FNTC Community Wireless Handbook

Community Wireless Handbook

Version 1.00
Released: April 18, 2005
Updates of this handbook are always available at:

www.bcwireless.net/~matthewa/handbook/
Copyright (c) 2004, 2005

The First Nations Technology Council
Matthew Asham <matthewa@bcwireless.net>
The B.C. Wireless Network Society.
Page 1 First Nations Technology Council

Credits
Many thanks to these people who have reviewed and contributed ideas to the
development of this handbook.
• Sue Hanley
• Phillip Djwa
• Jamie Sterritt
• Hans DeBruyn
• Mike (aka “Reason”)
• Jamie Campbell
and countless others who have reviewed, critiqued and shared their needs with us.

Table of Contents
Community Wireless Handbook..........................................................................................1
Credits..................................................................................................................................2
Introduction..........................................................................................................................5
What is this handbook about?.........................................................................................6
Sharing your experiences................................................................................................6
Future Versions...............................................................................................................6
What is a network?..........................................................................................................7
What is the Internet?.......................................................................................................8
What is a Community Wireless Network?......................................................................8
What can Wireless networks be used for?.......................................................................8
.........................................................................................................................................8
What is a Wireless network?...........................................................................................9
What are some scenarios a Wireless network would be used?.....................................10
What other (non-wireless) network technologies are available?...................................11
What are the pros and cons of Wireless versus other technologies?.............................12
What are the legal and regulatory implications of using Wireless?..............................13
Are there any health concerns related to using Wireless?.............................................14
We have a satellite up link to the Internet, isn't that a Wireless network?....................15
Anatomy of a Wireless Network........................................................................................16
How information becomes Wireless.............................................................................17
Servicing multiple subscribers......................................................................................18
Multiple Access points..................................................................................................19
Linking to a distant community....................................................................................20
Getting started....................................................................................................................21
Range testing and Line of Sight....................................................................................22
Test links that work, but not well..................................................................................24
Site Surveying....................................................................................................................26
Basic radio theory..............................................................................................................28
Example Calculations....................................................................................................34
Examples of common Wireless hardware..........................................................................36
WRAP...........................................................................................................................37
Senao ............................................................................................................................37
Soekris...........................................................................................................................38
Tranzeo..........................................................................................................................39
Using PC's, old and new................................................................................................40

A cheap all-purpose access point for testing.................................................................41
Parts, Accessories .........................................................................................................42
Gear for your surveyor..................................................................................................43
Antennas............................................................................................................................44
Parabolic Grids..............................................................................................................45
Setting up client systems to connect to the node...........................................................46
Using Radio Mobile deluxe Software...........................................................................47
Advanced Wireless Networking........................................................................................49
Hotspots.........................................................................................................................49
Non-802.11 back haul...................................................................................................49
Mesh..............................................................................................................................49
Social issues.......................................................................................................................51
Interference....................................................................................................................51
Terminology and other ugly words you need to know......................................................52
Appendix A – Free Space Loss tables...............................................................................54
Free Space Loss at 2450 MHz.......................................................................................54
Free Space Loss at 5800 MHz.......................................................................................55
Milliwatt (mW) | Watt (W) | Decibel over a Milliwatt (dBm) conversion chart...............56
Appendix C - Site Survey Worksheet................................................................................57

Introduction
The use of high speed networks and Internet connections has exploded over the past
decade. As these communications networks become commonplace tools for conducting
business, delivering education, accessing government, and providing entertainment and
culture, many communities are concerned about falling behind if they can not provide
this technology to their citizens. Small and remote communities tend to lag behind the
major centrers because it is not as profitable for the major communication providers to
expand their network to these areas. This lack of access has become known as “the digital
divide” – the technology gap between communities with high speed communications
networks and those that do not. Many smaller communities have begun to take steps to
develop technology plans and to build broadband and Internet networks as community
projects, hoping to bridge the social and technology gaps themselves.
One network technology commonly used today for community networks is Wireless
broadband. Wireless technology uses radio waves to communicate digital information
and to provide Internet access to subscribers. The use of radio waves means that it is not
necessary to run wire, cable, or fibre optic lines to every home in the community, and
therefore networks can be implemented faster and potentially cheaper in small
communities and remote areas. A number of rural BC communities have successfully
used wireless technology to develop their community networks, so the First Nations
Technology Council (FNTC) has commissioned this handbook to help other small
communities to determine if a wireless network would be appropriate for their area, and
to provide a basic guide for getting started with wireless technology.
The goal for this handbook is to provide basic practical information so that every day
members of a community can setup and maintain a Community Wireless Network.
Although the information presented can also aid a commercial broadband network
operator to deploy a Wireless Internet Service, the target audience is volunteers and
members of the community at large who would like to participate in building a true,
Community Wireless Network.

What is this handbook about?
This handbook was developed to share our knowledge and experiences with wireless
networking and to help you use the technology to connect your community.
We realize information technology can be a complex and overwhelming subject. With
this in mind the author has tried to write this book in an easy, not overtly technical
manner based on real world experiences so that you and others in your community can
build your own Community Wireless Network.
In some parts of this handbook we discuss some of the technical facets behind radio
theory. We do not discuss complex mathematics or other things you would need to know
if you were an engineer, but if you feel overwhelmed feel free to skip the section and
come back to it later.
Wireless networking is much like playing “connect the dots”. Your end goal as a
wireless networker is to connect people and locations together, and doing so requires each
person to have a common place they can see.
This is the most important thing you, as the reader, need to keep in mind.
Sharing your experiences

If you've undertaken a community wireless project we'd like to hear about it! Send your
story or anything else you'd like to share through this handbook to
matthewa@bcwireless.net and it will be included in a future version.
Future Versions
This handbook is updated with new information and resources based on the experiences
of people in our communites. Future versions of this handbook will be released to
http://www.bcwireless.net/~matthewa/handbook/
If you are interested in tracking new releases of this handbook you can subscribe to our
handbook-announce mailing list. http://lists.bcwireless.net/mailman/admin/handbook-
announce

