Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Wireless Networks in Metropolitan Areas?

Posted by Cliff on from the this-won't-hose-my-WKYS-in-the-morning-will-it? dept.

Lomby asks: "I am networking a company that has two offices in the same city. Clearly they would like to exchange data between them. Since I live in an internet under-developed country (Switzerland), a permanent cable connection is out of question due to the high costs. The most obvious choice is to connect the two offices via ISDN, but this has the drawback of cost per time unit, and the connection would be estabilished only a few time a day, bringing consistency problems. Now I'm looking at a wireless solution: has anyone tested a wireless system in a metropolitan area (10 km)? Costs? Problems? Field of view? Works with Linux? Do I need to install a huge antenna? "

3 of 12 comments (clear)

  1. Cisco WT2700 Wireless Technology Suite by prsabc · · Score: 2

    I have heard a lot of about this recently Highlights Enables wireless non-line-of-sight connectivity Delivers up to 44-Mbps full-duplex throughput Cisco IOS software support and management via Cisco IOS command line interface (CLI) or CiscoView Each line card supports two antenna systems for spatial diversity Supports multiple frequency bands through a common interface Supports 10 MHz reference here is the link for more info... http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/cc/cisco/mkt/se rvprod/wt2700/ubrmc_ds.htm you said ISDN was pricey you may want to see if centrex priceing is available. you conference call the other isdn device, or something of that nature, in pa it is 10 bucks a month for unlimited calls to that other single location, both sites must be centrex, I am sure somebody else can provide more info.

  2. Wireless by bingeldac · · Score: 2

    Wireless can and can not be a viable solution in a metropolitan area. Huge towers are not needed depedning on the line of site issue. Being a wireless tech I can really recognize the benefits and costs of a wireless system. Point to Point of up to 50 mi is quite easy with existing Lucent equipment but once again that line of site issue is the major downfall. There are easy ways around this with relays or a nice omni directional field that will cover maybe 5 mi or more depedning on amplification.

  3. Lots of resources by Todd+Boyle · · Score: 2

    Good topic! Are you just wanting to eval/choose commercial products? Check out these products and links. http://hydra.carleton.ca/info/wlan.html There are lots of free-range solutions to sort thru, for example http://www.tapr.org/ Steve Stroh writes the wireless column for Boardwatch http://www.boardwatch.com -Go read those, they are full of information, steve is at strohpub.com Todd gldialtone.com