Outdoor Wireless Bridge reccomendations?

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K8Toledo

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#250762 24-May-2019 14:03

I intend to set up an outdoor bridge from a client's house to the office approx 80m away. In between is a line of smallish trees roughly the same height as the two buildings. Client is on 4G.

Could I have recommendations for Outdoor AP & bridge which are good performers but won't break the bank? I'd prefer a web interface setup over an Ubuqiti-like software installation if possible.

Thanks.

chevrolux

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#2244606 24-May-2019 14:19

Ubiquiti NanoStation Loco AC.

Not sure what you mean by "ubiquiti-like" software? All the AirMAX gear have local web gui's on them so can just be configure from the browser.

cyril7

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#2244613 24-May-2019 14:33

Yep, Nanostation Loco AC is the go, I think you are referring to the UniFi range, which is via a controller. The AirMax range is via local web interface.

Cyril

coffeebaron

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#2244618 24-May-2019 14:42

If you could break a hole through the trees, then some 60GHz Mikrotik kit would be great.

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cyril7

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#2244620 24-May-2019 14:45

Also can vouch for the 60ad Mikrotik gear, installed a number around two work sites, they have worked very very well, and full GigE

Cyril

K8Toledo

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#2244671 24-May-2019 15:58

Cheers for the suggestions, & yep was referring to Ubiquiti UniFi.

I'd been looking at Nanostation so good to have some first hand feedback. If tree trimming is not an option - will 5Ghz NanoStation still be a wise choice or would it be safer to go 2.4Ghz?

Client lives in rural location with no other WiFi networks nearby.

chevrolux

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#2244818 24-May-2019 16:45

I would suggest at only 80m apart, 5GHz will probably be fine. The performance drop to 2.4GHz radios would be significant over 5GHz AC radios.

mentalinc

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#2244917 24-May-2019 18:27

Assume there is public land or someone else who owns the land between?

If not why not run fibre or cat5/6?

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K8Toledo

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#2244935 24-May-2019 19:00

I should point out the purpose of the bridge is to extend 4G WAN from house to workstations in office. The office workstations are on their own hardwired LAN therefore GigE capability between the buildings isn't a necessity.

The goal is to get internet access to both buildings via one 4G router, instead of the two (one fore each building!!) currently in use. :D

mentalinc:

Assume there is public land or someone else who owns the land between?

If not why not run fibre or cat5/6?

Actually my first reply here was cable isn't a viable option due to the cost of trenching (plus it's under gravel).... But then I looked up digger hire & tbh it's much cheaper than I expected. ~$85 p/hr or so plus GST.

How long would a digger take to scoop out 80m...an hour? Two to fill it back in? Any ideas?

Yes the buildings are on adjoining properties, but the land is owned by my client. I suppose we could simply disconnect the copper if the properties were sold in future...

Hmmm

johny99

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#2245058 24-May-2019 22:15

Would say a couple of hours to dig, is it a rural property? A naighbour could have a chain driven trencher, trench then lay the cable then backfill. Your local hirepool may have one, backfilling by hand is a pita, but easier then digging it up by hand.

fe31nz

1232 posts

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#2245091 25-May-2019 00:16

Or maybe just get a quote from a company that has a mole - that is usually much cheaper than a trench.

deadlyllama

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#2245168 25-May-2019 09:03

Buy my old Mikrotik SXT Lite5 pair?

Used them for an 80m link in Whanganui. Carefully mounted everything outdoors, then when testing something discovered that if I took one inside and pointed it in the wrong direction they still did fine.

That suggests that you'll be ok with better gear too, though..

K8Toledo

1014 posts

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#2246298 27-May-2019 09:26

Thanks guys for all advice & suggestions etc etc. All helpful. So........here's where I'm at:

After reading a few GZ replies I looked up clients website & low & behold - he owns a digger - eight actually :D (reasonably large co w/ 35 staff).. Unfortunately the smallest one they have is 14 Tonne lol.

Not to worry...the owner was quite happy to hire a small Tonka toy; his property is soon to be subdivided & diggers will be coming in anyway to subdivide stuff (whatever that involves :P).

There are five titles on the place....client holds all of them.

Anyway yesterday I shot out to clients property for a partial survey & discovered the Chorus ETP is at the back of owners house (away from rd) with a splitter installed - plus a second lead-in. :)

Ofc not a lead in but second line going to......somewhere??? I suspect it heads toward office area next door, either that or to Plinth (which is located 5m away from office & inside the boundary).

Hopefully I've just found my new network cable.....

I also found at the house an old telephone pole, on top of which is a Sky Dish & UHF antenna. With room still left for a Yagi.. :D

Going back out out this morning to see client. PS for anyone wondering why I haven't mentioned copper it's because the local loop is in need of repair, & Chorus won't fix it.... Would only get 30Mbps anyway..

They get 50 on 4G...

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread thanks!