I am in the process of helping a non profit set up a WiFi coverage area. Here are the basics. I will have a headend unit/router (example, an RB951) and from this I will want to transmit to about 3 or 4 locations where I will have the relay stations and the WAP. I was thinking I could use the RB912UAG-5HPnD-OUT as my relay/WAP units. But I have some questions.
To clarify, here is the setup I am talking about
router <--------------{wireless}---------> WAP <--------------{wireless}---------> WAP
. ^
. |<--------------{wireless}---------> WAP
and so on.
Question 1) I have looked at a couple of sites, and all I can find is a brochure for the RB912. But if I am reading everything correctly, I would need (2) antennas for this unit. the first being the directional to connect back to the router and the second being the omni for the general public to access. Is this correct?
Question 2) If I read correctly, all I need to do is supply power to the unit and wireless part can be configured to setup my relay and WAP?
Question 3) Can the RB912 act as a pass through (as shown in the rudimentary diagram above) without a third wireless card?
The equipment listed here, I am not married to. This is what I have looked at and have pieced together. If there is a better unit/way, please feel free to share.
I wouldn’t use a RB912 with an extra wireless card for this.
If you were, you’ll need either two dual chain antennas, or four single chain ones.
Moreso, wouldn’t use that “bus” topology either if it can be avoided (less optimal one).
There’s plenty of routerboards on Mikrotik lineup for almost any situation.
How big is the area to be covered? Is it indoors, outdoors? Expected users? Please elaborate a little on the scenario.
I’ve included an image of the desired coverage area. I don’t have a preference if this is done daisy chain or start topology. I am looking for best effectiveness with minimal cost. Now that being said, I will pay for quality, I just don’t want to drop $10,000 on parts when I can do the same thing with $2,000. The distance from tip to tip is a mile maybe.
You’d better use star topology.
I’d deploy a 5Ghz sector on Internet Source, suitable candidates:
Then on each distribution point an SXT Lite5 ac would be connecting to the sector, and another, seperate suitable radio would provide local wireless 2,4GHz coverage, or dual 2.4 and 5GHz coverage depending on the needs: could be a single 951, a wAP AC, a Pair of them, a single 912 (2.4GHz version) to cover a big outdoors area, it depends.
The benefit is backbone network and coverage networks are seperated in terms of hardware, to have the utmost flexibility.
Don’t know for AC, but there was a N 6-pack kit, including one SXT SA + 5 SXTs Lites for $445 https://routerboard.com/RBSXTKit