What is a network?
Networks are links that connect people, places and things together – the paths to allow
goods, information, or people to flow from one place to another. To allow this movement
from one place to another, a network must be addressable. This means that an item
travelling on the network must be able to specify a destination or recipients.
Using the example of a road network:
• Streets, Highways, alleys and roads are the network paths that material travels
over.
• Path names, streets, highway numbers specify the route to be taken.
• Addressing of objects on streets (such as your house address or a license plate
number on a car) allows movement to a specific place or person.
Computer networks also have these attributes. There can be many paths for information
to travel over and between networks, and most users and locations on a network have
routes and addresses such as those on a house. Unlike road networks which can move
tangible property such as food or people, computer networks do not yet have the ability to
move physical objects from one place or another, but computer networks can move
digital information very quickly, locally or around the world.
A computer network, sometimes called a data network, moves digital information (codes
and numbers) between computers (and other devices that can read computer information)
in one location to a computer or computers in other location(s). That other location could
be 2 feet away or 10,000 miles away.
Prior to the development of the Internet, if a company or an individual wanted to set up a
data network between two or more computers in different cities they would have to work
with the telephone company to connect each of the locations in the network. For a fee, the
telephone company would set up circuits to interconnect the locations. Those circuits
would be dedicated to your company – they formed a private network that no one else
could access.
The Internet was formed by a number of research establishments that wanted to share
information, but did not want to pay for a private network to connect each establishment
to every other establishment. The concept of a shared network between major centrers
funded by national organizations was introduced, and a common data format and a
common set of codes for addressing information was designed.

What is the Internet?
As this shared network grew in popularity, the applications for the network grew also. At
first the network was used to share technical articles, but as more and more people gained
access the concept of electronic mail – email – took hold. The ability to look at
information on one computer from another remote computer led to the formation of the
“worldwide web”, and various forms of sharing information on open forums called
newsgroups became common. The Internet now is a worldwide high speed network that
links millions of computers and networks together. For more information about the
Internet – look on the Internet at http://www.centerspan.org/tutorial/net.htm!
In order for all these networks and different types of computers to communicate, the
Internet has developed a common “language” and a means of addressing individual
computers on the network. This common language is called Internet Protocol (IP) or
Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and the address of a
computer on the Internet is described by its Internet Protocol Address (IP Address)
What is a Community Wireless Network?

Unlike the Internet, a Community Wireless Network refers to the network people in a
community use to connect with each other. A Community Wireless Network uses
Internet technology, and may be connected to the Internet through an Internet Point of
Presence (POP) or gateway, and even other non-Internet networks (such as other
networks located in near by regions).
What can Wireless networks be used for?

Wireless networks can be used for the same purposes as the Internet, including web
surfing, email, instant messaging, telephony, and systems used by health centres, schools
and businesses.
Wireless networks can be used to connect people within a community (the “first mile” or
“local loop”), connect branch offices and to bridge distant communities or “back haul”.

What is a Wireless network?
Wireless networks take many forms. VHF radio, FM/AM radio, Cellular Phones and CB
radios are all forms of Wireless technology but have very specific purposes (usually for
the purpose of communicating verbal information).
When we talk about Wireless networking we talk about a breed of technology that is able
to communicate data. Data can be voice, or Internet, or any other kind of computer
information. This kind of Wireless technology can be used to supplement or even replace
existing Wireless systems.
There are many Wireless technologies suitable for data networking. When the concept of
using radio signals to connect various computers in a building was introduced, the
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) formed a committee to set the
standards for the technology. That committee was called the 802.11 committee, and the
various standards they developed are known as 802.11a, or 802.11b, or 802.11g, etc. This
group of 802.11 standards became known as “WiFi” technology. Because WiFi
technology quickly became popular, the cost of WiFi equipment has come down rapidly.
Many organizations and Wireless Internet Service providers have started with WiFi.
There are other standards and designs for wireless technologies as well. Many very high
speed or long range solutions are also available and because many use TCP/IP they are
easily integrated into existing networks but for our purposes we will be primarily
discussing WiFi.

What are some scenarios a Wireless network would be used?
Wireless can be used for a variety of purposes:
• To connect households to a community network.
• To connect computers within a building in a local area network.
• To connect households to a community network.
• To provide mobile computing access, such as cellular or radio telephony.
• To connect fringe and distant communities quickly and affordably.
• To rapidly deploy a network in emergencies and for disaster relief.

What other (non-wireless) network technologies are available?

There are many other types of technologies available. Each one is capable of transferring
any type of binary information, but at different speeds and costs. Some technologies are
built on top of existing technologies while others are independent of others.
• ADSL – Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. ADSL provides high speed
connectivity between a home user and a Central Office. ADSL operates over
telephone lines.
• T1 – T1 (1.5 megabits per second or Mbps) (sometimes called HDSL). A T1 provides
a single link between two locations. They can be used between a business or home
office and an Internet Service Provider, or from business to business or any other
application where 1.5Mbps of dedicated bandwidth is needed. A T1 is really 23
individual phone lines “bonded” together.
• Cable Modem – Cable modems offer anywhere from 512K to 10Mbps of bandwidth.
These are usually used to provide consumers and small offices with high speed
Internet.
• T3 – A T3 (or often called a DS3) provides up to 45 Mbps of bandwidth and are
usually used as “backbone” connections. These are provided using telephone lines.
• OC3 – An OC3 is a 155 Mbps service that is delivered using Fibre Optics.
• Fibre Optics - Instead of using copper wires, fibre optics uses laser light to transfer
binary information at very high speeds. Fibre optics can provide up to several Giga-
bits of capacity, but is very expensive to install.

What are the pros and cons of Wireless versus other
technologies?
Cons Pros
Wireless networks use finite resources, a Wireless networks are flexible and can be
given geographical area with many wireless deployed quickly using inexpensive radio
networks will degrade in performance as equipment and antennas. The flexibility of
more users come on. For example, a being able to rapidly deploy a network
building with 20 competing networks can means that many networks operating in the
cause interference and slow performance same area can peer, or aggregate
for all users. themselves into a larger network with more
capacity to be used by users.
Wireless networks act in a similar manner Security issues are pushed to the users
to discussing something in a public area. It forcing use of encryption and “safe
can be “heard” by others in the area with computing” practises that are generally
appropriate equipment. avoided by the public at large today.
Wireless network speeds does not (yet) fair Wireless network technology is rapidly
against the gigabit speeds achieved by maturing and new, open standards are
wired networks such as gigabit Ethernet or emerging that will provide speeds
Fibre. comparable to Fibre and other
infrastructures.
Many Wireless technologies are Wireless network technologies based on
proprietary, resulting in reliance on a 802.11 and 802.16 standards (ie: WiFi and
specific vendor and lack of clarity as to an WiMax) are not restricted to any one
upgrade path. vendor and can be deployed by anyone
with a basic understanding of the
technology.
Wireless networks are ideal for connecting
many people together without the
expensive of deploying cable and human
resources.
Wireless networks provide mobility and
access to information based on physical
proximity.

