Wireless Bridge: How do I set one up ?

[gerasmus]

I want to set up my own wireless bridge without a WISP. I live on a farm outside ADSL access, but through agreement with my rural WISP I am/was able to bridge my own phone line/ADSL to our farm. I could broker this because I own the premises on which the high site is located. Evything worked 100% until my WISP equipment was hit by lightning on 18/10/2011. I've been waiting since then for them to turn up to fix it. I decided that I want to DIY since no one is turning up to help me. Over the long run I can also save myself WISP equipment rental fee. I have direct line of sight of the high site (7,5km).

I am looking for a guide from A-Z D.I.Y guide on to set up a wireless bridge to relay my ADSL from the high site to the farm. I will have no help and have to do it all by myself. I am aware of kits that one can buy from www.scoop.co.za etc, but does that teach one what to do ?

Current setup: My phone line is inside the high site building, with ADSL router. A LAN cable from my router passes to outside roof mounted antenna, gets relayed to receiver on my end at the farm. I then have wireless range extenders / access points (not routers) located at various points on the farmyard. All computing devices are thus in direct connection with the router and each other. I believe this is called a 'wireless bridge' ?

Where do I start ? Can any of you guys please provide me with a guide via web link ?

 

[paulcolmer]

Hi, i think the best solution in this regard would be to set up a 'point to point' connection or 'backhaul' there are many ways and equipment to do this, the way i would approach this would be with a couple of Ubiquiti NanoStations, they are available in 2.4G & 5G bands, Not hellish expensive and have weatherproof enclosures, the supplier of these devices will offer you range and aerial options. The reason ive suggested this is that the setup is not too complex, much is documented on the net with regard to the setup but you can try http://www.hotsat.com.br/ms-files/downloads/manual_nano_station.pdf and if the instuctions seem within your technical grasp, give it a go.

Paul

 

[gerasmus]

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. You've given me some direction, much appreciated

 

[paul5186]

I would order 2 x Ubiquiti nanobridges, http://ubnt.com/nanobridge that way you won't have to "learn" routeros with the mikrotik hardware. There are some guides on the ubiquti wiki on how to setup a bridge. http://www.ubnt.com/wiki/AirOS_5.3 Should be an easy install. Quick question, I take it you do not use the "actual" phone line for voice?

 

[gerasmus]

Hi Paul,
You are correct, I do not use the actual phone line for voice because it's dedicated ADSL. I'm paying Telkom a crapload for something I don't even need.

The line terminates in a VERY hot (44C-47C by day) room with no aircon !
Would it be possible to relay the phone line wirelessly as well ?

 

[paul5186]

Yes it would be possible using some sort of voip pabx, the question is weather it would be worth it in the end...

 

[paulcolmer]

Which ever way you look at it you are stuck with the voice line as it is part of the DSL, We all hoped that Telkom may entertain 'naked DSL' (DSL without voice) as part of the LLU (local loop unbundling) legislation but that is becomming pie in the sky.
The solution would be that once you have set up your Nano's you will have LAN access back to the DSL, so a 2-line VoIP account at around R50 per/month, cheap calls, per/second billing, just add an IP phone or 2. Really depends on how many calls you want to make and how much data is on the line but with correct QoS setup in the router it should not be a problem. You can look at a saving of around 40% of what you would be paying if using the Telkom line, so you can do the maths for yourself.