Long Range Wireless Bridge
Many companies or individuals find that running cable or getting a leased line such as a T1 between their locations is impractical, expensive, or too slow, so they investigate wireless options.
Choose a Wireless Bridge, Not an Access Point
For long distance connections, a wireless bridge should be used. Bridge equipment is designed to have similar equipment at each end and effectively replace a cable. An access point is designed to connect directly to a laptop or similar end point devices, but they are poor choices for long range communications.
Factors that Affect Distance
Long distance wireless can be anything from a few hundred yards to 30 or 40 miles. The distance is affected by a number of factors. Line of sight is required for most connections. You should be able to see, perhaps with binoculars, the other end of the connection. There are some systems that do work through a few trees or walls, but the range is much less than open air. The type of antenna will impact distance dramatically. Long range antennas are directional. The longer the range, the more exactly they must be aimed at each other. The frequency will also impact distance; lower frequencies at lower speeds generally travel further and through objects better.
Factors that Affect Speed
Speed can range anywhere from 300 Kbps to 1 Gbps and more, and is dependant on three factors, the frequency of the connection, the encoding, and the quality of the link. Generally the higher the frequency, the more bandwidth you get on the connection. 900 MHz is about 1 Mbps, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz is about 5 Mbps to 20 Mbps, 60 GHz can be 1 Gbps. The encoding, or how the signal is transmitted including encryption options, will affect speed. A poor signal, poor antennas, interference, or too much distance for the equipment can also slow the link considerably.
Choosing the Right Long Distance Wireless Bridge
To properly choose a wireless bridge solution, find out if you have line of sight, or can with a repeater, determine how much actual data or bandwidth you need, measure the distance of the connection, and set a budget. With this information you will be able to properly select the correct long range wireless bridge technology.
For additional information or support please contact us at 303-482-1242.
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