Long distance PtP link speeds

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tangerz

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#153784 7-Oct-2014 18:17

Was considering how difficult/expensive it would be to create a long distance PtP link capable of UFB speeds (100/50) over a distance of approximately 20km.

In our rural location, DSL does 3.5/0.8 at best. RBI fixed wireless can do about 15/5 from what I've seen but data caps are rather small (30GB). Our local WISP does a 10/6 plan with more reasonable data (70GB) but thought I may be able to do better.

The thought was to get a UFB connection at a friends place in town and create a Point to Point link to our property approximately 20km away. As long as we have line of sight (which we do) are 100/50 speeds a realistic possibility over this kind of distance? (Without spending mega $$$$) Even at 20/10 I'd be happy.

sbiddle

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#1149381 7-Oct-2014 18:25

If you have $4000 and have true line of sight it's easily done.

If you can settle for speeds roughly 1/2 to 1/3 of that you can do it for ~$500

tangerz

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#1149393 7-Oct-2014 18:39

So when you say 1/2 - 1/3 you mean of 100/50? So 50/20 or 30/10 should be possible for around $500? If so that sounds promising.

If there is another (short <1km) PtP link in the chain (top of hill to house in valley) will this affect speeds at all?

michaelmurfy

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#1149430 7-Oct-2014 19:40

Here we go,

If you've got many dollars to spend: http://www.gowifi.co.nz/ubiquiti-networks/ubiquiti-networks-airfiber.html

If you don't have many dollars but still want something with reasonable performance: http://www.gowifi.co.nz/ubiquiti-networks/ubiquiti-networks-802.11ac.html

If you just want something pretty decent without forking out your first born: http://www.gowifi.co.nz/ubiquiti-networks/ubiquiti-networks-radios/ubiquiti-nanobeam-nbe-m5-400-400mw-802.11a/n-25dbi-antenna.html

Really, depends on budget but it is indeed possible. I've done a few installations myself with this sort of distance however speed is very dependant on environmental factors (you're using public spectrum so expect interference).

sbiddle

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#1149435 7-Oct-2014 19:45

30/30 should be obtainable over 20km assuming you have a clear fresnal zone and no interference. You'll probably get 50/50 UDP over this distance but a lot less TCP.

Multiple links will cause slower TCP speeds.

chevrolux

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#1149548 7-Oct-2014 22:04

As others have said, it all depends what you want to spend.

UBNT AirFiber promises the speeds you are after but you will spend $4k just buying the kit and then you have to put it up.

Otherwise the NanoBeam will work ok over this distance but you will be down to 30-40Mbps.

Mikrotik now have the NetMetal5 which is a 802.11ac radio set in different forms. I see they have a dual-chain one. You could put these radios behind UBNT RocketDish's (don't tell Mikrotik though cos they will cry lol) and spend around $1000. Actually come to think of it I think UBNT have an 802.11ac version of the Rocket which actually mounts nicely on a RocketDish.
I don't know if this will actually give you a decent speed gain but in theory it should.

Edit: That link MichealMurfy posted to GoWifi's 802.11ac page shows the RocketM5 AC. That will go nicely on the RocketDish at the bottom. That PowerBeam looks interesting though...

tangerz

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#1149901 8-Oct-2014 12:59

Thanks all for the advice. Think I'll have a go with the NanoBeams for now. If I can get 30Mbps with them I'll be well happy!

So how difficult would it be to set these up? (I'm assuming they must have a fairly narrow beam width?) I feel I'm quite technically competent having set up numerous antenna systems and several short (less than 1km) PtP WiFi links in the past. However nothing quite like this distance. Is there any specialist equipment I would need?

chevrolux

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#1150062 8-Oct-2014 15:55

If you have set them up before then there won't be much difference to doing a long one.

Alignment will probably be the most important thing. Check there isn't too much of an imbalance between chains (Displayed as Chain0/Chain1), shouldn't be more than 5dBm-ish.

Make sure that if you have the ACK timeout on auto that it does actually change itself. Sometimes best to do it your self.

Other than that just pick a clean channel (if you can find one) and should all be sweet.