What are the legal and regulatory implications of using Wireless?

Wireless networks use radio frequencies to transmit information. Some wireless
technologies use licensed frequencies, where Industry Canada licenses a specific
frequency range in a specific area to just one use. This ensures that no one else can
interfere with that signal by trying to use the same frequency. Other technologies use
unlicensed frequency bands that have been designed to allow multiple users by
automatically changing frequencies to reduce interference, and by limiting the amount of
power that the radio can put out.
If you use a Wireless technology that is license-exempt (meaning you do not have to pay
a yearly fee to Industry Canada), you are limited by the amount of power your network
can transmit. The power limitations are in place largely to protect users of the unlicensed
radio spectrum from interference.
In practical terms this means you are limited to using as much as you need, provided you
do not interfere with any other wireless systems in the area, however, with thoughtful
planning it is possible to use very low amounts of power while still building a robust
wireless network.
Legally speaking, the limits are based on the radio frequencies and topology of the
network. In a Point to Point network (where only two stations are linked together) an
unlimited amount of antenna gain is permitted, while a Point to Multi Point network (one
central station and many subscribers) is limited to a maximum of 36 dB (4 Watts) emitted
from the antenna.
In all cases the maximum amount of power a transmitter or amplifier (that is, the amount
of power going to the antenna) is 30 dBm (1 watt).
We strongly advise against using excessive amounts of power as it will cause more
interference for other users of the shared radio spectrum. In choosing a network
technology careful consideration of the frequency bands being used is also wise.
For example, the 2400 Mhz radio band used by 802.11b and 802.11g devices is very
small in comparison to the 5800 Mhz radio band. In addition many consumer products
(such as cordless telephones, microwave ovens, etc.) use this same frequency band. If
you were to setup a high power radio link in the 2400Mhz band, these devices could be
interfered with.

Are there any health concerns related to using Wireless?
There is no commonly accepted, Industry sponsored scientific evidence that Wireless
technology poses a risk to human health, however, many independent research findings
have linked health risks with high intensity radio systems.
The unlicensed radio band uses a very low amount of power in point to multi point
situations and are considered safe for use near humans, even in the home.
In long distance networks using high gain antennas the effective power output is often in
the 1000-3000 Watt range, and is potentially harmful to any person who stands directly in
the beam.
Licensed radio systems pose a significantly higher risk to human health than unlicensed
systems because they are permitted higher amounts of power. One story describes a
microwave engineer who “reportedly brought a twelve pack of beer and a plastic lawn
chair, which he positioned directly in line with the strongest microwave beam. [He] had
not been told about a tenfold boost in microwave power planned that night to handle the
anticipated increase in holiday long-distance calling traffic. “. Unfortunately the engineer
did not survive the night.
Although there are risks associated with wireless technology, it is generally safe for
public use but it is advisable to deploy higher power wireless devices in a diligent
manner.
For high gain point to point systems (such as back haul into neighbouring communities)
antennas should be placed on high locations and away from humans. If such networks
are deployed in a residential area, it is advisable to keep antennas (up to 24 dB of gain) at
least 10 meters from any person.
Higher gain (30+ dB) antennas such as those employed by Telus Navigata should be
placed even further from people.

We have a satellite up link to the Internet, isn't that a Wireless

network?
Yes, it is. Satellite Internet connections also use radio signals to transmit Internet data,
but the signal has to go back and forth to a satellite orbiting the earth, which is a long
distance. This means that more power is needed to transmit over this distance, which
usually means more expensive equipment, and the distance is long enough that even at
the speed of light the signal takes longer to travel from your computer, up to the satellite,
and back down again – this delay can be more than 1 second.
A satellite connection may be a good solution to connect your community to the Internet
if there is no other high speed connection linking the Internet to your community, but it is
not usually the best solution for distributing the Internet signal within your community..

Anatomy of a Wireless Network
A typical Wireless Network consists of:
• An access point
• Client wireless radios used by each subscriber
The access point is a “central hub” device that provides service to 1-100 subscribers.
Multiple access points may be required in larger geographic areas or to serve large groups
of users. An Access Point can be connected to other access points or connected directly to
the network that provides the connection to the Internet in your community.
The access point is typically placed in a central location within view of a group of
subscribers and within view of other access points or with a network link to a POP.
The access point manages the flow of information between subscribers and to other
elements in your network. It broadcasts a network SSID, or network name, and handles
limited security functions.
When a subscriber links to the community wireless network their subscriber radio is
configured to use the access point's SSID and relevant security parameters. The
subscriber radio then establishes a connection to the Wireless network and a data
connection is created.

How information becomes Wireless

A computer system is connected to a wireless device using an Ethernet cable.
Information sent from the computer (or other computers on the same Ethernet network)
are delivered to the Wireless device:
• A transmitter sends radio signals with information to an antenna.
• The antenna takes the radio signals and directs them into the air and directs the radio
signal toward a specific physical location.
• A receiver hears the radio signals by way of its own antenna, and converts them into a
format your computer can use.
Once the radio signal leaves the transmitter's antenna, it travels through the air and is
picked up by receiving antennas. As the signal travels through the air, it loses its
strength, eventually losing enough power that it cannot be accurately received.
Your objective is to use a combination of antennas and transmitters to deliver enough
radio signal that a reliable wireless link is maintained.

Servicing multiple subscribers
Wireless is generally what we call “line of sight”. If you can see from one location to
another, without obstacles, than a wireless connection can “see” also. This isn't
absolutely true, but is a useful guideline to follow.
When setting up a Wireless network you will need to setup an access point in a
reasonably central location. This location must be visible to those members you wish to
service. As a rule of thumb each access point may service 50-100 users at a time. As
your coverage area expands and usage demand increases, you will want to setup
additional access points and connect them together.

Multiple Access points

As your network grows you may need to setup additional access points to service a wider
area. Here we have a school and health centrer acting as access points for two distinct
areas of the community.
The health centrer and school are linked directly together.

Linking to a distant community
Some communities may have no access to the Internet or another network. Using
wireless we can create a bridge between the distant community and a community serviced
with a POP.
These are just a few examples of common uses for Wireless networking. There are many
other things you can do as your network grows and faces new challenges.

