CWX Equipment (was Re: [NCLUG] Mesa Networks (broadband))

[John L. Bass]

	Since I'm thoroughly unfamiliar with what's good/what's bad in regards
	to the equipment required, could you provide a sample equipment list
	(recommended model, specs, etc) so I could do some preliminary shopping?
	Your site mentions some of the equipment, but no details.

	Patrick

More than most people want to know ... but here goes:

Required list of every member is:

    Conifer T2400 24dbi mesh parabolic dish	New price is $90-135
    Aironet 4800 series radio			used price $50-400
    LMR-400 cable N-male to radio fitting	New price is $25-200
    Coop startup fees                           Currently $250

There is a meeting friday of the volunteer Board of Directors and
voluntary Architecture Committee where we will discuss our current
rates - I placed on the agenda discussion that might yield a small
reduction in both startup and monthly rates. Since current gear is
is long paid for, and replacement used prices are significantly
lower we should be able to expand and maintain our network at lower
per member costs. We have been running about 10% revenue positive
which has allowed us to build the $10-12K operating cash reserve we
set as a goal. There is no reason to continue building a reserve,
so we should be able to make a 5-10% monthly cost reduction in
rates. We would like a second feed point for reliability reasons,
and to have access to bulk bandwidth at a lower cost, which might
offset reducing rates in the short term. Front Range Internet has
always been a valuable partner, and we will continue that feed
point and feed source as well. Options in the past have been
co-locating with UMG, the guys in the Drake Business Park, with NCIC,
or setting up an office in South Fort Collins and developing our
own fibre POP and provide the redundant hill top feed at that location.
Goal is to grow to between 100-150 members (from our current size
of 50) over the next year or two. At that size we will have reached
critial mass to significantly reduce our prices as long as we
continue to control costs.

Most popular setup is Aironet PCI4800 radio card in a Linux PC that is
at least 133MHz Pentium - anything faster is a plus, but not required.

Used Conifer's with cable go by on ebay for about $50-80, sometimes
with a lightning arrestor which is important if you mount the dish
outdoors.

Used PCI4800 cards (were $425 new) frequently go between $100-200 on
ebay. Used UC4800 radios (ethernet version, were $1050 new) typically
go between $100-500, normally on the higher side, but frequently a few
slip thru at odd hours on the low side.

Most CWX people are roof pitch mounted (by far the prefered mount for
longer distances because of much cleaner signal) using a $25 tripod
mount and 3' of 1-1/4" thin wall EMT conduit. Others just strap the
1-1/4" emt to the side of a chiminey or building, sometimes with
EMT hangers, or other easy way. Lightning arrestors new are $55-130
depending on the quality - and #6 or #4 ground wire and ground rod
will run another $15-50 depending on the site and needs.

Short cable distance is important, expecially if using lower cost
LMR-400 which has a limit of 25-55' depending on the distance from
the hill top.  Longer distances may require LMR-600 which is about
twice the cost.

Some people make the mistake of using low frequency coax which looks
the same as LMR-400 ... RG-6 and Beldon 9913 do not work well with
11mbps 2.4GHz 802.11 gear. They not only have higher losses at these
frequencies, but have a significantly lower propagion volocity which
seems to cause wave front compression resulting in the 11mbps data
rates becoming unstable where 1-2mbps works fine. The other cables
tend to have standing wave and ringing problems.

There are lots of places where you can order premade LMR-400 and
LMR-600 cables to your length requirements for cost plus $5-10 per
end terminated.

Technically there is an FCC restriction against mix and match use
of radios and antennas which are not certified by the OEM as a
configuration. The only exception to this, is using a professional
installer or being a licensed HAM. When we started the coop we
perchased certified kits from Wincomm Electronics in Ohio to do
self installs. Since then we have switched to using a local
professional installer - Collins Communications - to do most installs
since they normally charge about $65/hr and the $125 typical labor
cost is near the premium we used to pay for certified kits. We have
had a number of EE's and Hams do self install's. The risk if you
mess up a self install while violating Part-15 regulations for
an individual is $100,000 if someone complains and you are found
non-compliant. When we first started the coop, there were some
wireless ISP's that got shutdown and fined for being non-compliant
in several southern states. So we were warned to be very careful
in that respect.

Other than that there is some maintence at times where water might
get into connections or the cable is damaged by wind, mice or
squirrels. This has been a nasty problem for a few members ...
Mike on this list has had his share of fun due to pesky critters.

John