Budget Wireless Distribution
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Working for a non-profit organization requires a special type of ingenuity at times. In this case it was due to the requirement of setting up easy to use systems that are sustainable, yet affordable. Below are some pictures that show a wireless distribution system that I helped setup that serves the needs of 10 families, 4 guest apartments, and 2 work shops.
The Internet access is being provided via a business DSL modem in the lower level of the building with a red star on it. From there, a multi-purpose wireless router (RT-N16) is configured with DD-WRT and acts as the LAN’s gateway and firewall. Other common services it provides to the LAN include ones like local DNS, static DHCP, DynDNS client, SSH client/server, and OpenVPN client/server. It also has real time traffic monitoring, traffic graphs over time, QOS capabilities, and other exciting features. Nobody actually uses the wireless from the RT-N16 though, as it is being used only as a powerful, yet inexpensive wired appliance.
From there the only wired client connected is the main AP, a Bullet M2 HP. This little piece of equipment is quite exciting. A tough 600 mW self contained outdoor router built on Linux. It has already survived through the year long seasonal variations and is rated to operate at temperatures between -40C to 80C. Along with a 9dBi outdoor omnidirectional antenna mounted to it, they provide over 600,000 square ft. of network coverage through trees, hills and buildings with users reliably connecting in their homes over 250 feet away (though with the right antenna and conditions, the Bullet M2 HP is rated to perform at distances of over 50km away).
The 35.5m and 75.7m links act as wireless repeater bridges, while the 134.7m link doesn’t repeat any network traffic wirelessly. It acts as a wireless client bridge. The 35.5m and 75.7m links use Bufallo WHR-HP-G300N routers (with DD-WRT already installed at the time of purchase) and only required a few configuration changes to make them clients of the main SSID and re-broadcasters of another unique SSID (providing wireless to other clients). The 134.7m link on the other hand has a second Bullet M2 HP as a client bridge. This brings the wireless to the most remote location in the setup, where clients then receive signal from a WRT-54GL being utilized as an AP.
Can you spot the D-Link AP in the mix? Towards the end of the 75.7m link, people were unable to reliable reach the Bufallo WHR-HP-G300N signal (building materials) so one last inexpensive piece of equipment was thrown at the problem. Networks of this type are agile in nature. 🙂
The setup was completed in the beginning of Q1 2011. Parts used were a variety of new and existing equipment with recent prices listed next to the items below:
- (1) ASUS RT-N16 wireless router: $87.99 @ Amazon
- (2) Bullet M2 HP wireless routers: $79.95 @ Microcom
- (2) Bufallo WHR-HP-G300N wireless routers: $49.99 each @ NewEgg
- (1) D-Link DI-524 wireless router: $57.99 @ Amazon
- (1) Linksys WRT54GL wireless router: $56.99 @ NewEgg
- (2) 2.4 GHz 9 dBi rubber duck antennas (RP-SMA): $18.99 @ L-Com
- (1) 2.4 GHz 9 dBi rubber duck antenna (RP-TNC): $18.99 @ L-Com
- (1) HG2409UDT-PRO 2.4 GHz 9 dBi omnidirectional antenna: $71.99 @ L-Com
- (1) SPFPG14 2.4GHz 14.2dBi HB directional antenna: $35.00 @ SuperPass Antenna Shop
- (5) shielded 8P8C (RJ45) plugs at around .90 cents each for approximately: $5.00 @ Anixter
- 200 ft of CAT5E STP at around .25 cents a foot for approximately: $50.00 @ Anixter
- 500 ft of CAT5E indoor cabling with connectors, crimp tool and tester: $84.99 @ TigerDirect
- 100 ft of heavy gauge wire at almost $1.00 a foot at a local shop for close to: $100
Total after shipping, taxes and a variety of screws and fasteners: around $900 – $1000 USD.
