Nth Melbourne Tower - was Re: [MLB-WIRELESS] Fitzroy Tower update

[Goa Trance]

I am very keen to hear what kind of setup you end up going.
I have access to a building in North Melbourne.  From the top of the building
I can clearly see all the Western Suburbs, the city and down around the baltic 
bridge.  When my funds are replenished in the next month or so I will put up 
a box. 

On Thu, Jan 03, 2002 at 03:43:13AM +1100, LongHAUL wrote:
> Howdy all,
> 
> I have finally got my little modem to load up the locfinder and have added
> the fitzroy tower to the node map. (CJG - Fitzroy Omni Tower)
> 
> I picked up lots of info at the pub meet before xmas - thanks to everyone
> who helped out with my little scribbled diagrams. I know very little about
> wireless stuff - and what I do I have picked up mainly from this group - so
> please excuse (and please correct!) any mistakes I make.
> 
> Here is a summary of how things are going so far.
> 
> 
> Basic concept:
> 
> To build and run a wireless public access point from the unused am radio
> transmitter tower on my roof.
> 
> Diagram, 30K:
> http://www.ebase3.com.au/fitzroytower/fitzroy_tower.pdf
> (To save sending this as an attachment it is a link, 30K)
> 
> There are a bunch of immediate reasons to go for the AP on the tower instead
> of just an ex galaxy antenna pointed at my nearest neighbour from the roof.
> -I probably can't see anyone from my roof. There is bugger all line of sight
> from regular houses / apartments around here because of the commercial
> buildings getting in the way.
> -I have a whopping 15m + tower on my roof and so might as well do this s*it
> properly ;)
> -It appeals to the l337 hax0r nerd boy in me (kidding ;)
> 
> Anyway, lets continue.
> 
> AP/aerial/network design issues:
> 
> Problem 1:
> The tower is very high (15m+) - a 15m pigtail from aerial down to roof would
> be very expensive and very lossy.
> 
> Possible Solutions:
> 1. A small self contained commerical access point in a weatherproof box up
> the tower, with a very short pigtail to the aerial. Cat5 network cable from
> the AP box down to the building. (best solution so far, thanks to the lads
> at Puggs for coming up with that one)
> 2. Same as above but with a single board pc solution instead of the
> commerical ap box (I think this would end up more expensive)
> 3. (other suggestions welcome)
> 
> 
> Problem 2:
> What self contained AP box to use?
> I think that these are most of the requirements/features (in no particular
> importance order)
> 
> -Can be remotely administered / upgraded (once up there its probably not
> coming down again for a while :)
> -Has external aerial connector, or can easily be hacked to do so.
> -Supports enough wireless clients without falling over / losing too much
> perfo Ü  rmance. (no idea how many we neet, but I would say just from the
> node database + 2 extras I am pulling in there might be as many as 5 people
> shooting at this shortly)
> -Supports whatever wireless security the group decides on (wifi?, ipsec?
> (!?))
> -Can be powered through cat5 cable (not really neccessary, but nice)
> -Small size / weight
> (other suggestions welcome)
> 
> Solution:
> No idea - I have just started looking at specs on the web - but with my
> limited wireless knowledge I am very undecided at this stage - if anyone has
> some suggestions / tips, it would be most appreciated. A quick google search
> for 'wireless access point' gave quite a few results. The prices on these
> boxes looks quite alright - but I have no idea which one to go for.
> 
> 
> Problem 3:
> What sort of aerial / how do I get / make / buy it?
> 
> Solution:
> Again a little shady on this one - I have had lots of possible solutions to
> this.
> 1. Buy a commerical omni antenna (estimated cost $700+)
> 2. Build one myself (estimated cost $50 parts + lots of labour)
> 3. Hope for a lucky break and get my hands on a second hand commercial /
> broken commercial antenna and repair it. (estimated cost - somewhere
> inbetween the two above)
> 4. (other suggestions welcome)
> 
> 
> Problem 4:
> Work out how to get the aerial / ap box up the tower (!)
> 
> Solution:
> I put up some photos and there was some discussion about this a while back -
> apart from climbing monkeys, it seems that the most likely solution to this
> is going to be a cherry picker + rigger for a few hours. Cost - no idea but
> an arm and a leg I am sure.
> 
> 
> Problem 5:
> How do I make sure it is all going to work before I spend all this money and
> stick it up there?
> 
> Solution:
> Erm - obviously I can't. But I think one of the most expensive bits of this
> whole operation is going to be the cherry picker. I am happy to go ahead and
> try and get this working on the ground - if it doesn't work then as Tony
> said - I am going to have a damn great little office wireless network :)
> 
> How many actual working aerial + pc combos do we have working so far?
> Has anyone tested omni + lots of clients yet?
> If possible it would be great to get as many as we could to one of the
> monthly meets to see how this goes.
> 
> Apart from these few small(!) obstacles - there is nothing stopping this
> from going ahead -
> I have access and full use of the tower.
> I have all the bits and pieces up to the AP + aerial point.
> I have a bunch of people who live across the road and down the street who
> will put up antennas immediately if I get this running.
> I have a little bit of a budget to work with. (little!)
> I have a bit of spare time to do stuff.
> I am keen as mustard!
> 
> What I need at this stage is for all you gurus and wunderkids out there to
> keep the Fitroy Tower Problem(tm) in the back of your mind as you are
> pottering around building and researching all your other projects - the
> problems I am having are probably a little unique because of the tower thing
> and my utter lack of wireless knowledge - so all input / suggestions /
> advice are most welcome.
> 
> Well thats about it - its 3:30 in the morning and I time to go to bed.
> 
> "If you build it, they will come." (I hope so :)
> 
> Micheal Hall
> ebase3 Interactive
> www.ebase3.com.au
> 
> 
> 
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