This is very helpful. Do you have any links or references to quality vendors that offer the magical "fairly economical solutions?"
Thanks a bunch, RS On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 5:03 PM, Dennis Hoefer <[email protected]> wrote: > We've been running point-to-point links for 9 years, upgrading > technologies as the market evolves. Currently have 90+ radios servicing > about 40 facilities in 23 towns, links range from 500 feet to 15 miles > and carry all data and VOIP traffic, so yes, we have some experience, > mostly positive. Our most distant location hops through 6 links before > it reaches our data center and gets there with 5 - 6 ms delay. > Everything currently is unlicensed radio frequencies, no optical links. > We only have a couple links where we're trying to push near 100 megabit > of actual throughput (averages closer to 70 meg), that for supporting > off location backups and redundancy for our main data center (30 mile > separation), the balance we try to achieve a 20 - 30 meg TCP throughput > which is adequate for our small, remote office needs and very cost > effective compared to attaining 100 meg links. We self install and self > maintain all of it and wouldn't trade any of them for VPN's (we have > several of those also) as we prefer being in control of our network and > taking the middle man out whenever possible. We're dealing with very > rural locations with limited options for quality, affordable data > connectivity, which is what led us to investigate fixed p-t-p in the > first place. > > What you're looking at is very feasible, provided you have roof access > and ability to run cable to the radios. Be careful with vendor and > manufacturer claims of throughput, most show raw, theoretical numbers > and don't account for the hit you take on overhead and management of the > signal (figure 50% minimum), sounds like you will however have benefit > of short distance which makes for an easy link. This has been a very > fluid technology the past few years and the competition is helping price > points, but you should still be prepared to pay some significant dollars > to achieve 100 meg+ of true throughput in a radio that is robust, self > healing and secure. Also a lot of junk out there so be sure and get > customer references to back up vendor claims. Conversely, if you can > get by with less throughput, there are a number of fairly economical > solutions available. If you're in an area that may already be congested > with competing equipment, might be a good idea to hire someone to do a > quick site survey with a spectrum analyzer. That's typically less of a > problem on very short links and the better quality (read more expensive) > equipment can monitor spectrum and self adjust as needed. > > Dennis > > -----Original Message----- > From: Ben Scott [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 9:49 AM > To: NT System Admin Issues > Subject: Short PtP LoS fixed wireless (was: Connecting two offices...) > > On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 10:03 AM, John Aldrich > <[email protected]> wrote: >> Well, if nothing else, do you have LOS between the two buildings? If >> so, maybe a point-to-point wireless circuit would work. > > I'm actually somewhat interested in this. Do people here have any > experience, positive or negative, with short-haul point-to-point > line-of-sight fixed wireless? (Wireless could mean radio or optical.) > > The common scenario would be: Two buildings across the street from > each other. Not feasible to run a hard line. But you can get a clear > line-of-sight from the roofs. > > I wouldn't want to run my LAN over a common 802.11 link -- there are > problems with throughput (especially when under heavy load), > reliability, and security. (So a Pringles can is not an option, > sorry.) > > But I'm assuming by taking advantage of this specific scenario, > something better would be possible. Proprietary gear is acceptable, > since if you're just linking two points, you don't have to worry about > interoperability. Ideally, I'd like something achieving at least 100 > megabit switched LAN speeds, with solid encryption ("VPN class", if you > will). > > -- Ben > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ > <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
