I’ve been working on this project now for almost a month with little success. Awhile back I purchased the below from amazon to span a 2 mile distance between my parents house and the family farm with intent of finally getting internet out there. I have read and watched almost every tutorial out there and seeing as they are all slightly different I am more confused then anything. The other day I reset both and tried the quick setup option with slightly better success. I finally see the signal coming from my parents but its very weak and I still don’t have access to the internet. In full disclosure I am a complete newb to this and jumped in over my head. My first question is this, do I continue to stick with the quick setup tutorial or is there a better option? My second question is what can I do to increase signal strength between both points?
First thing you must solve is wireless signal. What is exactly “very weak”?
Have a look at the link in my sig…
Post Wireless > Interface: wlan1 registration, and Status tabs from both radios.
What kind of antennas, brand and models are you using, the L-com HG912YE-NF 900MHz 12dBi? Have you used a link budget calculator entering the geographical coordinates, and accurate antena height to test for free line of sight?
Tips: set the 900MHz frequency channel, antenna gain is 12dBi, Optimal BW Datarate Receive sensitivity is -71, and Tx Power 23dBm.
Are there any obstacles in between (although 900MHz has higher spectral energy that can “cut through” trees, hills are a different story)
Once you get the wireless link right, setting up the rest will be a snap.
I apologize “weak” is a very generic term I will do my best to describe my results from last night but I can get specific numbers and screen shots this afternoon when I get home. The antenna currently being used is a 900MHz 12dBi Yagi Antenna NLOS.
“Weak” On the receiving end or in the photos listed below labeled as farm only has two indicator lights lit up. The graph representation that I saw had the peaks located down in the bottom quarter of the screen. I will get a screen shots tonight. In winbox I can sometimes see the transmitter and sometime I cant it.
If I set link calc up correctly the below is what it gave me.
Your signal is horrible… check that last screenshot Tx/Rx CCQ, this is the definitive clue as to whether a wireless link is good or not, and should be > 90% (while passing traffic).
Your budget link calculation screenshots are kind of odd, the blue (60% fresnel) and purple (first fresnel zone) are huge for a 2 mile link and show your fresnel zone clearance is less than 30%.
Make sure all the parameters you input are right.
Additionally, you may need to align your antennas; the best way is to have someone on the remote side, and monitor the wireless signal while aiming in turns.
What’s you RouterOS and System > Routerboard firmware versions?
Try the same calculations with frequency 5150 to check LOS…
Have you simulated the link on Google Earth Pro for a preliminary check of Trees or other obstacles?
InoX is right, spectrum allowing (being a barn it could be possible) with free LOS a couple humble SXTs 5N Lite ($120 MSRP the pair) you’ will pass 70-100Mbps TCP. Never setup a 900MHz PTP here as it’s reserved by country laws.
You can also use poles or TV antenna towers to overcome obstacles…
At Tx site the devise is located on top of the flag pole and at the Rx site its half way up the TV aerial.
“What’s you RouterOS and System > Routerboard firmware versions?” Where do I find this info?
“Have you simulated the link on Google Earth Pro for a preliminary check of Trees or other obstacles?” I tried to up load the linkcalculator showing google earth off to the side so you could see the the obstacles. Its mostly a few trees because with the flag pole and the fact I am going uphill from the Tx site to the Rx site I am pretty sure I am going over the houses.
I have noticed the Tx/Rx CCQ was low but I have know clue how to increase it. Are my antennas not as properly aligned as I was originally thinking? I did it by site but I have always had a knack of eyeballing things pretty well.
I can see it, I can also see my Linear Algebra book from college over on the shelf, never got that either… i can see it but i have no field of reference to understand what it is telling me (yet)
I got back from Colorado Sunday and jumped back on this project yesterday. I tried everything yesterday with little success. Is this caused by poorly aligned antennas or poor setup using winbox?
When using the quick link what radio type do I use?
Please explain? I thought the 900Mhz would work better because of the trees? I am above any houses with the Tx being on top of a flag pole and the Rx being halfway up our TV antenna but there are a number a individual trees and a couple tree lines the signal will be going through.
i can see it but i have no field of reference to understand what it is telling me (yet)