Point-to-Point and Outdoor WiFi

Point-to-Point Links
Outdoor WiFi Coverage
Metro-Area WiFi

High-Throughput, High-Capacity Outdoor 802.11n/ac and Licensed Microwave Connectivity

Connect802 - Wireless Point-to-Point Experts
You can deploy a point-to-point solution quickly and cost effectively and Connect802 provides professional wireless point-to-point bridge on-site design and installation support services nationwide. If you're trying to locate an authorized reseller of wireless point-to-point bridge equipment - you've found us!

How does Connect802 perform a wireless point-to-point WiFi wireless bridge link survey and design?
After working with you to determine the required wireless point-to-point WiFi link throughput, capacity, mounting assets, and line-of-sight distance between the endpoints our engineering team will be able to specify the right equipment for the project. With that starting point there are two alternative approaches to finalizing the design:
  1. If you know where the two mounting points will be we'll use a Google Earth satellite image to identify the outdoor bridge radio mounting points and determine the exact link length. Alternatively, you may know the exact link distance
  2. If there are uncertainties regarding mounting locations for the outdoor point-to-point radios then Connect802 can dispatch an engineer to the site to perform a Physical Site Assessment and determine the link distance (as well as photo-documenting the installation locations)
Once the specifics of the wireless point-to-point link are established then Connect802 works directly with the equipment manufacturer to create a "link budget analysis" (calculations that determine the characteristics of the point-to-point link) and the "path loss" (the expected degradation in signal in both clear weather and inclement weather). We do this so that it's not only Connect802 that's standing behind the performance expectations for the link but the manufacturer as well.

Are wireless outdoor point-to-point bridge links expensive?
A pair of wireless bridges can cost less than $1000.00 or more than $40,000.00 depending on the required throughput and link distance. As throughput and capacity goes up or link length increases so does the cost of the wireless bridge equipment. Interconnecting two buildings on a corporate or school campus is generally at the low end of the outdoor bridge price range while putting a high-capacity outdoor point-to-point bridge on a tower to create a 20-mile link is at the high end of the point-to-point bridge cost. Connect802 has worked with multiple manufacturers and distributors for many years and will be able to recommend the most cost-effective solution that meets your data transmission requirements.

There are two general approaches to implementing an outdoor wireless link: 
  • Point-to-point bridges that create a single link between two points and which can provide very high (10+ Gigabits/sec) throughput and outdoor point-to-multipoint connectivity. 
  • A WiFi point-to-multipoint system may be implemented with a hub-and-spoke design plan or as an outdoor 802.11 mesh network system using specialized outdoor mesh access points. 
The Connect802 pre-sales engineering team is at your service to discuss these various options and approaches to implementing an outdoor wireless system.

How can 802.11b/g/n/ac WiFi connectivity be provided to 20,000 people in a sports or outdoor venue?
The Democratic National Convention in 2012 was held at the Time Warner Charlotte Arena (since renamed The Spectrum Center) which has a seating capacity of 20,000. The Connect802 design team was on-site performing coverage and signal measurements in the arena; working with Ruckus Wireless, the manufacturer that was providing the WiFi access points for coverage in the arena. We were able to create a stadium design plan that provided secure, manageable WiFi coverage to the attendees at the convention. Connect802 has designed and implemented outdoor WiFi coverage for multiple U.S. Navy port facilities as well as at the Port of Portland and the Port of Jacksonville. Our engineering team developed a design plan for a music festival hosting over 100,000 people as well as numerous metro-area WiFi designs across the United States. 

High-capacity outdoor WiFi network systems can be designed and implemented for stadiums and outdoor venues, parks and resorts, and metro-areas and suburbs. Connect802 has years of experience in the design and implementation of large-scale outdoor WiFi network systems and is an excellent resource for your outdoor 802.11b/g/n/ac WiFi project.

What are the primary planning considerations that Connect802 uses for outdoor WiFi system design?
  • Carrier-class capabilities: 802.11 WiFi providing users with high capacity and high throughput
  • Exceptional Performance: Coverage and system capabilities that help assure up-time and reliability
  • Security and User Authentication: Captive portal gateway login and authentication
  • Ease of Management: Local and cloud-based controller options
  • Cost Effectiveness: Realistic coverage and usage assessment to avoid unnecessary equipment costs
  • Scalability: The ability to easily expand the coverage area without redesigning the outdoor WiFi system
  • Return on Investment: Subscription service options and location-based advertising capabilities

Connect802 Wide-Area WiFi Connectivity Services and Support

List of Services

Perspective On Wireless Point-to-Point WiFi Bridging
A point-to-point microwave link is a communications system that uses a microwave frequency modulated radio transmissions to transmit video, audio, or data between two locations. The two locations that are bridged with the point-to-point link could be a few hundred feet apart or multiple miles apart. Implementing a wireless point-to-point bridge link, whether in unlicensed or licensed wireless frequency bands, can be a quick-to-deploy and cost effective alternative to trenching fiber to interconnect two sites. These links, also known as "fixed wireless backhaul", often are deployed in licensed or light-licensed frequencies to avoid noise and interference that may be present in unlicensed bands. On the other hand, the 60 GHz light-licensed frequency band and the 80 GHz band, are subject to potentially significant rain fading which limits their range.

