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I would be interested in installing a wireless network at the business I work for, maximum range would be around a mile. Anybody has experience/suggestions? Security is to be considered but not of utmost importance since it's no top secret information.
What are you going to use to get that range? I take it this is not going to be a standard 802.11 WLAN?
We are using RF to connect buildings when we can't run fiber. It is working very well. If that is what you are planning I can send you some info on vendors.
I am open to any suggestions, URL's would be appreciated so I can decide what suits me best.
I might have some eqipment you might need, I had an 11mbit connection going 30 miles with this stuff, PM me and I'll tell all you need to know, ok for private non-volitile info, but if it goes by radio then it can be intercepted, if you are a security expert then you might make it secure, but at a cost of slower connections due to the load caused by security measures.
I guess just to make it clear... you are looking for stuff that will connect 2 wired LAN's ( maybe from one building to another ) If this is what you are looking for I have a lot of info, we are using several differnet vendors equipment. The only problem is it is at work and I just started a 3 day weekend. If this is what you want and it can wait until Monday let me know and I would be happy to send you some detailed info on what we are doing.
I am not going to connect 2 networks, what I need is being able to access the "base" network from portables and a few standalone machines. The portables need to be able to access the network from a mile at max from outdoor without a line of sight to the "base"
I forgot to add I would need a connection at least 1mb/sec.
802.11b has to be line of site, I have a 12db gain omni directional antenna with a legal limit amplifier/preamplifier, if you can get this high enough and don't have too much foliage obstructing the portables it will work fine.
<edit> The antenna, amplifier, coax, and hardware cost over $1400.00 US around March 2001, the radio (Cisco Aireonet ) was another $1300.00, it is all just collecting dust right now :( </edit>
I dont have much advanced knowledge in wireless technology itself, but I do know how to secure it. So I have a few questions...
Are you wanting to connect your Wireles access point to your companies internal network?
Will the Wireless Devices (portables) always be the same machines, or will they be contantly changing?
eaellison: I need something that can work without line of sight since I have multiple buildings and trees that can block the signal within a 100' radius of the base.
Soggy: Yes Soggy, I want to connect to the companies internal network. The wireless devices will always be the same machines indeed.
I think you might want to try out several smaller AP with p<->p connections or maybe point to multpoints .... depands on what you exaclty need.
This are good points for the security stand point, but that comes after choosing the topology ... i have some good experience doing that for pp and mp'sQuote:
Originally posted here by SoggyBottom
Are you wanting to connect your Wireles access point to your companies internal network?
Will the Wireless Devices (portables) always be the same machines, or will they be contantly changing?
Ok Scorp666, let me put it another way, in order to transfer reliable data over the airwaves it has to be free from interference. The 802.11b standard is transmitted and recieved over a 2.4ghz radio spectrum (about the same as your microwave oven), in the USA, FCC will allow us to use 11 specific channels for this purpose without having to obtain a license to use it, this makes 802.11b cost effective, the equipment is reletivly inexpensive today (mine cost me a fortune) and if done properly can obtain superior results. I hold an advanced/extra class FCC license, I tell you this so you won't think I am filling you full of BS ;) the 2.4 ghz radio spectum (microwave) will not pass through most organic substances, they cause signal deflection actually effectivly scrambling your data. In order to reliably transfer data without a line of sight connection it would have to be at a lower frequency, like UHF/FM. With these lower frequencies you will run into other problems, interference from other radio transmitters, power lines, etc. To work around that the only reliable equipment is commercial, This equipment will run on a frequency that will have to be issued to you (at a phenominal cost) by the FCC, this will require the FCC to survey the topology of your area, in an effort to find a channel that will be reliable. This might take months for them to complete...are you starting to get my drift here? Unless you have a boatload of money to pour into an insecure network, then you will want 802.11b for cost effectiveness, which means you will have to build a tower to mount your base antenna to. I had two 180 foot free standing towers 30 miles apart (at $40,000.00 each!!) reliably connected, only with this method I had then erected 2, 180 foot lightning rods connected to my wired lan at each end of my network. You can imagine what the outcome of that was... :zap:
We now have fiber... :rolleyes:
Scorp666,
As the machines will always be the same, for added security you could lock the AP down to anly accept connections from specific MAC addresses. But keep in mind, MAC addresses can be spoofed.
I would also place the AP on its own VLAN, and have access lists on the router. Also, if they need access to only a small selection of server, they could also be placed on this VLAN, and change your ACLs accordingly, this is a lot more secure. Or an even better soltuion, is having this area its own DMZ (if possible, depends on how many spare FW interfaces you have).
In my opinion, implementing WEP only slightly better than having it in clear text, as WEP can be broken in pretty much real time. So I would recommend using Kerberos or similar, but I suppose that WEP is better than nothing.