[MLB-WIRELESS] Newbie setup

[Rockwallaby Deluxe Model]

Rightio, here we go then.

 I've recently decided I want to join the fun at
melbourne wireless. I'm new to all of this stuff, but
I have been doing some research.

I hope its not to long winded, but as I don't really
want to mess this up, I'll go through what I have so
far.

I have two (one for spare, or to give to a friend)
pacific monolithics down converters and I
plan on doing this to them.


http://apache.airnet.com.au/~fastinfo/wireless/PacMon/


I also have one small (heh) galaxy conifer that I
plan on doing this to

http://martybugs.net/wireless/conifermods.cgi
 
I hope to achieve a link from Northcote (Node:JRK)
to Brunswick East (Node:JRI). Its about 1.7 kms LOS on
google earth.

I'll probably buy 2 linksys WRT54G's and run open
WRT on them. I would like a cheaper choice if one is
available. I don't want to compromise on too many
features though, as I want to keep the network
flexible.

These will be put in some tupperware/pvc pipe and
powered by Power Over Ethernet.
 
Will I need grounding for lightning strikes? (I'm
pretty sure the tv antenna doesn't have it!) If so,
can I just run some cat5 cable with all of the cores
wired directly from the bottom of the antenna wired
onto the roof to ground it? (not to connect, just to
ground)

Anyone care to guess how high I'll need the antennas
to clear nearby buildings/hills/whatever? Any decent
elevation maps around?

Any good tips on mounting the mast?
 
How do I go about connecting once its all up? Is it
like one great big LAN, with every wireless member?

Thanks for going through all that!
Should be a pretty kick ass connection once its
going!


Where is the spoon? and does it really exist

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