802.11b Networking... I need help.

[Power Wagon]

If you are familiar with, by the fact that you've used - as in installed and maintained - a network using 802. 11b or Wi-Fi networking, I need the benefit of your experience.



I have NOT been able to find any helpful articles online, and the vendor's sites are hopelessly vague about many things.



It is my desire to use 802. 11b wireless networking to tie a number of houses here in my neighborhood together. I need to know just how well this works when we're dealing with trees, house walls, and so on. If possible, I'd like to tie the whole town together with a wireless net, making this a WIZ (Wireless Internet Zone).



Even if you just have seen a good article somewhere, I'd really appreciate your input.



Thanks everyone

 

[bvanetten]

are you talking bluetooth stuff? I believe their are considerable distance issues with most wireless products unless you are talking about directional dishes.

 

[Power Wagon]

No, not bluetooth. 802. 11b is a standard, and it's advertized ranges are 50 to 80 meters indoors and up to 550 outdoors.



I haven't seen any in-depth reviews yet, though.



I'm talking about distances of 2 to 5 blocks, city blocks. that's 400 to 1200 feet.

 

[nps]

PW,



You may want to check out Sweden, Norway and Finland. Scandinavia was pretty aggressive with wireless to the home a couple of years ago. We bid on a trial that was wire-lessing 100K homes for internet access.



Haven't really stumbled across anything else. Two folks I knew at some of the early poineering wireless office startups on the left coast are now onto different things.



Neil

 

[Trinary]

Hello,



I've used Aironet (now Cisco), Lucent, and several other brands. Check out Cisco's website. I'll try and dig up some info on their products - just attended one of their bootcamp sales engineering gigs about 2 months ago.



If you have any specific questions, drop me a line.



JAC

 

[Bryan Brenneman]

Try this guys knowledge to see if it helps you.



Sorry, I have no experience with the subject.

 

[LBTRS]

802.11B

Power Wagon,



I setup and manage our small 802. 11B LAN at work. The distance and obstacles between each make a big difference. About the only way to tell for sure is to try it. I found that certain points in a room won't work but by moving it to another location in the same room it works. Also, the hardware makes a big difference. Cisco Aironet and Orinoco hardware is what I've had the best luck with. Linksys has been the worst I've tried. I think you'd have trouble using it between houses with the desktop hardware that is sold. Let me know if you have any specific questions.



Good luck,