[MLB-WIRELESS] WRT54G Bulk Buy - cheaper again!

[Dan Flett]

I totally agree with Rob here.  The WRT54G's radio is nothing special,
but then again, it's not a total piece of crap either. :)  Remember, a
15dBm radio needs a 21dB antenna for a system that is at full legal
power level.  If you put one of these babies up a mast and use a 25dB
antenna with it, you'll be over the legal power level!

I'd be tempted to use a WRT54G in conjunction with a 200mW Senao AP -
the WRT's radio doing a backhaul link, possibly at 54Mbps, and the Senao
connected to an Omni for regional access.  If I wanted another p2p link
I'd add a Minitar to the package.

I think the race is on now to develop a firmware that will make a WRT54G
into a full-blown community wireless network routing node.  Mind you, it
can't be anything more than that though.  Obviously it can't be a web or
file server, but it can be a building block for distributing the network
across the suburbs, and a portal to the network.

Dan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-melbwireless at wireless.org.au [mailto:owner-
> melbwireless at wireless.org.au] On Behalf Of Rob Clark
> Sent: Wednesday, 23 June 2004 17:56
> To: melbwireless at wireless.org.au
> Subject: RE: [MLB-WIRELESS] WRT54G Bulk Buy - cheaper again!
> 
> Nick,
> 
> The -83 (Minitar) vs -80 (LinkSys) means that the Minitar only needs
> half (50%) of the signal strength that the Linksys does for the same
> speed link. (-3 dB means 1/2 power).
> 
> So...as the Minitar also has 3dB extra TX power, that means on paper,
> two Minitars will have double the range of two WRT54G boxes. Every
extra
> 6dB buys you a doubling of range. The Minitars have 3dB extra TX and 3
> dB extra RX so 6dB overall benefit.
> 
> However, don't interpret this as a black mark on the WRT54G: The
primary
> benefit of these boxes (to me) is the exciting firmware that can be
> loaded in place of the manufacturer's original. That teaches them a
> number of new tricks, and in many situations, that can be an
> over-arching advantage. Maybe the ideal setup would be a (hacked)
WRT54G
> AP, and a bunch of Minitar clients?
> 
> I am considering getting a WRT54G myself to experiment with.
> 
> Rob Clark
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-melbwireless at wireless.org.au
> [mailto:owner-melbwireless at wireless.org.au] On Behalf Of Nick Sibbing
> Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 11:35 AM
> Cc: melbwireless at wireless.org.au
> Subject: Re: [MLB-WIRELESS] WRT54G Bulk Buy - cheaper again!
> 
> 
> Gday Rob
> would the (-) 83dbm I got quoted by minitar sales seem like an
accurate
> reflection of the receive sensitivity to you to you?
> 
> If so is that quoted 3dbm difference in theory mean double the
> sensitivity compared to the WRTs @ 80?
> 
> I ask because it might mean the minitars are still arguably a better
bet
> 
> to use in making an AP esp in tough terrain
> 
> Regards
> 
> 
> Rob Clark wrote:
> 
> >On the Minitar receive sensitivity:
> >
> >From my experience it must be pretty good, although I do not have any
> >figures. I say that based on this link I have:
> >
> >Distance: 29 km, clear LOS
> >Far End: 14 dBi slotted WG with 30 mW AP
> >My End: 18 dBi modded Galaxy & Minitar AP.
> >
> >I am not saying it is top of the class....but can't be down with the
> >DLinks of the world.
> >
> >Cheers
> >
> >Rob
> >
> 
> 
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