Ruckus + Directional Antenna?

[dave.81]

We are looking at getting network access to our maintenance team but using our normal ruckus system this just is not happening due to distance, walls, tree's etc. There is a signal outside the building but not once you walk into the office area, so what we need to is to setup a couple of directional antenna's and cable down to a NIC in the office but the ruckus AP's dont have a connector.

 

What is going to be the best way to sort this out, our Bursar is starting to jump up and down about his maintenance team having a pc.

Edited February 17, 2010 by dave.81

[localzuk]

You could attach an external Ruckus AP to the building, facing the maintenance building, and then stick an AP in the maintenance building set to be meshed?

 

Or, 2 of these - http://www.ruckuswireless.com/products/zoneflex-high-end/7731?

[dave.81]

It had crossed my mind as it would then cover the games fields too but not sure the Bursar will accept the cost of an external Ruckus AP.

[garethEds]

It had crossed my mind as it would then cover the games fields too but not sure the Bursar will accept the cost of an external Ruckus AP.

 

Put it to him that if he is so set on his Maintenance Team getting access then this is the best route to take - or dig up the yard/field/path and sink run fibre cable.

 

Give him several options that are doable, but make sure the Ruckus idea is the best one :-)

 

GJE

[localzuk]

I don't think you're going to be able to do this without buying specialist AP's. The Ruckus ZoneFlex units are designed to work around their special antenna built into them, so don't have support for external antennae.

[SYNACK]

I would suggest a wireless bridge that could be outfitted with an external outdoor directional antenna, this would go in the mantinence team shed and connect to a switch there which would then connect to whatever pcs are there via cable. The antenna on one side should allow for increased sensitivity as well as transmit power, this along with bing outside should allow for reasonable WiFi Signal. You could even have another cheap wireless AP attached in the shed if they really needed wireless.

 

http://www.trustedreviews.com/networking/review/2003/12/10/Netgear-ME101-Wireless-Bridge/p1

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Belkin_802_11g_Wireless_Ethernet_Adapter__5636530

plus

http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/aerials.html

or

http://www.solwise.co.uk/wireless-outdoor-bridging-24_odoor-0038.htm

 

or Integrated:

http://uk.level1.com/product_d.php?id=753

 

This should allow it to tie in with the ruckus system without modifying or extending it.

Edited February 17, 2010 by SYNACK

[_BC_]

I agree with the idea of a wireless bridge link, if you Ruckus stuff doesnt do it then buy something that would. You'll still be able to have a Ruckus access point in the maintenance teams hut/office offering all your usual SSIDs.

 

You could do this with a couple of Trapeze access points (or other manufacturer), 2 external antennas and a small wireless PoE switch. The bridge link would have its own dedicated SSID.

 

You've not said what kind of distance is involved?

 

You will also need a clear line of sight, trees will disrupt the fresnel zone.

[mac_shinobi]

Put it to him that if he is so set on his Maintenance Team getting access then this is the best route to take - or dig up the yard/field/path and sink run fibre cable.

 

Give him several options that are doable, but make sure the Ruckus idea is the best one :-)

 

GJE

 

I would have a fibre or similiar connection under ground and have ruckus AP on the other end with a switch etc obviously it would need to in relevant tubing so as to protect it

[cookie_monster]

We use a Draytek wireless bridge AP-700 approx £59.99 ex VAT each. It's basically two AP's set in bridge mode with external aerials so the AP is inside. It links to another block approx 40 meters away, the block has 6 PC's and it works well.

 

http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/ap700.html

 

DrayTek Wireless LAN Aerials

Edited February 19, 2010 by cookie_monster

[dave.81]

Thanks for all the advice has helped greatly. I'd much prefer to stick in a fibre link but as it's across a road they dont want the expense of getting all the permission, diggers etc.

 

So to clarify i could connect a wireless bridge to my wired network, which will connect to each other and will just act as a wired connection, then stick a switch on the other end and should work ok?

[localzuk]

So to clarify i could connect a wireless bridge to my wired network, which will connect to each other and will just act as a wired connection, then stick a switch on the other end and should work ok?

 

Yep, that's how you'd do it. We had such a link here for some time until I replaced it with fibre.

[actech]

I would get your local Ruckus dealer do to a site audit and see if the gear will do it. I would be very suprised if it won't. I'm using two 7962 units to do a wireless bridge between the main building and the workshop which would be at least 50m apart. The workshop is a steel framed and clad building which doesn't help, but it still gives us reliable signal and good speed.

[cookie_monster]

Ruckus gear is great and we use it for general managed AP's but the AP-700s will create a bridge for a fraction of the price and you can use external aerials.

[localzuk]

Ruckus gear is great and we use it for general managed AP's but the AP-700s will create a bridge for a fraction of the price and you can use external aerials.

 

But doing so will mean adding another system, with its own management system etc... to the school - kinda defeating the object of having a managed wireless system in the first place.

 

Also, on the fibre issue - you may be able to find a company which can lay a fibre without any excavation. I've seen all sorts of cabling and piping installed without any digging (including an entire estate having new gas pipes installed to replace gas tanks with a mains connection - each house, which was about 20m length, took about 2 hours). An example is here http://www.moleuk.com/moleengineering.php?content=1

Edited February 21, 2010 by localzuk

[cookie_monster]

But doing so will mean adding another system, with its own management system etc... to the school - kinda defeating the object of having a managed wireless system in the first place.

 

Also, on the fibre issue - you may be able to find a company which can lay a fibre without any excavation. I've seen all sorts of cabling and piping installed without any digging (including an entire estate having new gas pipes installed to replace gas tanks with a mains connection - each house, which was about 20m length, took about 2 hours). An example is here http://www.moleuk.com/moleengineering.php?content=1

 

 

 

Very true but they took minutes to setup and I haven't had to look at them since. It's just another option, it should cost about a quater of the price of using Ruckus AP's.

Edited February 21, 2010 by cookie_monster

[cookie_monster]

Someone in this thread mentioned meshing, I assume they refering to the SmartMesh technology.

 

Can someone tell me how that works. Does the mesh RF consume and of the available AP bandwidth or does it use it's own channel?

 

Has anyone got a few AP's meshed that can comment, i'm interested in this feature?

 

SmartMesh Networking | Ruckus Wireless

 

Thanks.

[dave.81]

I'd much rather do it with Ruckus gear but the cost involved just mean i cannot. Although i am now pushing that it's time for them to dig the road up and cable it, fingers crossed.

 

The draytek stuff does look like the cheapest option if i have to go wireless though.

[localzuk]

I'd much rather do it with Ruckus gear but the cost involved just mean i cannot. Although i am now pushing that it's time for them to dig the road up and cable it, fingers crossed.

 

The draytek stuff does look like the cheapest option if i have to go wireless though.

 

As I said earlier, the digging up bit is probably not necessary - look at directional drilling companies - they'll probably be able to do it cheaper and easier.