The answer to your questions really depends on a number of isues, such as number of clients you want to support, maximum distance between AP and clients, power source, your budget to name some of the important considerations..
To start this discussion going I propose the following general config as a starting point:
Frequency:
For the backbone use 5.8Ghz
For AP use 2.4Ghz (bit cheaper, most laptops come standard..)- this will ultimately be depend on the current/planned frequency use in your area.
Cabling:
-Keep the antenna cable distance as short as possible, this might mean that you have to mount the MT on the tower as aposed to 50m away.
-For a single MT solution you can use POE, for multiple MT’s use one of the specialised cables designed to better support higher current drains.
-Lightining protection units are 99% underrated–get them in any case
MT:
Three basic choices-
-MT’s Routerboards
-PC Engine’s WRAP board
-PC with MT loaded (minITX type solution works best)
Your decision will probably be based on budget, and whether you will need an NStream (full duplex) type solution (mainly for backbone)
Radio Equipment:
-Any one of the supported devices (Atheros-based chipsets work great)
-Use amplifiers only as a last resort (they work, but they also introduce new problems..)
Antenna:
-For AP my recommendation is to go with Sectorials as aposed to omni’s for various reasons (trust me, save yourself the effort upfront..)
-For point-point use one of the many link planner apps to determine the most suitable–it mostly depends on the distance (where further=bigger grid/higher gain antenna)
Many thanks for the sugestions, here is a further description of the
sites
Site based in Kenya, East Africa dead on at the equator, all farming land
problem as follows absolute clear line of sight to the 23meter
from all sites
Site 3 is elevated 200meters from the 23 meter mast
I was thinking of the following solution
Omni directional 5.8Ghz 13Dbi, with 220 router board, atheros
5211 card this will be for the 23 meter mast (AP)
Client sites Parabolic antenna 30dbi, router board 220, atheros
5211 card
The new 530 boards work great and are a smaller more compact form factor and are cheaper than the RB200 series, only problem is you’re limited to 32mb ram. Depending on how many users you’re looking to support off your AP this may not matter.
Also if you’re looking to serve clients that are +8km out I’d suggest using sectors, more gain and better coverage than an omni. Three 120 degree sectors work great and when put on non-overlapping channels dont interfere with one another.
