T1 Router connection to remote network - Wireless Solution please?

Question

Can someone please provide me with advice on how to setup a network across multiple buildings using wireless technology. We are a non-profit organization that deals with rehabilitating your most unwanted troubled teens. Our campus consists of multiple "cottages" and little office buildings. We have a T1 connection to the internet that is housed out our main office building. We would like to connect the training facility which is 100 ft away from the office building that houses our Cisco T1 Router without having to lay cable. The training facility is already network via a network hub. The main office building is also networked via a Cisco 24 port switch - is there a way we can connect the two networks without using cable? We were looking into the new 802.11a wireless technology to bridge the two networks together.
Please provide your comments and suggestions.
Thank you.

Answer 1

I have done what you wanted many times. I run connections all over town. My longest connection is soon to be from the top of the tallest building in town, 635 ft, to the top of a tower (300 ft) across town. This connection will be over 15 miles. I also provide the internet connection for the county. They have 2 radios to give them up to 20Mbits of bandwidth when they need to burst that high.
Anyway, what you want to do is simple. Use a BR-352 with 128 bit WEP. Although Cisco equipment is secure, the Bridge mode (versus the Access point mode) allows for one more level of security (the bridges run under a Cisco protocol and the hackers running around with ‘Netstumbler’ typically do not have a $1500 bridge to do their ‘war driving’). If you want to ability to connect with laptops (while you roam in the general area) and desktops, you will need to put your bridge in access point mode (note that this is still secure).
Since your application is building to building, you will probably need 50-150 feet of cable (unless you put the radio in a weather protected box next to the antenna). You can kill your system if you do not do this right. You want your radio as close to the antenna as possible. You need to use LMR-400 for short runs or LMR-600 for longer runs (I use LMR-600 or large cable for all of my runs, and stopped using LMR-400 all together). The LMR-XXX waveguide has loss. You MUST MINIMIZE loss. You can add an amplifier if the situation dictates, but you must still minimize loss. You want to use directional antennas when possible. You want the highest gain antennas you can find (the more directional, the more gain… i.e. a 6 degree beam width grid antenna has more gain then a 30 degree beam width yagi). I do not use Cisco antennas. The selection is not good.
Basic configuration:
Radio BR-352 Bridge (Always get and use 128 bit WEP encryption)
to
Adapter to jumper from Cisco RTNC (Reverse TNC) connector to a standard N-Type connector
To
Lightning arrestor
To
LMR-600 waveguide
To
Antenna
Add an amplifier if necessary
Special Tools and Parts:
LMR-600 crimping tool
LMR-600 N-male ends
Waterproofing (you get water in your cable and you might as well throw it away… and it is tough to trouble shoot too)
Grounding Kit for LMR-600 (you ground your cable just before it enters the building
Cat-5e
Other Misc tools and supplies
If you have any questions, please fell free to email me.
Mike Wrobel
Bridges Communications, L.L.C.
[email protected]