MikroTik

Hey

I am just curious as to how everyone plans wifi links? PtP and PtMP?
what steps do you take to plan your links? software used? measurements taken? calculations? site inspections?

Hi Brianward. Wish I could have gotten your QRap software to compile. That would have been helpful.

My planning is simple. I am in Florida. Where I am, the elevation does not vary more than 10 meters. I use the same theory I used in the military: "Take the high ground!". My main backhaul APs are about 75 meters AGL, on the roof of one of the tallest high-rise condos in the area.

Then I check the connection with a portable, battery-powered RB433/antenna. I use a Wi-Spy unit to check for noise and interference.

I know...not very scientific. But I can get away with that here.

I use PathLoss. The company I work for bought it, but I need to better familiarize myself with RadioMobile.

More height is not always better. We've had problems with ground reflections causing >20 dB fades on some improperly engineered links. We've got an 8.5 mile link with dishes at ~70 feet on both sides. Dishes used to be at ~100 and ~150 on either side, would fade from -55dBm to below -80 and drop. No adaptive modulation on the radios used on this link.

With enough mechanical gain on a link, you can have some obstructions into your 0.6F.

(snip)More height is not always better. (snip)

You are correct in some places. But here, the only people who say that are employed by the company that did not get the contract for that roof.

"A tent at the top is better than a bunker at the bottom".

Hi Brianward. Wish I could have gotten your QRap software to compile. That would have been helpful.

My planning is simple. I am in Florida. Where I am, the elevation does not vary more than 10 meters. I use the same theory I used in the military: "Take the high ground!". My main backhaul APs are about 75 meters AGL, on the roof of one of the tallest high-rise condos in the area.

Then I check the connection with a portable, battery-powered RB433/antenna. I use a Wi-Spy unit to check for noise and interference.

I know...not very scientific. But I can get away with that here.

Hey you sure you followed the instructions carefully? i did and have got it working.

on the other topics,I have also found that hight does not really matter in some cases. Our area is also pretty much flat here and there are only around 2 or 3 tall buildings here and most are very populated with equipment. We have begun using different methods for our setups.

but back to topic, i find that radio mobile or q raps works perfect for me.
any others that use different methods?

To antenna alignment try WiPlan for iPhone, is useful:
http://itunes.apple.com/es/app/wiplan/id368489109?mt=8

Then I check the connection with a portable, battery-powered RB433/antenna. I use a Wi-Spy unit to check for noise and interference.

I know...not very scientific. But I can get away with that here.

Battery portable 433 + antenna is the best if u can actually get it working at places. Better than using ne wi-spy or radio mobile

Battery portable 433 + antenna is the best if u can actually get it working at places. Better than using ne wi-spy or radio mobile

No problem getting it working here. All my working APs are battery powered. The working installs have a battery charger too.

If you use either a RB433 or Wi-Spy, the 433 is best. But together they are great. I use the Wi-Spy with the external antenna connector and a pigtail. I connect to the antenna in question to check for noise and interference. I am in a radio-crowded vacation community just outside a very busy Air Force Base. As far as I am concerned, the Wi-Spy unit has already paid for itself many times over.

Battery portable 433 + antenna is the best if u can actually get it working at places. Better than using ne wi-spy or radio mobile

I have to disagree. A connection might work for various reasons for a while (when you test it) but then issues might arrive.
I find more useful to plan the link with radio mobile, if it's good there, 90% of the time is good on real production. Get there and test it.