Hi David<br><br>This is very similar to what Dan (KOJ) and I (KOK) have been working on over the last few months. These nodes are 900m apart, but there are various trees and other obstacles between us (no LOS).<br><br>5GHz we tested initially did not work (Mikrotik SXTs).<br>
<br>We are now up and running at 2.4GHz using a pair of Bullet M2s, one with a 24dBi parabolic and the other an 18dBi yagi, however after some experimentation (photos soon) we clearly need another few metres of height to get full transfer rates, which are currently wildly varied between 1 and 11 Mbit (real TCP throughput). Signal strength is bouncing up and down all over the place. We're now looking at replacing the Yagi with another grid, and going up a couple of metres at KOJ which we now know will give us an extra 10dB and hopefully a more stable connection.<br>
<br>After our experience, I would suggest the following:<br><ol><li>Use Google Earth, and create a direct path between the exact proposed mount point at the two sites,</li><li>Do a 'map terrain' against that path - you will see the approximate relevant heights between the two sites - and see whether it really is dead flat or not. If you elevate the path to your expected height, you can then follow the approximate path along using street view to see if there is anything else in the way (trees, 2 storey houses, etc). You might be surpsised that what looks dead flat probably really isn't, unless you are in a flood plain.<br>
</li><li>Use Google Earth to get the exact bearings between the two points, and map them relative to either (a) your roofline, or (b) other markers. We used a nearby mobile phone tower and some identified trees.<br></li>
<li>Each of you go up on the two roof and stand where you will mount your poles, and with high power binoculars see if you can see each other (at 2km it may be a stretch; we can't at 900m). At night you can use a really bright torch or spotlight (flash it on and off) to see if you can see it it.</li>
<li>There ends the planning ... from there on in you need to start the practical stuff. Get your hands on some radios. 5GHz is better for many reasons, but as Greg says it's intolerant of any interference from trees, etc. Starting with 2GHz is a safer route if you think there could be anything in the way. Higher gain antennas the better - 24dBi is the max you will get at 2.4GHz (a 0.6 x 0.9m grid) but even better if you can get away with it is a 20dBi Nanobridge 2.4 or 25dBi Nanobridge 5 - currently king of the hill in price/performance because it will give you dual chain (Horizontal/vertical polarisation) MIMO @ up to 300Mbit whereas a grid will only give you one chain @ up to 150Mbit. A couple of 20dBi Nanobridges should set you back under $250.</li>
<li>For experimentation with your signal some suggestions:</li><ol><li>Get the two radios connected on the ground in one house first. Make sure they're getting a nice strong signal and paired AP/client.</li><li>Figure out a temporary way to mount them at each end - depends entirely on your situation. Flat roof - stick a ladder up and mount it on it, or climb up it with a broom handle, or gaffa tape it with a broom. Any other type of roof - more tricky.</li>
<li>Point them at each other, using your reference points, and see if they connect - it's a bit of black magic as to whether it works, but if you did all the above planning and nothing showed up as a showstopper (e.g. a 3-storey block of flats between you) then it should work.</li>
<li>Once you have got your link, and are satisfied with the settings, and signal strength, etc., then start figuring out how to mount it. There's lots more options there - and they all depend on how high you then need to go, and what types of roofs you have.</li>
</ol></ol>Of course, two other considerations are - if you want to connect to Melbourne Wireless, where are your nearest nodes and do you have line of sight to them? And if all else fails, you can always use those nodes as intermediaries if necessary.<br>
<br>To source equipment, you can't go past our Melbourne Wireless sponsors: City Technology (~10% discount on Nanobridges) or Duxtel (limited to Mikrotik gear however ... that being said, at 2km if you do have clear line of sight then a couple of SXTs could be enough). Also if you can wait until the next Melbourne Wireless meeting/swapmeet send a note out saying what you are after - from what I gather, most of the members have ended up accumulating equipment that is now just gathering dust.<br>
<br>Good luck and keep us posted!<br><br>Denis.<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2011/10/31 David Tomic <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:david@tomic.com.au">david@tomic.com.au</a>></span><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Hi guys,</span><div style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><br>
</div><div style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">So I'm new to this game, and I'm looking to setup a link between two houses that are just shy of 2km LOS from each other.</div>
<div style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">I know I can find equipment that'll span this sort of distance without any problems at all, but my main concern now how high I'll have to mount everything in order to get a decent signal?!?</div>
<div style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">The terrain is close enough to dead flat, but given that both houses are only single story, I'm not really sure exactly where I stand on this front?</div>
<div style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Does anybody have any practical <span style="background-color:transparent">experience / advice / rules of thumb for this sort of scenario?</span></div>
<div style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color:transparent"><br></span></div><div style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<span style="background-color:transparent">Is there any particular equipment that I should be looking for [or looking to avoid] with this setup?</span></div><div style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<span style="background-color:transparent"><br></span></div><div style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color:transparent">I'd really appreciate any help / advice / suggestions you might be able to give me ...</span></div>
<div style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color:transparent"><br></span></div><div style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<span style="background-color:transparent">Thanks a lot,</span></div><div style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color:transparent">--David</span></div>
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