Helicopter install pre-assembled solar powered MikroTik

RouterOS Wireless Networking
1

Hi Guys

This was my latest project I have just completed. Video clip shown on http://www.wirelessweb.co.nz

Helicopter install pre-assembled solar powered MikroTik power pole repeater 1500M above sea level in the back of Canterbury getting coverage to the Ashburton and Ashburton Lakes area. New Zealand. Well worth the watch.

Repeater hardware:

RB433AH with a few different cards;

1 x R5H radio for the Back Bone on a 26dB solid dish with dome connecting to a Hana antenna with R5H 20kms away with -60dBm at each end. 100% CCQ. 30Mb TCP bandwidth test.

1 x R5H as an Access Point connected to a sector antenna.

1 x XR5 as an Access Point on another sector.

I have future proofed for more equipment with pole extending above the main pole for a controllable IP Camera and other toys.

Provistion to fit another 2 x 80W solar panels to the excisting 2 x 80W panels giving a total of 320W of panel power.

1 x 30Amp Solar Regulator conditioning 2 x Marine Gell Cell Deep Cycle Heavy Duty 225Amp batteries hosed in a UV proof Truck Tool Box packed internally with polystyrene.

This was my first extreme installation and I had internet up and running within 3 hrs of the pole being dropped in the hole.

This being my first plug and play install with a helicopter, I must admit I have spend over 100hrs labour preparation to make it happen.

I am graphing battery voltage
Mt trip Voltage first Month.JPG
and signal strengths
Mt Trip signal strength first Month.JPG
with The Dude.

Hope you enjoy the video shown on http://www.wirelessweb.co.nz

Cheers

2

Also here: http://www.tiktube.com/?video=308

Matt, email mikrotik to get your license :wink:

3

Can you get up there by any means other than helicopter?

For remote difficult to access sites, I wouldn’t use R5H without failover.
The probability of failure is too high.

You may mind find yourself needing to double everything (routerboard, radios, antennas) in the near future to maintain uptime.

4

The drive is 1.5hrs travel by road to the base of the hill and 1.5hrs walk up the hill with replacement parts as long as there is now snow which is around 2-4 months of the year.

Cheers, Matt

5

Pretty cool video!

6

Nice job Matt. i have been running remote mountain top AP’s for 5 years now. One thing that has excaped me is how to monitor the remote AP’s battery supply with out a lot of costly equipment. How did you do yours?
Mike

7

Helicopters are good m’kay!!

I have to admit we have used them a bit and they cant be very cost effective!

Cheers

Justin

8

Montana, with a 433ah, you could monitor it.

I haven’t used a helicopter yet, but we have some sites that we can only access by boat or plane. We use a mix of private boat arrangments, public ferrys, and a local flying service.

9

Both RB433AH and RB450G have a built in voltage monitor.