backtop

Print E-mail del.icio.us 11 comment(s) - last by Torched.. on May 27 at 10:22 AM
Long distance Wi-Fi bridge retails for $318

HD Communications Corp has introduced a new wireless bridge that can connect two remote locations up to 5 miles apart using 802.11b/g Wi-Fi networking. The complete outdoor wireless network bridge requires line of sight between the two locations.

There have been other solutions on the market before that would allow for similar wireless network bridging, but the HD Communications Corp HD26200 bridge retails for $318 where as other similar systems are much more expensive.

The HD26200 consists of a pair of Ubiquiti network radios with integrated 17 dbi dual polarity antennas configures in wireless bridge mode. The wireless bridge requires no RF cables thanks to its ability to be powered over Ethernet.

Don Davis, President and CEO of HD Communications Corp said in a statement, “Since the introduction of WiFi radios people have tried to push the range of consumer level products by adding external antennas, RF cables, and WiFi amplifiers. The cost of those devices often totaled well over $500 and that was after they had already bought two D-Link® or Linksys® radios for $75 each," said Don Davis, President and CEO of HD Communications Corp. "Now they can have an FCC certified wireless bridge that will work better, look better, is easier to configure, and easier to install for less than $320."

The manufacturer of the HD26200 says that it also offers non-line of sight products for installations where the line of sight products won’t do the job. Additional wireless bridge solutions are going to be offered by the end of summer 2008 according to HD Communications Corp.


Comments     Threshold


This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
I've used these already...
By 67STANG on 5/22/2008 3:20:54 PM , Rating: 1
The Ubiquiti radios are decent offerings (although many say their power ratings are inflated). What this product is, is nothing more than a Ubiquiti LiteStation 2 inside of an antenna-integrated housing.

When the LiteStation 2/5 series came out, they would only function in client mode, not AP. Then a firmware update came out that allowed you to use them as an AP as well, which of course opened up the Bridging capabilities.

Don't really see how this is news... I was building these for the same price or cheaper, well over a year ago-- except with LiteStation 5's, as 802.11a is less congested.




RE: I've used these already...
By pomaikai on 5/22/2008 3:38:35 PM , Rating: 4
But its nice to not have to build it. Especially for someone who doesnt know a lot about networking, antennas, etc. My current setup was about $305 to bridge 2 houses about .5 mile apart with near 100% signal strength. Havnt testd how far the range is. This is with small 4"x4"x4" 12dbi antennas line of sight.


RE: I've used these already...
By 67STANG on 5/22/2008 3:48:49 PM , Rating: 2
What's to build? There's 3 parts (for each side). (1) Antenna/Housing, (1) Pigtail Cable, (1) Embedded Radio Board.

The web interface for config is the same whether or not you mount the board in the housing yourself or buy it from them.

I've used these boards with a 23dbi parabolic antenna on each side and have gotten close to 20 miles. Not quite as good as their SR5 Card in a commercial board, but a cheap solution that can actually go a pretty decent distance.


RE: I've used these already...
By mindless1 on 5/22/2008 8:32:36 PM , Rating: 4
Mounting the board in the housing is the difference as this is a finished product even if it is a quick, easy thing to do. A parallel - do many consumers buy a separate wifi router board and install it in the plastic case with antenna on it? Did many in the past buy a populated TV PCB and connect it to the CRT themselves? Plugging part A into part B requires knowing the fundamentals, something only someone who does it for pay or has much hobby time invested would feel comfortable doing. Similarly you may not feel comfortable doing what is easy to someone trained in another, quite different discipline.


RE: I've used these already...
By 67STANG on 5/23/2008 1:34:31 PM , Rating: 2
I'm not sure that your CRT PCB comparison is fair. More comparible would be connecting a cable from your wall plate to your modem. That's about it. I would hope that someone using this equipment outdoors would have at least enough knowledge to connect a cable between the antenna and the Radio Board... I'm pretty sure that if they don't know how to do that, everyone in their neighborhood will likely have free WiFi.


RE: I've used these already...
By Samus on 5/23/2008 2:09:01 AM , Rating: 2
for 318 bucks, I'll let them put it in a tidy little package and support it in AP and bridge mode. sounds decent.


RE: I've used these already...
By Torched on 5/27/2008 10:22:53 AM , Rating: 2
There are a ton of cheap high powered radios on the market already. http://www.deliberant.com/estore/web/pc-1167-7-dlb...
This is an integrated model from Deliberant. A pair costs $230 for both integrated and connectorized. We've used them at work for about a year now.

They work great and have a great connector on the bottom that allows for the use of pre-made patch cables.


Not close to the limit
By masher2 (blog) on 5/22/2008 10:15:30 PM , Rating: 2
I personally know someone whose gotten 3+ mile range off stock consumer-grade 802.11 gear, albeit with directional antenna...and I've heard about people breaking 15 miles with the same.




RE: Not close to the limit
By Souka on 5/23/2008 1:48:23 AM , Rating: 4
Yup.... two Pringle chip cans and a line of sight...miles easy...

;)


Wima...(cough, cough )FI!
By audiomaniaca on 5/22/2008 8:22:03 PM , Rating: 3
After 5 years of waiting, wimax finally has come! And tastes like it has a "N" flavor.




Intel RCP
By wrekd on 5/22/2008 7:28:16 PM , Rating: 2
Intel is supposed to be bringing a similar platform to market in the fall. It's called Intel RCP and should cost around $500 per node. They claim to be able to extend Wi-Fi by line of sight out to a receiving node up to 100km away.




"So if you want to save the planet, feel free to drive your Hummer. Just avoid the drive thru line at McDonalds." -- Michael Asher








botimage
Copyright 2008 DailyTech LLC. - RSS Feed | Advertise | About Us | Ethics | FAQ | Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information | Kristopher Kubicki