Re: Wireless for RV campground

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:13:02 -0800 (PST), JohnB <jbrigan@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

I need to install wireless internet access for an RV campground. The
area that needs to be covered is approximately 750'x350'.
This is an aerial view of the campground.
http://www.brigan.com/images/map.jpg
Not many trees, but like I said, lots of RVs.

In numbers, about 100 spaces, if I counted correctly.

I work in the IT field but have no experience putting in wireless
outdoors.
Coverage is part of the issue.... how many WAPs or outdoor antennas to
use, etc.

One AP in the middle on a pole would probably provide coverage to all
100 spaces.
Or, from looking at your arial view, a hi-gain panel antenna, mounted
as high as possible, at the front of the Club House would provide a
_lot_ of coverage. That would be a very good starting point.

But as you can see from the photo, there is a paved road all through
the area that I need to cover. I don't want to have to get into a
situation that we have to run conduit/cabling under that road.

Internet access will originate from the clubhouse shown in the
pictures. I could run an underground cable down one side of the
campground, for a WAP or antenna. And then see what kind of coverage
I get in the other side of the campground.

If you start with an AP mounted at the Club House you can see how the
coverage goes. Your internet connection is at the Club House & it
would be quite easy to maintain with everything in one location.

Any additional pole mounted APs that might be needed (maybe 1 or 2)
could be installed at the bottom of the Areal View, close to the road,
so you never have to cross the road.

I would consider using a panel antenna(s) on any AP(s) installed in
this manner, instead of an omni. A panel antenna will provide much
greater coverage in one direction, which is what is needed when you
are not at a central location.

But my question is; what do I have for options, in getting the signal
to the other side of the campground? Without tunneling under the
paved road.

If you find that you really need APs located at the far side of the
campground, just go under the road where needed.

I've heard of devices, for inside a house, that uses the electrical
wiring to extend a wired connection. Can that be used outdoors?
There's power all through the campground.

Possible - using powerline networking - see these threads:

<http://groups.google.com/group/alt.internet.wireless/browse_thread/thread/ff16f1b0fb34e724?q=getting+wifi+to+the+dead+zones+of+a+big+house#1b8aea90239a6573>
getting wifi to the dead zones of a big house

<http://groups.google.com/group/alt.internet.wireless/browse_thread/thread/2d50b27d38bae6d1?q=powerline+networking++navas#437de917081b0f64>
How to boost our Linksys WRT150N's signal -- across the house?

One trouble with powerline networking is noise that gets onto the
powerline may degrade or completely stop some devices from
functioning. Since you have no control over what someone plugs into
the power, it seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Is something like a WiFi extender a possibility for outdoor use?

The only thing I might suggest using consumer products would be a
remote mounted client (receiver) directly connected to another AP -
two radios at the remote location, but on different channels. The
client radio has a directional antenna to the antenna at the Club
House & the AP would have a panel antenna pointed to the "RVs".

Really, if multiple APs are needed, cabling them directly to the Club
House would be the easiest to maintain & should be the most reliable
connection you could get.

Any help or input is appreciated.
Thanks

What quality of service does the client want to provide? This seems to
be the real starting question as there are so many variables involved.

Professional consulting services may be able to ask the "right"
questions & then provide a detailed list of options to choose from.

my 2c worth

kc
.

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