one of their monthly services. I could be wrong - that's just what someone told me.

I've used older Meraki equipment (MR58, OB2) and the stuff worked okay, but wasn't flawless. Have occasional times when they couldn't communicate with the cloud controller. The OB2 sometimes wouldn't mesh (when used in a 100% mesh network, where the OB2 was also part of mesh) requiring multiple power cycles. Some MR58 will stop responding completely, requiring power cycle. But for most part, they work fine.
 
wirednuts said:
i dont think im going to do unifi's. i can get e2500's for $35 each and run ddwrt on all of them. ill probably have 3 which is the cost of just one unifi.
Click to expand...

Last time I checked, DD-WRT for the E2500 did NOT support the 5Ghz radios. I switched to Tomato (Shibby Tomato 1.08) specifically because of this. (I think I like Tomato more, it's a bit easier to configure, although it might be missing a few features that DD-WRT has.)
 
im pretty sure thats old sauce... i remember the e2500's not being fully compatible too, but i think they are fully supported now. i could be wrong, but even if i am i dont have a problem using tomato.

i dont consider this really "selling" internet access. these are renters that never used it before, but since we have it here now i figured we might as well let everyone use it if they want to. getting good wifi signal is the very last thing on peoples mind when they come here, and charging them for it will just consist of upping the rent a bit... they wont even know theyre paying for it basically.

i cant spend $300+ on a network setup. its just not feasible to have an elaborate or even robust system for something that is needed only 3 months out of the year. i just need something that will work, and be easy to replace if stolen, breaks down, or needs upgrading 10 years from now. the cabins are very thin walled, easy to break in to. heck, i would put the stuff in the attics if it didnt get so hot up there, but that again is not the case.
 
i updated the pics. right now, i have my e3000 upstairs in the main cabin, at the front towards cabins a and b. this covers both cabins a and b very well, and everywhere in the main cabin too.

so what i think im going to do is run an ethernet cable to cabin c, and put an access point in there. i would like to have one in the shed too, but that can wait as cabin c's ap should reach to the property line.
 
wirednuts said:
i updated the pics. right now, i have my e3000 upstairs in the main cabin, at the front towards cabins a and b. this covers both cabins a and b very well, and everywhere in the main cabin too.

so what i think im going to do is run an ethernet cable to cabin c, and put an access point in there. i would like to have one in the shed too, but that can wait as cabin c's ap should reach to the property line.
Click to expand...

I'd seriously look at a few indoor and outdoor ubiquiti Unifi's. The signal strength on these is a lot more than you think. Trying to use router's as wireless is going to cause you more headache down the road. The ubiquiti's in my experience have literally been a set it up and leave it type solution. They just work. They also have some nice outdoor units that one could probably cover your entire area. Best thing would be to just get one of each, hook it up and take a laptop with InSSIDer and check coverage.
 
if one e3000 is comfortably covering half the property now, i just dont see why i should spend 3x the money for a higher quality of service i dont need.

i dont know. just seems like overkill but i guess ill find out when everyone starts watching netflix on a sunday night
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top