Wifi "farm" extenders/MESH

[Gaspasser]

Looking to extend my off grid WiFi on my wooded 50 acre lot to link security/wildlife cameras and gate controller. I have seen the Arystone system advertised claiming up to 2 mile range. Does anyone have this or an equivalent system? I really only need 800ft range and the gate and cameras are "relatively" line of sight. Would appreciate your reviews and experience. Thanks gang.

 

[mikester]

I'd suggest going point to point wireless bridge with long range antennas vs mesh to get better throughput. You will need line of sight.

Trees and buildings in between will degrade your signal.

You could roll your own using access points and can-tennas. I see a lot of chinesium mystery vendors online these days....In general you get what you pay for. If you go that route I'd put them on their own network and don't do any internet banking through them.

I ended up going to buried CAT 5 between the house and barn for reliability. I strongly suggest lightning suppression on both ends if you go that route as I've discovered indirect lightning strikes can still fry your network equipment.

 

[InTheWoods]

I don't have any experience with the Arystone system. But, I've designed RF stuff professionally for >30 years and have some personal experience with Wi-Fi through the woods.

Read and understand this page - real line of sight requires an understanding of the Fresnel zone.

"Line of Sight" and how to get around it - Ayrstone Productivity

wireless farm networking meshing outdoor wifi for rural locations

ayrstone.com

Trees, especially ones with wet leaves absorb 2.4 GHz signals amazingly well, unfortunately.

When it comes to Wi-Fi 'range' , it's not the distance as much as what occupies that distance. 5 miles through outer space is easy. 500' through the woods - not so much.

Personally, I'd be leery of their system and would only go that route if there were no other options. A mesh topology is complex and you don't get as much data throughput as a point-to-point topology. Mesh has more ways to fail.

Have you done any experiments? If you're keen to tinker, you might start with some simple 2.4 GHz access points as high as you can get them, and see what you can achieve. Something like a TP-Link CPE210 is inexpensive, reliable and decently easy to set up. I have that setup to an outbuilding - it just works. It has a directional antenna which will mean you have to point it in the favored direction - might be OK, depending on where your gate/cameras are.

CAT5/CAT6 is limited to 100 meters, at least by the book. It also opens you up to lightning damage (ask me how I know!). Fiber is the best, if you are willing to trench it in...

 

[Bmyers]

I'm just jumping in so I can follow the conversation.

We have TP-Link router setup at the farm and in the coming months, I will be researching this topic myself.

I have used the WIFI extenders from TP-link at our house successfully to extend coverage out into our garage area. Yet, looking at a much larger area and I don't believe these will have the coverage needed.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

I went with a lower frequency industrial (not for home use--it's too powerful) solution and older WiFi technology because it travels farther and through more "stuff" and it's been rock-solid reliable for 10 years, but I'm in an industrial environment with a lot of RF noise so this might not be best for your situation:

TP-Link TL-WA7210N High Power Outdoor Wireless N150 Access Point, 2.4GHz 150Mbps, WISP/AP Router/AP, 12dBi antenna, Passive POE (WA7210N)

 

[trikepilot]

Me too! I am jumping in and have bookmarked this thread as I will soon be in need of some sort of similar solution.

I will soon have broadband brought into the main house on the property and will then be looking for solutions to get it 500feet away downhill through sparsely treed woods to the boat dock and then 100feet of open space uphill to the shop/apt and then another 500ish feet up thru a bit of tree cover in between to get to the gate where I have a security camera.

I have already started researching my options but this thread will be a huge help.

 

[Old Machinist]

This may not help you but I have my home network and outdoor wifi cameras on a GL.iNET GL-AR300M EXT travel router. I replaced the antennas with longer 12db antennas and have it sitting in a window sill on the north side of my house. It connects to my cameras out 500 feet but is at around 48% at that distance. I can view them remotely from anywhere I have a data connection to my phone. I have a wyzecam in my metal barn about 400 feet from the router and on the south side of the house and it connects reliably.

I have 3 different brands of outdoor wifi cameras and they all connect through this tiny little router.