A wireless point-to-point link can be engineered to provide close to 100% uptime with no interference. When there's a need to interconnect two adjacent buildings the cost to deploy and install can be surprisingly low and, for long-distance links, the cost of wireless microwave radio equipment is typically much less than the comparative cost of running fiber optic cable.

In addition to simple wireless data transmission between building on a campus, point-to-point wireless links are used in the telecom space as connections between cell towers. These typically use licensed frequency bands and high-capacity microwave radios. Wireless links, often simple 802.11 WiFi wireless point-to-point bridges, are often used for outdoor video surveillance security systems. 

Point-to-Point Wireless Link Design Considerations
Wireless bridge links are "line of sight" meaning that the two radios on opposite ends of a wireless connection must be able to see each other. That doesn't mean you, as a human, can see the other radio but, perhaps with binoculars or a telescope, you could probably see the other end of the wireless link. We say, "probably" because radio waves bend around the horizon just a little bit further than visible light so, for a long-distance microwave link (20+miles) you might not actually be able to visually see the other end of a link. These are all part of the calculations and design engineering considerations that go into designing installation plans for outdoor, point-to-point wireless bridge links.

A design for outdoor backhaul between two distant locations may involve radios mounted on antenna towers and may include point-to-multipoint (hub-and-spoke) designs. Between two buildings in a campus environment, particularly across a street where trenching fiber is not an option, is often a more straightforward design and engineering task. Sometimes this is referred to as "wireless Ethernet".

Unlike 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi wireless point-to-point bridge design, systems that operate above 30 GHz (and below 100 GHz) are referred to as "millimeter wave" equipment based on the signal's wavelength. Radio waves in these frequencies are strongly attenuated by the Earth's atmosphere, particularly during rain or fog events. Oxygen molecules in the air introduce a resonant attenuation around 60 GHz and further impact that design constraints of a wireless bridge system. 

You can explore some of the design considerations directly using the Connect802 Antenna System Designer on-line calculator. The Connect802 wireless engineering team stands ready to provided wireless bridging, point-to-point network system design consulting and engineering services; and product sales. "We've Got You Covered!"

Perspective On Outdoor 802.11 WiFi Systems for Stadiums, Event Venues, and Metro-Areas
WiFi systems installed outdoors need to withstand the effects of the weather. Wind, rain, humidity, freezing temperatures, snow, blowing dust and sand, ocean spray - all of these can ruin the electronics in an 802.11 access point that is not ideal for outdoor deployment. A rating code, called the "IP Rating" indicates the degree to which an outdoor access point is able to withstand the environment [jump down to the IP Rating Code discussion]. When Connect802 performs WiFi network design consulting or wireless engineering professional services we always refer to the manufacturer's specifications regarding the IP rating for environmental, weather resistance for outdoor WiFi access point equipment.

When businesses, corporate offices, schools, universities, sports stadiums, or others build out WiFi network systems for outdoor areas they allow employees, students, business partners, attendees, and the general public to stay connected to their network. When employees are data-dependent they require strong WiFi signals to be available so that the entire building and adjacent areas allow people to stay connected. An outdoor 802.11 WiFi access point provides the solution. Another aspect of outdoor WiFi is that video security and surveillance systems often use wireless IP cameras to allow for remote viewing. Because wireless security cameras connect over the outdoor WiFi network the design and implementation of outdoor access points impacts the quality of video recordings for security monitoring.

Outdoor Access Point Purchase Considerations - What to think about before you buy an outdoor 802.11 WiFi access point.
You'll want to carefully consider the location where you'll be installing and setting up your outdoor access points. The International Telephony Union (ITU) has divided the world into "rain regions" based on average rainfall. If you're in a very wet region your requirements for mounting and installing outdoor WiFi access point equipment are going to be much more stringent than in a more temperate region. An access point installed on the island of Maui is going to get more rain and wind than one installed in Arizona!

