[Ham-80211] Providing Long-range Wifi

[Brian Webster]

If I were you I would plan on using equipment that you can install non-US
firmware to allow operations on channels that are not in use by the public.
While Hams have priority on the lower channels, it will be impossible to
clear those channels from consumer devices and commercial WISP operators in
an emergency situation. One of my recommendations would be to look at 3.65
GHz gear that you can put international firmware in to allow them in to the
ham allocations of the 3.5 GHz band. This would assure you the ability to be
in relatively clean spectrum at any given point and time. Using the typical
unlicensed spectrum you will likely run in to a WISP operator who have many
customers with high gain antennas installed. There is no way they can
remotely shut all of those off and even if they could the backlash from the
customer base for the "government" shutting off their internet will be more
of a PR nightmare than you may want to deal with.

Thank You,
Brian N2KGC


-----Original Message-----
From: ham-80211-bounces at tapr.org [mailto:ham-80211-bounces at tapr.org] On
Behalf Of Robert Dixon
Sent: Monday, August 27, 2012 11:23 AM
To: ham-80211 at tapr.org
Subject: [Ham-80211] Providing Long-range Wifi

I am working with our local EMA to be able to provide wifi internet access
at disaster scenes and special events in our county.  I have read articles
where people have achieved long distances over line of sight paths. But in
our case, line of sight may not always be possible, due to rolling terrain,
trees, buildings etc.  I have a 29 db gain dish on my tower at 90 feet. The
idea is to aim it at the required location, and use a portable gain antenna
at the other end (maybe 24 db at 40 feet) for a point-to-point link, and
then relaunch wifi locally for on-the scene laptops etc.  We plan to
experiment with this as soon as we have the necessary equipment on hand.

The thought is to use wifi channel 1 or 2, as that is where hams are
priority users in the frequency allocations.  We would like to use as much
power as possible, but the cost of commercial units may limit that to a watt
or so.  25 miles would be adequate.

Also wondering how hams typically send their callsign ID for wifi
applications.

Suggestions and comments would be most welcome.

Bob W8ERD
Delaware County, Ohio
_______________________________________________
ham-80211 mailing list
ham-80211 at tapr.org
https://www.tapr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ham-80211