I don't think the AR300M EXT is available any more but they have similar versions starting at $30. Just make sure you get a model with the external antennas.

I would be willing to bet if I used some extension cables and mounted my antennas outside and elevated the range would be even further out.

 

[InTheWoods]

...TP-Link TL-WA7219N...

I think that one is obsolete, replaced by the CPE210 I mentioned above.

 

[Grimor]

Unifi makes some good out of the box P2P devices that have very good range, but they work best with a managed controller or at least internet access for updates.

 

[Gaspasser]

Thanks all for great input and details. Appreciate the advice. Let me clarify my needs a bit. The priority for me is the gate opener (Ghost WiFi and bluetooth as well as remotes for vehicles) and security cameras (4G cellular transmission) at the gate. Current cellular cameras (Glass Raven brand) are adequate but there can be many minutes delay in sending images to my phone. I'd like to replace these with "live" WiFi cameras such as the Arlo brand which currently work for me at the top of my property where I have a T-Mobile 5G modem setup for WiFi using PV /inverter/battery setup. There is no utility power access at my lot. I'd like to be able to see visitors at the gate in real time and remotely open the gate when needed using WiFi. The gate is approx 700 feet away down a curved driveway with a partial view of the modem site (some trees and leaves but can see both ends. Probably would work with the fresnel concept described above. Power at the gate is suppled by deep cycle lead acid and a 18 watt solar panel. This would need to be upgraded to supply power for point to point link device needed at the gate.

Have several Arlo cameras already at top of property within 300 feet of modem for live wildlife viewing which work fine as they are in a circle at the edges of the clearing at the top. So I am thinking the tips you've all provided me are a great start. I'll experiment with some point to point link setups. Thank you all!.

Image below does not include recent clearing of trees.

 

[Russell King]

You might look at Chamberlain/Liftmaster gate openers and the MyQ interface. There are outdoor cameras and communication devices/video keypads. There is an internet gateway. You may be able to add MyQ control to your existing gate opener. The internet gateway has a long range and operates on some odd frequency. You can add a control to garage door openers also.

Then every is connected to your phone (and I assume you can download the app to a computer also.

https://www.myq.com/

 

[Gaspasser]

You might look at Chamberlain/Liftmaster gate openers and the MyQ interface. There are outdoor cameras and communication devices/video keypads. There is an internet gateway. You may be able to add MyQ control to your existing gate opener. The internet gateway has a long range and operates on some odd frequency. You can add a control to garage door openers also.

Then every is connected to your phone (and I assume you can download the app to a computer also.

https://www.myq.com/

Thanks... will look into it.

 

[Gaspasser]

Oh... just thought of another question. If using the point to point link, do I need a 2nd modem at the "receiving" end or does the link act as a wireless access point for the cameras and gate? Thanks.

 

[trikepilot]

If you're keen to tinker, you might start with some simple 2.4 GHz access points as high as you can get them, and see what you can achieve. Something like a TP-Link CPE210 is inexpensive, reliable and decently easy to set up. I have that setup to an outbuilding - it just works. It has a directional antenna which will mean you have to point it in the favored direction - might be OK, depending on where your gate/cameras are.

Hey @InTheWoods... a few follow-up questions pertaining to the CPE210 you referenced. This thread jostled me into action and I found that internet access has quite literally just gone live at my property and I now have an install date in a few weeks. So I need to get cracking ASAP on my research on how to handle sending internet everywhere I want.

1. The CPE210 is listed as a point-to-point wireless bridge. Does this mean that you need two units to send internet somewhere else? Do I need one on the side of the house where it sends the signal from the modem 500feet down to the boat dock where I have another CPE210 to receive the signal and then act as the wifi?

2. My research yields a touted range of 5+KM. I don't need anywhere near this much range but how do trees affect the range?

3. I am limited in how "high" I can place them. If I get the directionality right, will then generally cover up to 600 feet with some sparse trees?