Getting started..
The easiest way to plan a wireless network in your community is to dive straight into
testing it.
Obtain some test equipment so that you can set up a temporary network to measure
performance in your area and to try different locations in your community for access
points. By testing on a case-by-case basis, you can better understand how your local
environment will affect the performance of your wireless signal, with the added bonus of
gaining experience without annoying subscribers.
You don't need to spend a lot of money on expensive hardware. The purpose of testing is
to get an idea for how well a wireless signal will travel. There's no point spending $2000
on top of the line equipment when $700 will do.
Some equipment you'll need is:
• An access point (a low cost consumer access point such as a Linksys
WRT54G: $90 CAD will suffice)
• A portable computer such as a laptop or notebook PC ($1000-$1700) along
with a Wireless card (such as an SMC 2532W-B - ~$100).
• Various antennas to test with:
• 9-14 dB “Yagi” (one each, for the surveyor and access point): $95
each.
• 19 dBi “Wire Grid ” (for the access point): $95 each.
• 24 dBi “Wire Grid” (for the access point): $130 each.
• A GPS (global positioning unit) to determine your latitude, longitude and
estimated elevation: $200.
• A compass.
• Appropriate mounting equipment for the antenna, such as a tripod and 10 foot
metal pole.
• A pair of walkie-talkies with at least 3KM range: $70-$150.
This equipment will let you test the range of wireless networks and take accurate
geographical coordinates for mapping. The GPS is especially important since the latitude
and longitude can be used to calculate wireless network coverage using computer
software.

Range testing and Line of Sight
The goal of the range test is to find optimum antenna aiming to gain maximum signal and
transfer performance. Ideally you should work with at least one other person when doing
a range test.
One person (the access point manager) will set up the access point at the base location.
This person should be able to adjust the access point and antenna orientation if necessary.
Your partner (or partners), will go to other locations with a portable computer and low
gain (9-14 dBi) antennas. These people will range test the link by aiming the antenna
toward the base station and testing the ability to communicate with it.
Setting up a 45KM test link over the Juan de Fuca Strait
As each surveyor roams around the community taking signal measurements, they should
also try to write down where they are making the measurements from. A GPS will
provide accurate latitude and longitude coordinates which can later be used with
st
computer software, but even a written description (eg: 12 1 avenue) is fine. You will
want to make a map to visualize the effective coverage area of your network afterwards.

Wireless networks are “Line of Sight” (or LOS). They must have a good view of other
users to be effective. Terrain including hills, mountains, dense trees and buildings will
weaken a wireless signal. Rain and fog are generally not a problem. If you are standing
behind a wide oak tree, don't expect the signal to get through.
The surveyor will need software to display the strength of received signal from the base
station.
• Windows users can use a freeware program called Netstumbler from
www.netstumbler.com Windows XP is recommended, as is the use of an Orinoco or
Prism based wireless card such as the SMC 2532W-B available from London Drugs.
• Linux Users can use a program called Kismet with Prism based wireless cards (such as
the SMC 2532W-B). In general we find that Netstumbler and Windows XP is easier
to use for network surveying.

Test links that work, but not well.
One test two BC Wireless members conducted was between two sites approximately 6.9
KM (4.3 miles) away from each
other.
The test sites are labelled Node 1
and Node 2 respectively
Node 1 used a 19 dBi directional

antenna, while Node 2 used a 24
dB antenna.
Both nodes used a portable

laptop.
7 KM test link from North Vancouver to UBC

The signal strength is -76 dB. This is adequate for mid-speed network link but this link
should have achieved a signal level of -61 dB (well above our desired level of -68 dB).
Netstumbler showing signal readings from the North Vancouver test site

We were so excited that our first link tested worked right away, we forgot to think about
what we were doing. Hindsight showed us several mistakes that were made:
• The antennas were not properly aligned. Using binoculars or a spotting scope
we could have properly aligned the antennas.
• We used a total of 40 feet of coaxial cable, this along cut the signal strength by
nearly half. In general it is best to minimize the use of coaxial cable, and
many access points and wireless radios do not even use cable (such as the
Tranzeo wireless devices)
• Each side of the link must have the antennas oriented in the same manner.
This is called polarity, if one antenna is horizontally aimed while the other is
vertically aimed, the link will lose up to 20 dB of signal.
• Each side of the link was approximately 1 meter above sea level. Much of our
radio signal was absorbed by the ocean in between. If we had elevated our
antennas by 10 feet or so, the link could have been much more reliable.

Site Surveying
The first thing to do when setting up a wireless network is to conduct a site survey. The
survey will help you understand the coverage area of your network and identify the types
of equipment you'll need to connect your subscribers into the network.
Using your laptop and 9 dB antenna, walk around the area where your access point is
servicing. Make note of dead spots or locations that have poor signal readings.
You should also go to each potential subscriber's location and take signal readings. Be
sure to note down the following:
• The Site's latitude, longitude and if possible, elevation (use a GPS)

• The received signal reading and the noise level.
• Whether power is available.
• Whether the site is readily accessible (for maintenance).
• Visibility from the site (what can it see?). Taking pictures of the site is very useful.
• Where antennas may be placed, and how they can be mounted
A sample worksheet for recording this information is contained in Appendix C.
If possible (and with permission of the property owner), take digital pictures from each
place where a wireless device could be mounted.
You will need to map out possible locations and areas where your Wireless network
should provide coverage. Keeping track of a locations geographical coordinates using a
GPS is the first step to creating a map.

Once you've completed your survey, take a map (or use Radio Mobile) and place
markers (stick pins work well if using a paper map and cork board) at each location you
test. Use a different colour pin to indicate the strength of the access point's signal.
Received Signal Level Colour

0 through -65 Green
-65 through -75 Yellow
-75 and lower Red
By colour coding each location based on the signal level, you can get an idea of the
strength of your network and weak points.

Basic radio theory
This section is by no means in depth or complete. Unlike wireless systems of the past,
current wireless technology is designed for people building networks, not radio engineers.
Wireless (radio) signals travel through mediums such as the air, and copper wire. Radio
signals are electrical signals. When an electric current travels through a piece of wire, it
emits a wave in the air around it.
By using a proper combination of wire types, shapes and lengths (such as an antenna), it
is possible to force an electrical signal to travel through the air without any wires. This is
called propagation.
You can visualize a radio signal as a wave (like the wave in a pool of water). Radio
waves can go up and down at varying speeds. This is called the frequency, or the
number of times a radio wave moves up and down.
There are three frequency bands we can use without requiring licensing from the Federal
Government. These bands are:
Range Advantages Caveats

902 – 928 MHz • Less affected by trees, buildings. • Limited number of
frequencies.
• Low capacity (under 5
Mbps).
• Higher cost of equipment.
• Heavily used by cordless
phones and other devices.
2400 – 2483 • More bandwidth than 900 MHz • Line of sight, doesn't like
MHz band. trees or buildings.
• Many, many products on the • Heavily used by other
market. devices including cordless
phones.
• Cheap antennas and radios.
• Shared with Microwave
• Higher bandwidths (1-50Mbps).
ovens, Amateur Radio
operators and some
television companies.

