Hi Guys, i would like advise on the following.

I have to setup a wireless network for our student residence, the flat is 120 meters high, 80 meters length, 50 meters on the sides.
There are going to be at maximum 1000 students connected to the network, i want them to be able to VOIP in the network only(no internet), and also basic internet is needed for text browsing.


Will this equipment work well for such a service?

Mikrotik RB/433AH X 2
Mikrotik R52 802.11a,b,g MiniPCI X 4
Outdoor Enclosure - Large X 2
13dBi 2.4Ghz 120 Degree Sector Antenna X 4

You need dozens of access points all over the building, not 4.
Figure at least 30.

You need dozens of access points all over the building, not 4.
Figure at least 30.

Why exactly 30 APs?

You need dozens of access points all over the building, not 4.
Figure at least 30.

Why exactly 30 APs?

Im gona place 2 sector antennas, with 1 AP for all sides.

Exceeding approximately 30 clients per 'ap' is not advised, especially with voip.

I think You should try with lots of RB Crossroads ...

Before we just start giving out arb information here, where are you in SA?

Have you used Snooper to check what frequencies are free?

with 4 sectors I've covered 80% in a 2 buildings complex, cheap, no problems for 3 years.

with 4 sectors I've covered 80% in a 2 buildings complex, cheap, no problems for 3 years.

Yes and with a 12dBi omni connected to a UBNT bullet I have covered 140 cluster homes on an estate...but...

How high is the building?

How many connected computers? is that 1000 people and 500 computers or 1000 people and 1000 computers or 1000 people, 500 computers and 1000 wifi phones?

This guy says the building is 120m high.

If the builders used the new way of building in this country, that means it's a 40 floor building.
If they used the older way of building, then we're talking about a 30 floor building.

We also need to consider variables such as how much reinforcing was put into the concrete. In other words, will the antenna be able to blast through two slabs of concrete or three and even if the antenna can blast through two slabs, can the CPE communicate effectively with the base station / AP. It's pointless having -65 signal strength on the RX from the AP and -87 on the TX back to the AP.

The building is 30 floors, old style buildings.

with 4 sectors I've covered 80% in a 2 buildings complex, cheap, no problems for 3 years.

Yes and with a 12dBi omni connected to a UBNT bullet I have covered 140 cluster homes on an estate...but...

How high is the building?

How many connected computers? is that 1000 people and 500 computers or 1000 people and 1000 computers or 1000 people, 500 computers and 1000 wifi phones?

This guy says the building is 120m high.

If the builders used the new way of building in this country, that means it's a 40 floor building.
If they used the older way of building, then we're talking about a 30 floor building.

We also need to consider variables such as how much reinforcing was put into the concrete. In other words, will the antenna be able to blast through two slabs of concrete or three and even if the antenna can blast through two slabs, can the CPE communicate effectively with the base station / AP. It's pointless having -65 signal strength on the RX from the AP and -87 on the TX back to the AP.

There are at maximum 800 connected computers, and their phones. Im based in Johannesburg, Braamfontein.

This is how to do the job properly.

First of all secure a broom cupboard or some other secure place near the comms duct on the 15th floor. You need this for your control equipment and UPS.

You are then going to get a decent 220V power supply in there. That is not a lead with a multi plug. Get an electrician to run some surflex from the DB on the floor to a couple of sockets and then mount your 9U cabinet over that.

You'll end up with a cabinet similar to the one in the right of this picture. Notice the conduit that goes direct into the cabinet.
I squeezed a four year degree in engineering into six years at Tuks, so I'd like to think I am able to talk about what students are capable of getting up to. Remember the old addage "Brandewyn het nie brieke nie". A drunk student is capable of just about anything. Everything must be secured and it must be "student proof"

That cabinet will house a MikroTik RB1000, a managed PoE rackmount switch and a patch panel.
The cabinet will also (obviously) house your UPS that will keep everything running when Eskom goes off, as well as your Zap Traps. Go to any electrical wholesaler, ask them to get their AD/DC catalogue out and order you a LP2-8 or two. Remember there is EVIL lightning up where you are. Everything MUST be protected.