Conversely, in areas of extreme sunlight, such as an access point on a mast on an exposed roof, the plastic housings of some models may degrade over time. In some cases an additional external enclosure may be warranted. Of course, the range of service and the density of users in the coverage will dictate much of the design requirements for outdoor (as well as indoor) implementation of WiFi networks. Always select an outdoor access point that is optimized not only for weather but also for the demands of your end-user community.

For WiFi in stadiums and event venues you'll need a high density WiFi solution. Connect802 provides specialized software and professional design, consulting, and engineering services for public venues where there are a high density of users in, potentially, large crowds of people. Our outdoor WiFi design engineering team knows how to meet the challenges of wireless connectivity inside crowded event venues with reliable access to user-experience services and applications; simultaneously to event attendees and the general public. There are opportunities for increased revenue by providing engaging mobile applications to enhance the end-user experience at events. Connect802 understands the technical difficulties that an organization must overcome to provide reliable WiFi to users and devices in close proximity to each other at events. We have engineered large-scale WiFi networks for a variety of venues and locations and, as a Top Dog Ruckus Wireless reseller, we are backed by the expertise of one of the leading WiFi manufacturer's in the country. Ruckus Wireless equipment can automatically adjust to the wireless environment in real-time and can help mitigate interference from nearby devices. A Ruckus Wireless solution can scale to meet the needs of increased utilization and user density.

Outdoor WiFi Configuration Considerations
Should you implement an 802.11ac outdoor WiFi network? What about channel width? Are 20 MHz channels appropriate or should you consider using higher-capacity 80 MHz or 160 MHz channels? Some outdoor WiFi configuration options, while looking good on paper, may actually produce worse results than options that, at first, seem less capable. It's all about the outdoor wireless network design and engineering in-depth assessment of the needs of a particular outdoor WiFi venue and Connect802 understands these issues in depth. "We've Got You Covered!"
The International Protection Code - "IP Rating"
You may see the specifications for an access point indicate that the environmental rating is "IP-67", and that's the best access point outdoor rating code. A rating of IP-67 means your 802.11 outdoor WiFi access point is completely dust-tight and not even the smallest insects could get inside; it's also safe even if it were completely immersed in up to 1 meter of water. This code is called the "IP Rating", the International Protection Code. 802.11 WiFi outdoor access points and other equipment that's going to be installed outdoors are evaluated relative to their ability to withstand the effects of the environment. This rating system is published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and assigns a two-digit numeric rating to outdoor equipment. The rating classifies the degree of protection a device has against dust, water, accidental dangerous contact, and intrusion by objects including hands and fingers.

The first digit in the IP rating code represents the level of protection that the physical enclosure around an access point provides against the environment (including people's hands and fingers) coming into contact with hazardous internal components. Internal components, such as circuit boards, electrical components, and moving parts, are meant to have protection against the environment. Equipment enclosures provide various levels of protection against the environment described by the two-digit IP rating code.

The first digit of the IP rating code indicates the degree to which an outdoor 802.11 WiFi access point is protected against dust and insects. A commercial-grade outdoor access point should carry a "6" as the first digit, such as "IP-67"

FIRST DIGIT OF THE IP RATING CODE
0 — No protection against contact and ingress of objects
1 - Protection against >50 mm objects such as someone's whole hand but not if contact is deliberate
2 - Protection against >12.5 mm objects such as a person's fingers
3 - Protection against >2.5 mm objects such as screwdrivers and other tools
4 - Protection against >1 mm objects such as pieces of wire, screws, large bugs and geckos
5 - Protection against dust to the degree that ingress would interfere with operation of the equipment
6 - Completely dust-tight; no ingress of dust or airborne particulate materials or even the smallest insects

The second digit indicates the level of protection that the enclosure provides against harmful ingress of water. This lets you know your outdoor WiFi access point is protected against wind and rain. A commercial-grade outdoor access point should carry a "7" as the second digit, such as "IP-67"

SECOND DIGIT OF THE IP RATING CODE
0 - No protection against liquid ingress
1 - Protected from vertically falling water dripping straight down (1 mm rainfall per minute with no wind)
2 - Protected from dripping water when tilted at 15° (Water equivalent to 3 mm rainfall per minute)
3 - Protected from spraying water at any angle up to 60° from the vertical as from a spray nozzle 10 liters per minute
4 - Protected from water splashing against the enclosure from any direction 12.5 litres per minute
6 - Protected from powerful water jets (12.5 mm nozzle) projected against the enclosure 100 litres per minute
7 - Safe even with complete immersion in water, up to 1 m depth for 30 minutes
8 - Safe with complete immersion in water, typically up to 3m depth, continuously
9K - Protected against powerful, high temperature, close-range water jets. This test is identified as IPx9 in IEC 60529.
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