[ale] Outdoor Wifi - quick summary

[Bob Toxen]

The EnGenius EnStation-5 (can be ordered from MicroCenter.com) high
powered WiFi access point may solve your problem.  It solved mine.
It's powered by Power over Ethernet so you only have to run one cable
to it.

You'll need to set up at least one account to get a named ID.  This
is different than the administrative name.  (The manual doesn't say this
and it took me a while to figure it out.)

I had a similar need but a shorter distance of perhaps 120 feet.  It has
good power at that distance and claims to reach much farther but I have
not yet tested it.  My request to ALE for help about 3 months ago got
many suggestions (thanks guys) that you should check out.

Feel free to contact me with questions if you use this solution.

Bob Toxen
bob at verysecurelinux.com               [Please use for email to me]
http://www.verysecurelinux.com        [Network&Linux security consulting]
http://www.realworldlinuxsecurity.com [My book:"Real World Linux Security 2/e"]
Retired from Quality Linux & UNIX security and SysAdmin & software
   consulting since 1990.
Retired from Quality spam and virus filters.

"One disk to rule them all, One disk to find them. One disk to bring
them all and in the darkness grind them. In the Land of Redmond where
the shadows lie...and the Eye is everwatching"
-- The Silicon Valley Tarot Henrique Holschuh with ... BobT's enhancement

On Sat, Jun 26, 2021 at 11:12:56AM -0500, Neal Rhodes via Ale wrote:
> Thanks to all that replied.   My goal was to figure out the options,
> and focus some other people's attention in a productive direction.
> I do NOT want to be the expert on this, as on the day, I'm busy
> doing sound or playing music on stage.
> 
> I will quickly summarize the high points I've passed on.  Not to
> preclude further comments from the ALE group, which I value.   But
> I'm gonna let this simmer and see if some other folks pick up the
> ball.
> 
> 
> WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENT? You can look at Google Maps for 1826
> Killian Hill road, Lilburn
> From back window to the far tree line at back of field: 450ft (137
> meters)
> From back window to the scout building: 170ft (52 meters)
> From scout building to back of field: 304ft (92meters)
> A straight line of Cat6e wire from back door, across the driveway on
> the choir room side, to the trees, then along the side of the
> property, back to the cross near the fire-pit: 500 ft ( 152 meters)
> 
> So from Back wall of building to where the Beer is sold is 480ft.
> 
> OPTIONS:
> A) Run a 500 foot Cat6e cable from the switch in the sanctuary, out
> the choir room fire escape, out the Choir fire escape door, across
> the driveway in a 1/2??? PVC pipe,  with pieces of 2x4 slant cut on
> either side to make a ramp to drive over, along the tree line, to
> the cross near the fire pit, and place an access point there.  We
> would already have power there for audio speaker.
> 
> B) Implement a Mesh network, using existing Virtual Studio Raspberry
> PI processors, from the back window, to the scout building, to a
> unit at the tent.   While possible, this leaves one more essential
> component of Oktoberfest that Only Neal Understands.
> 
> C) Place a purpose built long range Access point outside, perhaps on
> the classroom fire-escape wall, where it will be in the shade of the
> steps.    This could be a permanent installation.   Some of these
> can be powered by the CAT6 cable connection.  (POE)   Neal is not an
> expert.  I am reading that some units claim coverage of up to 600
> ft.  This would include coverage of the rear parking lot.
> 
> 
> Possible products: This is by no means exhaustive; consider
> https://www.mbreviews.com/best-outdoor-wifi-range-extender/ for more
> details/ideas.
> 
> A) Ubiquiti Networks UAP-AC-LR-US 802.11ac Long Range Access Point
> $109 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1189144-REG/ubiquiti_networks_uap_ac_lr_us_802_11ac_long_range.html
> There are indoor, and indoor/outdoor flavors of these.  Some powered
> by POE.
> 
> B) TP-LINK CPE210 N300 Outdoor Access Point $39 https://www.microcenter.com/product/482831/tp-link-cpe210-n300-outdoor-access-point
> This unit appears to be designed to mount on an outside wall, and
> has directional antenna which focus the signal in one direction
> only.
> 
> C) CPE510 5GHz 300Mbps 13dBi Outdoor $49 CPEhttps://www.tp-link.com/us/business-networking/outdoor-radio/cpe510/
> Unclear what you get for the additional $10.
> 
> Now that I'm writing this, I'm wondering if the TP-Link units really
> only work talking to each other, and not to a tablet out in the
> grass.
> 
> regards,
> 
> Neal
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