4. Does it matter what type of modem I am using at the "main house" to process the signal from the service provider? I typically use, and am eyeing again to use, a simple Arris Surfboard DOCSIS3.1. We are only subscribing to 400mbs service as we do not need gigabyte speeds.

 

[Gaspasser]

Thanks for asking those questions Trike. I had some of the same. In addition, I'd like to know if a second modem is need at the distant point to point link or if that unit acts as a modem. Thanks. Used to be pretty savvy with computer stuff back in the day but technology has passed me by.

 

[trikepilot]

Thanks for asking those questions Trike. I had some of the same. In addition, I'd like to know if a second modem is need at the distant point to point link or if that unit acts as a modem. Thanks. Used to be pretty savvy with computer stuff back in the day but technology has passed me by.

I too am just savvy enough to get myself in trouble, Gaspasser. BTW... are you flatulent or are you a Sevo server? I am the latter. Those CPE210's are on sale at Scamazon right now and I might just go ahead and pick them up now if they will be my solution. My research into the CPE210 indicates that it serves as a wifi.

here is what I am dealing with...

Yellow - Internet service line coming from provider to main house
Red - Main house to boat dock
Blue - Main house to guest house and shop
Green - Main house up to top of driveway at gate (for security cam)

 

[Gaspasser]

I too am just savvy enough to get myself in trouble, Gaspasser. BTW... are you flatulent or are you a Sevo server? I am the latter. Those CPE210's are on sale at Scamazon right now and I might just go ahead and pick them up now if they will be my solution. My research into the CPE210 indicates that it serves as a wifi.

here is what I am dealing with...

View attachment 158342

Yellow - Internet service line coming from provider to main house
Red - Main house to boat dock
Blue - Main house to guest house and shop
Green - Main house up to top of driveway at gate (for security cam)

Yes to sevo although I'm ok with dex, prop, ketamine, etc as well, lol. Problem for me is, I need a model that runs on 12 volts (gate controller deep cycle battery /c solar panel) or will have to setup up a real PV system with inverter in the shed near the gate (big bucks). TP Link does make a 12 VDC model. Use a generator for the occsasional need for power at shed now but would be nice to run occasonal power tool from a socket. Let's see what the forum can teach us.

Oh, and occasionally flatulent as well.

 

[trikepilot]

love me some dexaketafol along with a good block

 

[skeets]

A 1kw heater would get you into the next county, but the Florida Citrus Commission might frown on it. Hey ya never know

 

[InTheWoods]

...
1. The CPE210 is listed as a point-to-point wireless bridge. Does this mean that you need two units to send internet somewhere else? Do I need one on the side of the house where it sends the signal from the modem 500feet down to the boat dock where I have another CPE210 to receive the signal and then act as the wifi?

The CPE210 can be configured as a general access point. In that configuration, it will allow any Wi-Fi device (phone, camera, laptop) to connect wirelessly. However, using it that way means the device end of your link is degraded by whatever crappy antenna and positioning that device has.

Setting a pair of them, with the far end cabled into your remote device like this is better.

Or, instead of the 'IP camera' shown, the remote CPE210 can be connected to the ethernet port of an old Wi-Fi 'router' that you configure to act as a switch, providing 'local' Wi-Fi coverage (and ethernet jacks) at the remote end.

2. My research yields a touted range of 5+KM. I don't need anywhere near this much range but how do trees affect the range?

A whole lot.

3. I am limited in how "high" I can place them. If I get the directionality right, will then generally cover up to 600 feet with some sparse trees?

Maybe. It really depends on how sparse the trees are and how high the CPE210's are mounted. The only way to know is to try it. Looking at signal strengths will give you an idea how reliable it will be over time.

4. Does it matter what type of modem I am using at the "main house" to process the signal from the service provider? I typically use, and am eyeing again to use, a simple Arris Surfboard DOCSIS3.1. We are only subscribing to 400mbs service as we do not need gigabyte speeds.

No. As a practical matter, a pair of CPE210's set up at 'long' range are only going to get you 10's of Mbps at the most, so your 400Mbps service will be fine. If you need high data rates at remote points, wireless is going to be a struggle.