Range Advantages Caveats

5200-5800 MHz • Much more bandwidth than 900 or • Used by cordless phones.
2400 MHz band. • Even less range than 2400
• Not used by many consumers for and 900 MHz band
data networks. • Affected by water, snow.
• Higher antenna gain to make up for • Shared by military and
limited range. government systems, and
• Actually consists of three bands radar.
from 5150 to 5200, 5200 – 5350
and 5725 – 5825. More channels to
choose from.
Antennas are made to a certain size based on the frequencies, you can not take an antenna
from a 2400 MHz radio and use it on a 5800 MHz radio, or vice versa.
There are not many 900 MHz products on the market, although it is used in some areas
for weather monitoring, traffic control and telephones. The 900 MHz band is especially
useful for shooting through trees and other obstructions, particularly well suited to
heavily treed and rural areas.
The 2400 MHz band is a very commonly used frequency band. Typical wireless
technologies that use this band are 802.11b (1-11 Mbps) and 802.11g (1-50 Mbps).
There are 11 channels in the 2400 MHz band, but only three of them are independent.
The other channels 'overlap', meaning that a user on channel 1 will receive some
interference from users on channels 2 and 3. 2.4 GHz signals will penetrate some light
tree coverage, best to try a sample link to see how much penetration is possible.
The 5200-5800 MHz band is not heavily used by consumer Wireless networking products
today. It is used by some cordless phones, however. The 5200Mhz band has three sub-
bands, the lowest being for indoor home use only, while the 5800Mhz frequencies can be
used for long distance wireless links at very fast speeds (30 – 100 Mbps).
A common strategy is to use 2400 MHz (802.11b and 802.11g) in residential and home
environments, and 5.8 GHz for network infrastructure (such as longer point to point
links).
So we can send an electrical signal out in to the air, but we must make the electrical
signal behave in a way that can transfer information. This is called modulation.

A Wireless radio takes information from your computer and modulates it. It creates an
electrical signal that is sent along a wire, to an antenna. The antenna is made up of wires
cut to certain lengths based on the frequency of the radio wave. If the length is right, the
signal leaves the antenna and travels through the air.
As the radio signal travels through the air it passes through various objects (such as
oxygen molecules, birds, insects, trees, houses, etc.). All of these things absorb the radio
signal. This is called loss.
Air itself causes loss, but is fairly well known. The amount of loss that happens because
of a signal travelling through the air is called free space loss.
Other objects such as buildings or trees also cause loss.
Ideally you want to send your signal through air and air only. If you can transmit your
signal with no obstructions such as trees or buildings, you have what's called pure line of
sight.
We can tell how far a radio signal will travel, and get an idea of how much information
we can transmit based on:
• The amount of power the antenna is transmitting into the air.
• The distance between the transmitting and receiving sides.
• How much radio signal the receiving radio needs.
• What type of obstructions are in the way.
When selecting a radio you need to know:
It's all about the dB

Radio power is measured in decibels, or “dB”. Sometimes you may hear radio power
talked about as watts. Instead of using watts you can convert wattage to dB. Doing so
lets you calculate radio links using simple addition and subtraction.

How much power it transmits.

Radio transmitter power is rated in one of two ways. Watts, and decibels. The actual
power is in watts, but decibels (dB) is easier to use.
For example, an average Wireless radio card transmits at 30 mill-watts (or mW). Instead
of 30 mW, we say it has a power output of 15 dBm.
The amount of radio signal it needs to “hear”.

The radio also needs to be able to hear a radio signal at a certain level. As the radio
signal travels through the air, it weakens (much like shouting at someone from a mile
away). The minimum signal required for a receiver to understand the data is called the
receive sensitivity.
Radios are usually rated in dBm or decibels over a milliwatt. Note that this is the same
unit as the radio's transmission power. You'll see why this is useful in a bit.
When a radio signal leaves the transmitting antenna your dB will be a high number (for
example: 25 dB). As it travels through the air, it loses strength and will drop to a
negative number. This is why the amount of power a receiver needs is often rated as low
as -80 dB.
The use of negative numbers can be confusing at first. Just remember, 20 is higher than
0, and -20 is lower than 0. Thus if you can achieve a signal level of -60 dB and your
radio needs -80, you have 20 dB of extra signal to accommodate interference and other
issues.
Many radios support different transmission speeds (eg: 1 through 11 Mbps). Each speed
requires a different amount of radio signal to operate correctly.
Here's an example:
Radio Name 1 Mbps 2 Mbps 5.5 Mbps 11 Mbps

Lucent Orinoco -94 dBm -91 dBm -87 dBm -82 dBm
“classic”
802.11b radio
In plain english this means that the Orinoco radio needs to hear at least -82 dBm of radio
signal to operate at 11 Mbps. This is a worst case scenario though, you should try to get
at least 10 extra dBm so instead of thinking it needs -82, say -72 dBm.

How far it can go.
Now that we know how much power we can put out, and how much we need, we have to
figure out how much radio signal will be available at the receiving end. The way we
figure this out is to determine how much loss is present between the two radios.
Remember, as a radio signal travels through the air it loses power. This is called Free
Space Loss, or “the amount of signal lost while travelling through free space”.
A reference table of common Free Space Losses is included in the Appendix of this
handbook
§For example, free space loss at 5 miles is 118.36 dB.
Using the work sheet below we can estimate the range of our network:
What Add or subtract it The value (all in dB!)

Transmitter power + 15 dBm
Transmitter antenna gain + 14 dBi
Receiver antenna gain + 14 dBi
Transmitter's coaxial cable - 2 dB
loss
Receiver's coaxial cable loss - 2 dB
Free Space Loss @ 5 miles - 118.36 dB
Total -79.36 dB
Based on the basic math we did, we can guesstimate that a 15 dBm radio hooked into a
14 dBi antenna, transmitting 5 miles to another radio hooked up to a 14 dBi antenna will
yield approximately -79 dB of signal.
That's not to bad, enough to get an 11 Mbps connection but it's not ideal. We want to
achieve a signal level of at least 10-20 dB higher than the minimum needed by a radio. In

this scenario you might use a higher power transmitter, choose a higher gain antenna, or
even setup a dedicated access point to handle subscribers in the 3-5 mile range, leaving
this access point to service subscribers up to 3 miles.

