Networking 2 Buildings

[ibook300bb]

what is the best set-up in connecting two buildings located in different side of the road (10 meters apart).

[elbert]

the simplest would be to build a wireless bridge. If not all, most wireless access points and routers can be configured for bridging.

[directX]

wifi bridge can do that. that is what we're doing here in diliman. if it will take a long time to have fiber installed, we usually setup a wireless bridge.

however, if the distance is huge, e.g. commonwealth avenue, we used free space optics (FSO) to connect our building (Asian Institute of Tourism) to the campus network.

[El CaMOTe]

Call Channel Technologies (tel. 811 4001) located at the Atrium building cor. Makati Ave & Paseo de Roxas, in Makati.

My wife's brother-in-law does this for a living !! Ask for Khalil Bagatsing ! They use PCs though

:sick: but they are a real 'straight shooter' type of company if you know what I mean !!

Cheers,

[Henjie]

Originally posted by ibook300bb
what is the best set-up in connecting two buildings located in different side of the road (10 meters apart).

Cheapest way is to run an ethernet cable from one building to the other. This will also give you a fast connection between the two sites (nearly 2x faster than 802.11g).

Easiest way is via a WiFi bridge, like what Elbert and directx suggested above. :-)


~Henjie

[zChris]

If you decide to connect via ethernet, dont forget that there is a maximum length of UTP cable that you can run. I think its something like 150 feet. You would then have a network switch on either side of the connection to distribute the connection.

Aside from ethernet being quicker, its more secure too since you are eliminating the security risk of someone trying to sniff the data over the air. This is particularly important since WIFI performance degrades over distance from the access points. This means that if you want to get maximum speed, the APs would have to be placed by the windows of both buildings, further increasing the range of signal outside the building and by potential hackers on the street, in cars, sitting in starbucks down the road, etc.

[Edited on 9-14-2004 by zChris]

[Henjie]

Originally posted by zChris
If you decide to connect via ethernet, dont forget that there is a maximum length of UTP cable that you can run. I think its something like 150 feet.

Maximum length for CAT-5 cables is 100 meters or around 328 feet. More than enough for most users. I once used less than 40 meters to connect two offices in Tektite, one on the 31st floor and the other one on the 28th floor. :-)


~Henjie

[ibook300bb]

thanks for ALL the replys...

is there a risk in running the CAT-5 cable outside the building? Isn't it BAD to have both DATA cables and electrical cables together...

[dude_funk]

Originally posted by ibook300bb
thanks for ALL the replys...

is there a risk in running the CAT-5 cable outside the building? Isn't it BAD to have both DATA cables and electrical cables together...

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think a CAT-5 cable is designed with adequate "immunity" to outside interference. The real issue with laying out lengthy cables is providing protection from rats.

[Henjie]

Originally posted by ibook300bb
is there a risk in running the CAT-5 cable outside the building? Isn't it BAD to have both DATA cables and electrical cables together...

Risks:
- interference/crosstalk when strung close to electrical cables;
solution: use STP/shielded twisted pair cables instead of UTP/unshielded twisted pair cables);

- moisture;
solution: waterproofed PVC pipe to act as conduit; better but more expensive solution: heavy-duty exterior CAT-5 cables;

- lightning strikes;
solution: CAT-5 surge protectors;

- like Christian said, rats;

- Meralco linemen;

- your friendly neighborhood cable thieves; etc. etc.


The road between the two buildings, is it a major public road or something else?


~Henjie