From the cabinet, you are then going to run 2 UTPs to every third floor. There you are going to put up a simple unit that looks like this.
The integrated unit has a 15dBi antenna and a RB411R. That's it.

Divide the floor into thirds and put one in each of the furthest thirds. So if the passage is 50m long, you put one unit at about 17m from one end and another unit about 17m from the other end. This should get through the horizontal walls and should blast up and down through the old reinforced concrete to give you really good coverage in the building.

I have done what you are trying to do - in two 20 floor buildings - so I know what I'm talking about.

So:
Electrical work
9U cabinet
RB1000
28 x Poynting or Acconet integrated enclosures with RB411R

Nice and simple.

a managed PoE rackmount switch

Got a model number for this?

a managed PoE rackmount switch

Got a model number for this?

3Com, Cisco, Netgear and Planet all make them, but I've found those work best with IP phones or the older MikroTik kit that will run on 48V.

Korenix IP camera switches work very will with MikroTik.

a managed PoE rackmount switch

Got a model number for this?

3Com, Cisco, Netgear and Planet all make them, but I've found those work best with IP phones or the older MikroTik kit that will run on 48V.

Korenix IP camera switches work very will with MikroTik.

The 48V PoE switches are easy to find, it's the ones which work for new routerboards which are not.
Do you know of any between 12V and 24V?

So how many APs for the whole building? Yes the corridor is + - 50 meters.

Can you please post links to all the equipment you are reffering to!

thanx!

At least 18 APs. The correct number depends on type of furniture and appliances (microwave, stove), tile in bathrooms and location of the elevator shaft.

Do you know of any between 12V and 24V?

Korenix.

Eben, did you use WDS for the distribution?

Eben, did you use WDS for the distribution?

No.

Did the clients not get irritated with all the SSIDs then? Or did you tell them to deal with it

Did the clients not get irritated with all the SSIDs then? Or did you tell them to deal with it

The walls in those old buildings are thick. Very few users see more than two SSIDs.

Would this ceiling antenna help? http://www.miro.co.za/detail.aspx?pid=325&p=2&sp=&spp=

The RB411AR's have an additional miniPci slot so you could easily add that to your current setup? Or would that be a waste since they are only 4dBi?

thanks

Would this ceiling antenna help? http://www.miro.co.za/detail.aspx?pid=325&p=2&sp=&spp=

The RB411AR's have an additional miniPci slot so you could easily add that to your current setup? Or would that be a waste since they are only 4dBi?

thanks

We've got two of those in our home and they are sweet
They cover the entire house and the garden. I can walk outside and talk on my wifi IP phone.

They are great when you have a ceiling to work with, but not so hot when you're faced with a slab of concrete without a suspended ceiling.

haha I think i'm ganna get a set for my house aswell then ...I can see that they must be quite a mission to install...Will ask my installation guys if they can make a plan

That is a great hotel because it divided the floor into thirds and put one in each of the furthest thirds. This should get through the horizontal walls and should blast up and down through the old reinforced concrete to give you really good coverage in the building. And maybe the problem is your access.




_________________
Hotels in Augusta GA

haha I think i'm ganna get a set for my house aswell then ...I can see that they must be quite a mission to install...Will ask my installation guys if they can make a plan

Go for it.

When you work / run a butchery, you don't buy meat

I have two 16 port patch panels in a cabinet in the cupboard under the stairs and there are very few walls in the house that don't have at least one UTP port on them.

ever thought about injecting it into the powerline using the Homeplug variants. 1 per phase and then using an RB450 to do the hard work.

Or try using leeky feeder around the building.

Please anyone dont shoot me for suggesting ethernet over powerline, at least the guy is thousands of miles away from me and wont cause me any radio interference.

PS... You need to check with your local bylaws regarding the use of power lines as a carrrier.

And worth checking out if there are any radio hams in your area, else they will track you down and linch you!!