Example Calculations
The table below lists some sample calculations, the table fields are:
• tx – The transmitter power output in dB.
• tx antenna – The transmitting sides antenna gain.
• rx antenna – The receiving sides antenna gain.
• tx loss – Cable and connector loss on the transmitting sides.
• rx loss – Cable and connector loss on the receiving sides.
• Path loss – The amount of signal loss based on the distance of the link and radio
frequency.
• Receive Level – The total amount of radio signal we expect to “hear”.
Remember, we're adding up the positive values that add performance to our network link
and subtracting values that take away signal.
tx tx Antenna rx Antenna tx loss rx loss Path Loss Receive

/Distance Level
-118.36
15 24 24 -1 -1 (5 miles) -57
-118.36
15 24 14 -1 -1 (5 miles) -67
-104.38
15 14 14 -2 -1 (1 mile) -64
-113.93
20 18 14 -2 -1 (3 miles) -64
-113.93
20 18 9 -2 -3 (3 miles) -71
As we add the transmitter power, antenna gains, the coaxial cable and connector losses,
and the total path loss we come up with a theoretical Receive Level. Ideally we want this
receive level to be at least 10-20 dB higher than what our client radios need to “hear”.

Assuming our clients have radios that need -80 dB of signal, an expected receive level of
-67 is well within our comfort range, and even -71 is okay.
Although the calculations can be done quickly by hand, several computer tools can be
used to save time and help visualize how these numbers fit together.
• www.bcwireless.net/misc/radio.xls a spreadsheet for OpenOffice and Microsoft Excel,
will “do the math” for you.

Examples of common Wireless hardware
There are typically three ways for obtaining a wireless repeater.

• Building it yourself using separately obtained parts
• Buying pre-assembled equipment from a vendor
• Buying integrated “all in one” devices.
Each of these options comes with unique benefits and trade offs.
Integrated “all in one” devices save time and help get a specific goal accomplished but at
the sacrifice of flexibility and management tools. Such devices typically run a special
type of software that can not be expanded, and serve only one function.
Building your own equipment can provide many benefits to your community beyond a
wireless infrastructure. The software used on the devices can be expanded by your
community to offer multimedia services to subscribers and tourists. They can also be re-
tasked for other purposes later when they are replaced by newer technologies.
The devices can also be used as a learning and development tool for aspiring hackers in
the community, and provide a means for entrepreneurs to develop innovative software
and services.
Groups such as the BC Wireless Network Society utilize PC based systems because of
their flexibility and design.

WRAP
The PC Engines “WRAP” (Wireless

Routing Application Platform) is a low-
profile, low power controller board.
It is capable of running Linux and
several commercially available operating
system and is capable of using one or
two wireless radios.
The picture here shows a WRAP board with one Wireless radio, mounted in a water
resistant case.
The system here is available from Valemount Networks Corporation (www.staros.com),
in Valemount, BC.
Senao
The Senao (pronounced “Senn Ay Oh”) 2511 is a high power
(23 dBm) access point and is very popular with Wireless
Internet Service Providers. The device is typically housed in a
case similar to the picture shown here. Fully assembled
systems cost approximately $600 USD.

Soekris
The Soekris (“Soh Chris”) 4826 is functionally similar to

the WRAP, it offers 2 radio slots and is able to run
Linux based operating systems.
Metrix Communications (www.metrix.net) sells parts
separately and as assembled “kits”.
Their flag ship product, the Metrix Mark-II is housed in a
water proof container and ships with cables, power
supply and related accessories. The cost for the kit is
approximately $500 USD.

Tranzeo
Tranzeo (“Tranz Zee Oh”) manufactures “integrated” all-in-one radios. These devices
have a directional antenna built into the radio, allowing for easy roof mounting. No
coaxial cable is needed, power is supplied over an Ethernet cable running from the radio
into your network centrer.
Tranzeo also manufacturers similar systems for point to point
bridge links, as well as subscriber radios.
For more information about Tranzeo's products, visit
www.tranzeo.com

Using PC's, old and new
PC's can be used for building wireless repeaters as well. Although a PC motherboard is
considerably larger than a Soekris or WRAP box, many older computers are in need of
recycling and can be used for experimenting with wireless or even setting up permanent
repeaters with.
Here's an example of a repeater we built using a low-power PC motherboard. The device
has radio adaptors (shown in the top part of the picture) each capable of holding two
radios each (that's a total of four wireless radios in one unit!) and a power adaptor to let it
run off a battery or solar panel.
Instead of a hard-drive, we used a special memory module that acts like a hard drive but
has no moving parts. This module runs Linux and controls the repeater's functionality.
Home brew repeater in a solid aluminum case

A cheap all-purpose access point for testing

The Linksys WRT54G is an affordable, consumer class
access point that is suitable for testing. You wouldn't want to
build a Community Network infrastructure with it, but for
testing up a survey network the WRT54G is very useful.
The WRT54G has two antennas, capable of being removed
and replaced with external high gain antennas.
The WRT54G is available from many computer stores and costs between $70-$130 CAD.

Parts, Accessories
If you decide to use a non-all in one system, whether you build it yourself or purchase the
device pre-assembled you will need to know how the different parts work together.
Controller Board
The heart of the system is your controller board, this board handles runs a computer
operating system and controls the radios.
Common controller boards include:
• The WRAP
• Soekris
• Even an old PC
The Radio(s)
The wireless radio itself plugs into the controller board. Some
boards can handle two or more radios.
Radios come in many shapes and sizes. For WRAP and
Soekris based devices, radios less than the size of a business
card are used.
MiniPCI Radio Card
Some portable and laptop computers support another type

of radio card, the CardBus radio. These plug into a slot in
the computer and often support attaching an external
antenna.
These radios are very useful for site surveyors and range
testers as they can be removed easily, allowing a tester to
use different speed and powers in a range test.
Laptop radio card

