[TonyIC]

Ok so maybe huge is a bad word. Lets try interesting.

I have been challenged to build a wireless network for my church. When completed it should cover our entire property. I can not go with a wired network because I have to cross a city street. I do not think the city would lime me much If I trenched a line accross 4 lanes of traffic.

Here is a crude drawing of our property:


All dimensions are in feet.

The office contains the DSL line, so we have to start from there. My idea is to shoot out the window of the office with a cantenna into the steeple of the church. Inside the steeple, I would place a large omni directional antenna connected to a wireless repeater (WAP11). Now if I can't get enough signal shooting into the steeple I would have to go repeling on the church which is a good 60 feet off the ground.

I hope this would provide enough coverage for the entire area.

I have built several wireless networks before, just none this large. Any information would be helpful.

[Captain Obvious]

Get two DSL accounts one for the office and one for the rectory. Call the DSL company and ask if there is a special business account for not for profits. Then put two booster antennas on the closest windows to the church and house.
But I don't see why you'd need wireless in a church. All it can do is encourage people to surf with PDAs during services.


(midwest's biggest bar? clearly you havent been to Madison or Bloomington)

[spiky_dog]

i think your idea would work, but i'd call up the nice folks at CDW and ask them what they think.

[TonyIC]

Originally posted by Captain Obvious:
Get two DSL accounts one for the office and one for the rectory. Call the DSL company and ask if there is a special business account for not for profits. Then put two booster antennas on the closest windows to the church and house.
But I don't see why you'd need wireless in a church. All it can do is encourage people to surf with PDAs during services.


(midwest's biggest bar? clearly you havent been to Madison or Bloomington)

I have thought about getting two accounts but our operating budget isn't that large. I will be donating all the equipment needed to link the office with the rectory. So there will be no additional cost to the church.

My goal isn't to provide service within the church. WEP will keep most people out of the system. I would like the priests to be able to sit outside with their laptops if they so choose.

I stuck one WAP11 in the center of the office and it can't even reach from one end to the other. I just picked up some 5 dbi antennae from the Shaq so we will see how far I can reach now.

A 12-15 dbi omni-directional in the steeple or on top of the church could give me enough coverage. I guess I will have to hit up eBay.