Need to connect 3 Access points wirelessly

[mesu55]

Hi all. Hope you can assist.

I read Tom's howto on this site:
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article78-page9.php
It shows my need, (in a way).

I have 3 points.
A the main point cab see B. B can see A and C. C can see B

I need AP on A, and preferr it also on B and C.
Here I currently have wrt54gs router acting as AP.

I need AP on C to WDS to B and B to WDS to A and C
WDS may not be right but all 3 points must share same network and all computers on it.

I want all to be single network and share files. There is NO Internet involved.

I thought the linksys wap54g would do this with proper antennas to cover the distances of 500m each.

Please help me figure this out. My brain has become like cheerios that set in milk too long. Been searching for days for a solution.
I currently own a wrt54GS v2.1 and a wet11 ver 2. Any other hardware I will need to purchase.

I can change brand but linksys is available, easy to get, and affordible.

Thanks for any help.

Mesu

 

[riser]

A can see B. C can see B. B and see both A C.

B is in the middle, A and C are out of range of each other?

You're attempting this completely wireless?

If A can see B, B can see C, then they're all technically connected if going ad hoc. That's the whole point, but signals weaken considerably each time you bridge your connection.

Kwebb and a few others seem to have indepth experience with wireles, I myself still don't find too much use for it except in isolated instances. At that point, I hope someone with more knowledge comes along to answer your question.

In the mean time, try to explain what distance seperates each AP from each other. Are you forming a triangle or a straight line with the APs?

 

[mesu55]

Hi,

Sorry for the confusion. It is a triangle with each point about 1500 feet apart.
Between A and C are large buildings but I have a fair LOS between A to B and C to B.

I thought directional antennas would help cover the distance for the WDS to link with C to B and B to A.

We are in the swamps out in the boonies. No way to run wire. Barely get TV signals. : )

A database runing in sync must be able to runs at all points and the AP at point A (most important point) will allow tech to connect from his campsite to assist in case of problems.

Hope this helps,

Lewis

 

[kwebb]

B sounds like it would be the parent bridge. "Fair" line of site is not likely going to cut it for a link of 500 yards. It might. "Fair" is subjective. Your fair may not be my fair but for a length of a quarter mile you'll need line of site. What sort of directionals do you have. Beamwidth degree? dB gain? How much cable from bridge to antenna? You left out pretty much all the specifics here. It's a guessing game anyway without doing a hands on site survey but it's REALLY a guessing game with what you've provided so far. Elaborate ALOT on the environment and your equipment. Also how that equipment is setup, both hardware involved and software configs. If you want WDS then the WET11 is out. If your B device is the AP/ROuter then the WET11 could act as a client at A or C and then you could use an AP that has "client" functionality at the other remote site. Typically you would use dedicated bridges in this scenario. Parent bridge at site B with child bridges at A and C.

 

[mesu55]

Hi,

I will start tover from the top. Hopefully I will be more clear this time.
THANKS,

I have a triangle of 3 points approx 1500 feet apart.

Point A is top of triangle and the main base. C is base left B is base right.

Point B can see both A (near los) and c (near los) due to a tree with light branches.
Point A cannot see C due to buildings and trees.

I need an access point on A with omni dir. 15db antenna that can reach B.
B can have AP with Omni or directional antenna that can reach A and C
C can have AP with Omni or directional antenna that can reach B.

http://www.wirelessnetworkproducts.com Has several antenna systems they
guarantee will handle the distance and the (near los) problem. However,
as long as each site can be an AP as well as a bridge, I can make sure each site
is clear LOS to the next. A to B and B to both A and C.

My MAIN question is the hardware units "AP's or Bridges, or routers" themselves.
Will the wap54g work as an AP AND a bridge to connect via WDS IF i have
adiquett antenna to reach the distances?


If possible I want to maintain AP connections at these points to allow
connection from the areas, if not then I must connect directly to notebook computers inside. Antennas can be elevated about 20 feet at
points A and B while C will be elevated approx. 30 feet.

Notebook computers at points A and B will use their common PCMCIA cards to
connect to the AP's in their immediate areas.

I would preferr to test without an amplifier at first but be able to
add one in the future.

I prefer linksys equipment since they are quickly available in an emergency
and in my opinion are some of the easiest to install.

This will NOT be an internet share but will be a private network only.
The idea of AP's allow me to troubleshoot problems without having to go
to the points as the access road is over a mile to each point even though
direct line is about 1500 feet.

Our operating systems are windows XP home and professional.

MY THOUGHTS

Point A (main building)
Linksys AP WAP54G ver 2 through an Omni 15 Antenna. Cable Distance from AP
to antenna approx 10 feet. AP hardwired to server. This should allow
directionals in the future pointed to it from other areas if needed.


Point B
WAP54G ver 2 through an Omni 15 OR 120 deg directional Antenna.
Since this must connect with both point A and C.
WDS can connect to AP on point A but I still need to connect to point C?.
This may need to be a repeater.

Point C
WAP54G ver 2 through an Omni 15 Antenna. OR can use a Beam.
directional toward B using WPS. I believe these are capable of
acting as a wireless bridge to connect two units wirelessly and
performing as AP's at the same time.

My data speed need is only about 2 mbps. There is NO internet involved.

If you have better ideas I am open. I need it to work, be affordible,
and easily repaired if it dies. IE: linksys is available local within
30 minutes and we could afford to own a spare.


####
Suggestions from http://www.wirelessnetworkproducts.com/index.asp

A 15 dB Omni Antenna connect to MAC of B
Wired AP or router to this ext ant.

C HD21885 Non-Line-Of-Sight 17dBi MP Beam, 18" (2.4GHz) Antenna.
Bridge (WDS)mac addy of B


B HD21880 Non-Line-Of-Sight 13dBi MP 90 - 120 Degree Single Stack Sector (2.4/5 GHz) Antenna
(WDS) point to multipoint A and C

Please remember my main question is:

The hardware units "AP's or Bridges, or routers" themselves.
Will the wap54g work as an AP AND a bridge to connect via WDS "IF" i have
enough antenna to reach the distances? If not then what type of units should I use.


Thanks for any help you may choose to share.

Mesu

 

[kwebb]

Omni at B. You could also use a directional if it has a wide enough beamwidth. Directional's (yagi's) at A and C. So there will be no, well there should be no or very little coverage inside any cabins. A directional antenna does what the name implies. Directs the radiation pattern. You could use the omni at B to broadcast to nearby clients. My recommendation would be to scrap that idea completely. This is shared bandwidth. You don't want the bridge/repeater fighting for bandwith with clients associated to the AP side of WDS. Point to Multipoint bridging, which the WAP54G will do. No WDS. Straight bridging. Parent at B and children bridges at A and C. Then if you want coverage to the cell's within range of that tower put another antenna at that mast and an AP plugged into the switch you have the bridge connected to. Different frequency of course but that's the only way I'd do it and recommend doing it. It's the only reliable/dependable way to do it with consumer gear.

 

[mesu55]

Hi,

Thanks for the help. I have the suggested antennas and will start my tests shortly. I will attemp to post a follow up in this forum with the results when done.

Thanks again for all the info.

Mesu