Gear for your surveyor
A Wireless Network Card

Your surveyor will need a Wireless Network card that
supports connecting an external antenna.
The SMC 2532W-B is a high power radio card with a
built in antenna. The antenna can be removed and the
radio can be attached directly to an external antenna using a pigtail.
These cards are 23 dB radios with extremely good receive sensitivity. They function very
well under Linux and Windows.
These cards have been found in computer stores, including London Drugs for
approximately $115 CAD.
A GPS
A GPS (Global Positioning System) is a radio receiver that
can display your geographical coordinates.
A GPS allows a site surveyor to take accurate measurements
and plot network coverage on a map using Radio Mobile.
The Garmin eTrex GPS displayed here is a low end GPS
receiver, available from Canadian Tire for approximately
$150

“Pigtails”
A “pigtail” is connected to the radio, and external antenna

cable (or even the antenna itself). Pigtails often come in a
“bulkhead” format, which allows you to place the larger
antenna connector through a hole drilled in your case, as
demonstrated here:
Antennas
Antennas are the key part of your wireless system. It doesn't matter how little, or how
much power your transmitter can produce.
Antennas focus the radio energy from a transmitter into a “beam”. Similar to a flash light
with an adjustable head, the antenna can focus radio energy into a specific direction or
emit it evenly.
Antennas that focus energy into one direction are called Directional Antennas. The other
kind of antenna is an Omni directional, meaning the antenna emits radio energy all
around.
Antennas introduce gain into a radio system. Gain is measured in dB, just as a
transmitter is. You can calculate the total effective power being sent from an antenna by
adding the transmitters power output to the gain of the antenna:
15 dBm transmitter + 14 dBi antenna == 29 dB
Antennas also have a “beam width”. This is literally the width of the radio beam. Beam
width is measured in degrees and has separate horizontal (along the horizon or ground)
and vertical (up and down) beam widths.

Parabolic Grids
The antenna is an 18 dBi “grid” parabolic. It

is directional, meaning that it focuses the
radio energy in a specific direction. This
particular antenna has a vertical beam width
of 11 degrees and a horizontal beam width of
17 degrees meaning that at a distance (on
order of centimetres) where the radio signal
has decreased by 3 dB, the beam width of the
signal is 11 x 17 degrees .
This antenna will be used with your access point radio. The access point radio will be
connected to the upstream Internet connection or other local networks. Regardless of the
type of Internet connection (be it a Telus EB1, satellite feed or Microwave hop from
Navigata) we assume that this wireless equipment will be connected to some sort of
Local Area Network using ethernet network cable.

Setting up client systems to connect to the node.
Client systems may use a variety of types of wireless hardware to connect to the base
station. The hardware may consist of a wireless network card in a desktop PC with
coaxial cable running to a nearby window or roof and antenna.
The type of antenna needed depends on the proximity of the client and the base station.
Distant clients will need a higher gain antenna. Some clients may have special needs or
restrictions, such as strata councils that do not allow antennas. Depending on needs you
may need to help them devise decoy antennas (antennas that look like flag poles, vent
pipes, etc.).
If at all possible you should help the customer deploy a radio system that sits on their
roof and is directly attached to the antenna. A Cat5 network cable can be run into their
house with power supplied over the network cable. Cost for this type of solution can be
more expensive than simply running coaxial cable from the person's PC to roof but
situations differ based on funding sources and performance of the equipment being used.
Antennas mounted to a client's premise should not be hindered by foreign objects such as
trees or other buildings, and should be mounted securely to combat environmental effects
such as wind.
When developing the network you should try to build it in a way that clients are using
low gain antennas such as 9 or 14 dBi antennas. If you need a higher gain antenna,
consider setting up a two radio repeater to extend the range of your access point into
clients local geographical area.

Using Radio Mobile deluxe Software

Radio Mobile Deluxe is a Windows Freeware utility for designing Radio networks. It
was written by Roger Coudé, VE2DBE.
Radio Mobile can generate maps which reflect the local terrain (topographic maps) using
freely available GIS data. The software can display the visual coverage from a wireless
repeater's location, and calculate radio performance (such as signal strength and
interference) between wirelessly connected radio systems.
The software is an excellent program for plotting long distance point to point wireless
links as well as determining the coverage a repeater has within your community.
The screen shot below shows Radio Mobile displaying a map of the Lower Mainland
including Vancouver and Richmond. Three nodes are displayed, test node 2 and 1 are
directly connected using a Point to Point link and test node 4 and 1 are connected as well.
The yellow blotches in the map are the visual coverage as seen from Test node 4. The
map is topographic, meaning that elevations of buildings and land are taken into account.

Getting free map data.
Radio mobile can use “SRTM” (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) data produced by
NASA. If broadband Internet access is available, Radio Mobile can be configured to
download data as needed.
For communities without broadband it may be possible to obtain software as part of a
Wireless Resource kit produced by the BC Wireless Network Society.
A pre-packaged version of Radio Mobile including SRTM data can be downloaded from
the BC Wireless FTP site at ftp://ftp.bcwireless.net/pub/radiomobile/

Advanced Wireless Networking
Hotspots
Hotspots are wireless networks often run by businesses and individuals. They are called
hotspots, because they provide a small coverage area for people to connect to community
networks and the Internet with.
Popular locations for hotspots include communal areas such as restaurants and cafes.
Hotspots are also powerful tools for supporting tourism. Visitors to a hotspot can be
presented with information about the local community, including upcoming events and
even presentations of local artwork and artisan works.
The BC Wireless Network Society provides a service for Community Wireless Hotspot
Network, more information can be found from http://www.bcwireless.net/hotspot/
Non-802.11 back haul

You may find yourself needing to connect a distant community, or purchasing high
capacity bandwidth from a network service provider. Although WiFi/802.11 wireless
technology can accommodate your needs, higher capacity wireless networking is
available.
“Ethernet Bridges” that use the 5800 MHz radio spectrum can be used to connect with
distant communities and service providers at speeds of 155 Mbps. These devices are
quite a bit more expensive than WiFi, often $10,000 to $20,000 (USD) but are license
exempt and designed to carry large amounts of information.
Mesh
Mesh Networking is the holy grail of Wireless networking. Mesh refers to many types of
technology that enable wireless systems to automatically find each other and self
configure themselves to route information amongst themselves.
Mesh is as organic as networks can get, but is very immature. Several implementations
exist (but are not compatible with each other). Mesh networking should be treated as
experimental, but we strongly suggest that community wireless networks make
provisions for using Mesh technology either during early deployment (where it may turn
out to be stable for the needs of the community) or on an experimental basis.

