Difference between revisions of "WLRH Internet Connection Project"

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(Initial page for mystery Internet connection project.)
 
(Update with proof of concept results.)
 
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{{Project|Creator=hfuller
 
{{Project|Creator=hfuller
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|Status=<onlyinclude>Pre-planning</onlyinclude>                                <!--LEAVE ONLYINCLUDES FOR STATUS HACK-->  
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|Status=<onlyinclude>Proof of concept</onlyinclude>                                <!--LEAVE ONLYINCLUDES FOR STATUS HACK-->  
 
|Born On=20:12, 6 April 2018 (CDT)                                                                  <!--DO NOT EDIT -->
 
|Born On=20:12, 6 April 2018 (CDT)                                                                  <!--DO NOT EDIT -->
 
|Last Updated={{#time: H:i, d F Y| {{REVISIONTIMESTAMP}} }} (CDT)              <!--DO NOT EDIT -->
 
|Last Updated={{#time: H:i, d F Y| {{REVISIONTIMESTAMP}} }} (CDT)              <!--DO NOT EDIT -->
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==Overview==
 
==Overview==
−
Due to {{redacted}}, it has proven impossible or at least impractical for {[redacted}} to gain access to a high-throughput Internet connection, despite {{redacted}} being incredibly nearby, and also being ready and willing to offer the connection itself. The only missing piece is the infrastructural build-out between the two. Since Makers Local has some expertise in point-to-point wireless (and is developing more as we speak), I figured we could help a fellow not-for-profit organization out, and come up with a solution to that problem.
+
Due to funding and historical reasons, it has proven impossible or at least impractical for WLRH to gain access to a high-throughput Internet connection, despite UAH being incredibly nearby, and also being ready and willing to offer the connection itself. The only missing piece is the infrastructural build-out between the two. Since Makers Local has some expertise in point-to-point wireless (and is developing more as we speak), I figured we could help a fellow not-for-profit organization out, and come up with a solution to that problem.
  
 
==Steps==
 
==Steps==
−
# <s>Gain approval from {{redacted}} to provide network services from their location for this purpose.</s>
+
# <s>Gain approval from UAH to provide network services from their location for this purpose.</s>
 
#* Done as of 23 Mar 2018
 
#* Done as of 23 Mar 2018
−
# Meet with {{redacted}} to make the offer of providing this service, on behalf of Makers Local.
+
# <s>Meet with the General Manager to make the offer of providing this service, on behalf of Makers Local.</s>
 +
#* Meeting has been scheduled as of 13 Apr 2018
 +
#* Done as of 17 Apr 2018
 
# Decide on a location for the "receiver" equipment.
 
# Decide on a location for the "receiver" equipment.
−
# Decide on a location for the "transmitter" equipment.
+
#* The temporary location will be on the tower, but closer to the base.
−
#* Technically they are both receivers and transmitters, but you get what I mean.
+
# <s>Decide on a location for the "transmitter" equipment.</s>
−
# Decide on appropriate equipment based on those locations.
+
#* Approval gained from Optics Building staff to mount radio equipment on the building, approx 23 Apr 2018.
 +
#* Support structure installation completed on the south side of the Optics Building telescope riser area approx 30 Apr 2018.
 +
# <s>Decide on appropriate equipment based on those locations.</s>
 +
#* 5GHz will work due to the readily available line of sight to this location. A backup link may need to be 2.4GHz, but I doubt it.
 +
#* Proof of concept equipment was purchased: MikroTik RouterBoard SXTsq 5 ac
 +
#* UAH-side equipment installation for proof of concept completed on 1 May 2018.
 +
#* WLRH-side equipment temporary installation for proof of concept completed on 3 May 2018. Results were poor: 6 Mbit/s link rate in both directions. Conclusion was that WLRH needs to aim better, and possibly go further up the tower to clear a tree. But hey, at least we got link!
 +
#* Installation of redundant equipment was discussed, in order to reduce dependency on a single link.
 
# Buy and donate the equipment.
 
# Buy and donate the equipment.
 +
#* Redundant equipment may want/need to be 2.4GHz and/or point to multi point (instead of point to point like the current link).
 
# Install the equipment.
 
# Install the equipment.
 +
#* UAH end of primary link done.
 +
#* WLRH end of primary link in progress.
 
# Set up the equipment.
 
# Set up the equipment.
 
# ???
 
# ???
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[[Category:Put Category Here]]                                                 <!--MAKE AS MANY CATEGORIES AS YOU NEED-->
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[[Category:Networking]] [[Category:Wireless]] [[Category:Charitable]]

Latest revision as of 19:39, 3 May 2018

Creator:
hfuller
Status:
Proof of concept
Born On:
20:12, 6 April 2018 (CDT)
Last Updated:
19:39, 03 May 2018 (CDT)

Overview

Due to funding and historical reasons, it has proven impossible or at least impractical for WLRH to gain access to a high-throughput Internet connection, despite UAH being incredibly nearby, and also being ready and willing to offer the connection itself. The only missing piece is the infrastructural build-out between the two. Since Makers Local has some expertise in point-to-point wireless (and is developing more as we speak), I figured we could help a fellow not-for-profit organization out, and come up with a solution to that problem.

Steps

  1. Gain approval from UAH to provide network services from their location for this purpose.
    • Done as of 23 Mar 2018
  2. Meet with the General Manager to make the offer of providing this service, on behalf of Makers Local.
    • Meeting has been scheduled as of 13 Apr 2018
    • Done as of 17 Apr 2018
  3. Decide on a location for the "receiver" equipment.
    • The temporary location will be on the tower, but closer to the base.
  4. Decide on a location for the "transmitter" equipment.
    • Approval gained from Optics Building staff to mount radio equipment on the building, approx 23 Apr 2018.
    • Support structure installation completed on the south side of the Optics Building telescope riser area approx 30 Apr 2018.
  5. Decide on appropriate equipment based on those locations.
    • 5GHz will work due to the readily available line of sight to this location. A backup link may need to be 2.4GHz, but I doubt it.
    • Proof of concept equipment was purchased: MikroTik RouterBoard SXTsq 5 ac
    • UAH-side equipment installation for proof of concept completed on 1 May 2018.
    • WLRH-side equipment temporary installation for proof of concept completed on 3 May 2018. Results were poor: 6 Mbit/s link rate in both directions. Conclusion was that WLRH needs to aim better, and possibly go further up the tower to clear a tree. But hey, at least we got link!
    • Installation of redundant equipment was discussed, in order to reduce dependency on a single link.
  6. Buy and donate the equipment.
    • Redundant equipment may want/need to be 2.4GHz and/or point to multi point (instead of point to point like the current link).
  7. Install the equipment.
    • UAH end of primary link done.
    • WLRH end of primary link in progress.
  8. Set up the equipment.
  9.  ???
  10. Non-profit

Details

Make the offer

It should be clear that the support for the link will come from a Makers Local point of contact, and the rest will be best-effort. It may be worth covering what the needs are, and if non-critical services can use this link while critical services use the existing one. Maybe some sort of failover scheme.

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