mahjohn
join:2009-11-04
Gaithersburg, MD
| Neighborhood WiFi
I've looked on the forums and I see information about sharing WiFi with a neighbor, and I see information about line of sight with a mile range. I live in a 350 home community, 133 lots left to build on, I'm hoping that we can provide WiFi to the community. If someone can comment on options below, it would help decide on where to concentrate my research efforts. Is hotspots the way to go, as wifi is 2-way and while I can send a signal far, the device cannot send back the signal, whereas hotspots are localized?...If so, does the bandwidth get reduced by 1/2 each router "hotspot" it goes through?
Options:
1. Cable business line with the information shown in the post below.
»Neighborhood Wifi Network?
With this antenna ;
»www.l-com.com/item.aspx?id=22076
Connected to this radio ;
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···33124190
Using this firmware ;
»www.polarcloud.com/tomato
With the power adjusted to 3 mW, and connected to this amplifrier;
»www.provantage.com/hawking-techn···W02E.htm
You can provide line of sight high speed service at a range of 1 mile to a client that is inside 1 wall unless that wall is sheet metal.
If you need more than 120 degrees of coverage then multiply the above hardware list by 2 or 3 for 240 degrees or 360 degrees.
2. Create WiFi hotspots using wireless routers and signal boosters throughout the community
3. Signal boosters mounted on street lights (if at all possible). |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
|  Just curious but why not simply have each resident take care of their own connection to the internet via cable, DSL or whatever? Why get into the ISP business when all of that exists already?
--
"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Desktop Experience |
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mahjohn
join:2009-11-04
Gaithersburg, MD | I'm sure most residents already have Internet access, I was looking for a way to pool resources and save people some money, as the HOA would cover the cost of service and equipment. |
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stevech0
join:2006-09-17
San Diego, CA
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·VoicePulse
2 edits | I know of 4 neighborhood and one community (10K homes) WISP projects. I implemented one of these for a group of wealthy homeowners in the boondocks.
In each case, none had DSL or cable modem service, none wanted satellite internet. Some had cable TV, no modem service.
In the non-profits, self-run, they all failed because no one wanted to "run" it, answer trouble calls that are almost always PC problems, not network. The one I did used cat5 among most neighbors (existing conduits) and long haul wireless to reach a shared cable modem. The 10K home one was a classic WISP startup.
In all cases, these ran a year or so. Some caused the telco to finally install DSL DSLAMs (the 10K home WISP), and for my smaller project. The telco responded to political pressure at the county, instigated by the residents, and in turn heaped upon the telco's "eavesment" issued by the county.
But 2-3 neighbors sharing is likely doable, with the right "operator" volunteer. Beware the terms of service in the ISP you choose. |
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