Some popular mesh protocols that exist are:
• AODV – A very common mesh protocol used by commercial and open source
products such as LocustWorld. AODV appears to have many flaws, and is not
necessarily recommended.
• RoofNet – An experimental protocol from MIT. RoofNet is being tested by
community wireless networks throughout the world, and appears to be very
promising.
Most Mesh products work under the Linux operating system and can use Prism 2.0 and
2.5 devices, or Atheros based radios.

Social issues
Interference
At first you may be the only wireless network within your region, but as your network
grows and more people “get on line” you will find yourself competing with new
providers.
Wireless radio spectrum is a finite resource. Many people can use the radio spectrum, but
as more people use wireless networking interference will increase.
In some cases you may even find your competitors actively working to interfere with you.
It is important to adopt a policy early on in your network deployment to work with your
community to resolve interference issues. Network operators should inform each other
when setting up new wireless system.
In fact, if you use licensed wireless devices you must coordinate with other wireless
users. Although coordination is not required when using license exempt wireless devices,
it is a best practise to follow.

Terminology and other ugly words you need to know.
Bridge
A bridge connects two paths together directly. Bridges do not decide where information
should be sent, they simply send whatever they hear.
Beam width
Beam Width is literally the width of a radio signal, in degrees. Antennas focus a radio
signal.
ISP
Internet Service Provider. An ISP is a company that provides Internet Services. This
usually means the ISP has a very large Internet connection (such as T1s, a DS3, OC3,
etc.) and runs servers to provide local Email and Web presence.
Free Space Loss
The amount of radio signal strength lost as the signal travels through a space between two
points. It is called “Free Space” because the loss does not include foreign sources of loss
such as trees or buildings.
POP
POP means two different things, depending on context.
• Email – POP is the Post Office Protocol. This is usually known as POP3.
• Networks – Point of Presence. A POP is a place where a network is available. A bank
machine in a gas station or band office could be thought of being a Point of Presence
because although the Bank itself is not there, it has a presence in the area through the
machine.
Router
A Router is like an intersection of a road. When information is received by a router, the
router decides where it should be sent to next. It does this by looking at where the
information is destined for, and what paths the router can send it to. The router may
decide to send the information down one of many paths based on network conditions,
cost of a network connection, proximity, etc.

You might envision a router thinking something like this to itself, “I just got a message
from someguy.Internet.com, it's supposed to go to thatotherdude.overthere.com. I'll send
it down via my friend myfriend.thatscloser.tooverthere.com”.
TCP/IP
TCP/IP is a protocol. It specifies how information should be sent over an Internet type
network. The Internet refers to many different networks (and technologies).
TCP/IP basically attaches a packing slip onto a packet of information. It includes where
the information comes from, where it is going, how long the information is and options as
to how the information should he handled.
TCP/IP allows information to be passed onto other networks until it finally reaches its
destination.
WiFi
“Wireless Fidelity”, refers to a commonly used Wireless technology known as “802.11”.
WiFi comes in many speeds and uses many frequency bands. Many users use WiFi
within their homes, while service providers often use WiFi to connect subscribers
together.

Appendix A – Free Space Loss tables
Free Space Loss at 2450 MHz

From: https://www.bcwireless.net/moin.cgi/FreeSpaceLossTable
Miles Free Space Loss in dB

1 104.38
2 110.4
3 113.93
4 116.42
5 118.36
6 119.95
7 121.29
8 122.45
9 123.47
10 124.38
11 125.21
12 125.97
13 126.66
14 127.31
15 127.91
16 128.47
17 128.99
18 129.49
19 129.96

Free Space Loss at 5800 MHz

Miles Free Space Loss in dB
1 111.87
2 117.89
3 121.41
4 123.91
5 125.85
6 127.43
7 128.77
8 129.93
9 130.95
10 131.87
11 132.7
12 133.45
13 134.15
14 134.79
15 135.39
16 135.95
17 136.48
18 136.97
19 137.44

Milliwatt (mW) | Watt (W) | Decibel over a Milliwatt (dBm)
conversion chart.
dBm mW W dBm mW W
0 dBm 1 mw 22 dBm 158 mw
8 dBm 6 mw 30 dBm 1000 mw 1
9 dBm 8 mw 31 dBm 1259 mw 1.259 W
10 dBm 10 mw 32 dBm 1585 mw 1.585 W
11 dBm 13 mw 33 dBm 1995 mw 1.995 W
12 dBm 16 mw 34 dBm 2512 mw 2.512 W
13 dBm 20 mw 35 dBm 3162 mw 3.162 W
14 dBm 25 mw 36 dBm 3981 mw 3.981 W
15 dBm 32 mw
16 dBm 40 mw
17 dBm 50 mw
18 dBm 63 mw
19 dBm 79 mw
20 dBm 100 mw
21 dBm 126 mw

Appendix C - Site Survey Worksheet
Location Address:
Property Contact:
Latitude and Longitude:
Access point tested against:
Antenna Used:
Signal of access point:
Noise Level:
Power available?
Note: The BC Wireless Network Society maintains a comprehensive locations database

that can be used to store location and placement surveys. You'll need to be a BC
Wireless volunteer to use the database, however, sign up from
https://www.bcwireless.net/signup.php

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Community Wireless Handbook

Community Wireless Handbook

Updates of this handbook are always available at:

Copyright (c) 2004, 2005

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What can Wireless networks be used for?.......................................................................8

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Sharing your experiences

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What is a Community Wireless Network?

What can Wireless networks be used for?

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What is a Wireless network?

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What other (non-wireless) network technologies are available?

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What are the legal and regulatory implications of using Wireless?

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We have a satellite up link to the Internet, isn't that a Wireless

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How information becomes Wireless

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Multiple Access points

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Setting up a 45KM test link over the Juan de Fuca Strait

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Node 1 used a 19 dBi directional

Both nodes used a portable

7 KM test link from North Vancouver to UBC

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• The Site's latitude, longitude and if possible, elevation (use a GPS)

A sample worksheet for recording this information is contained in Appendix C.

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Received Signal Level Colour

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Range Advantages Caveats

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Range Advantages Caveats

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When selecting a radio you need to know:

It's all about the dB

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How much power it transmits.

The amount of radio signal it needs to “hear”.

Radio Name 1 Mbps 2 Mbps 5.5 Mbps 11 Mbps

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What Add or subtract it The value (all in dB!)

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tx tx Antenna rx Antenna tx loss rx loss Path Loss Receive

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