I will discuss how wireless bridging channels can greatly simplify the construction of DAC in industrial premises. Stories from work experience in one enterprise. The topic will not contain secrets of complex configuration - on the contrary - the value of the examples is that such a configuration can be repeated easily and inexpensively.
I have a contradictory attitude to WIFI (namely, this technology). On the one hand, wireless data transmission allows you to build beautiful networks without installation work on the correct placement of the cable. Many devices - laptops, tablets, telephones - are convenient just in the absence of wires. Wired networks cannot scale so quickly: for example, connect a couple of dozen new devices to the network in a minute.
On the other hand, the use of WIFI imposes restrictions that are also present in wired networks: in order to efficiently use the equipment, it is necessary to choose the correct location, while calculating the power of the transmitters taking into account obstacles and distances to the receiver. The key difference here is the shorter distance to the receiver, where the quality of communication is comparable to a wired connection (tens and hundreds of Mbps). When choosing a data transmission medium, it is necessary to find compromises based on the goals. We sacrifice cost, speed or portability.
About the first network segment
Conditions
A stand-alone workshop is connected to the local network via a radio channel: the ASUS router lies on the window of the main building, and the TP-LINK access point lies on the window of the connected room. There are only four computers in this small building, fast network access is not required, and there is not a lot of work at the computers. The distance between the windows is 120 m.The home router has two omnidirectional antennas and provides enough signal strength to connect in a building across the street. Inefficient use of equipment leads to high packet loss, especially in fog.
Solution
It’s rather funny to hear that the quality of communication in the local network of an enterprise depends on the weather, but it’s true. It should be noted that the shop worked in this mode for about a year, then I began to deal with the network. Improvement was not a priority here, so I ordered a cheap TP-LINK TL-ANT2414A unidirectional antenna, which I just screwed in instead of the standard router antenna, and stopped work there.
The task moved from critical to urgent when the router went down one fine morning. I had to replace it with what was in stock from routers with detachable antennas. I found D-LINK DI-824VUP - an excellent router with a brutal appearance. It's easy to set up, has a bunch of features, including VPN and port forwarding, but that's a topic for another article.
Configuring the Router as a Base Station
From the main menu on the left I go to the button DHCP and the first thing I do is turn off the distribution of addresses. we already have DHCP on our network. 
Then I go to the network settings and specify the new router address. 
By clicking on the button Wireless, we indicate the settings of the wireless network, namely the name, encryption and key. 
Configuring an access point as a client
After setting up, I screwed the antenna to the router and fixed it towards the shop window. It remains only to configure the TP-LINK TL-WA701ND access point as a WIFI client. 
From the main menu of the AP, I go to the network settings by the button Network located on the left pane. Here I specify the ip-address, mask, default gateway. 
On the menu Wireless setings I choose the mode of operation Client, I indicate the desired network. 
This is where you configure the security of your wireless connection. you must specify the encryption type and network key. 
It is important not to forget to turn off the DHCP server of the access point, because it already exists on the network. 
Result
According to my pings, after modifying the network, packet loss decreased by 70%. The connection speed on computers in a small building allows you to download files from the Internet and the factory network, as well as work in 1s. If you need to increase the number of computers in the connected room, or if you need high speed, it is worth laying a fiber-optic link.
About the second network segment
Conditions
The local network of the workshop is a production server (Windows server 2003 - DNS, DHCP, VPN, service), WIFI-router Mikrotik RB2011UAS-2HnD-IN and a dozen WIFI clients (service consumers).
There are also 2 machines that are farther than the rest from the WIFI router. The signal in that part of the workshop at the height of the machine is much worse, because the view is limited, but good closer to the ceiling. And one more of the machines uses MS DOS OS. The location of the machines is such that laying the cable is difficult - it is required to lay the cable around, which is more than the distance to the router directly (about one hundred meters). You also need to organize a cable channel. The distance directly from the router to the post that is next to the machine is 63 m, according to the laser ruler.
It is required to ensure a stable connection of 2 machines, which are located in the back of the workshop. High connection speed is not required because the network is needed to receive files less than 1 MB in size.
Solution
Laying a cable through an entire workshop is a thankless task. Moreover, the length could exceed 100 m, which is not very good for Fast Ethernet. There was a D-LINK DAP-1150 / RU access point and a D-LINK DIR-620 rev A1 router. In order to save money and effort, it was decided to connect one of these devices to the workshop router, and lower the patch cord to the machine. This will save on cable, ducts and installation work. And in case of failure, you can go back to the idea with the cable without losing money to buy equipment.
Setting up existing equipment
First, I decided to configure D-LINK DIR-620 A1 - a router about which so much has been written that everyone can find several instructions and firmwares for themselves. I updated the stock firmware and found an instruction similar to what I need to configure on the official website.I do not exclude that I did something wrong, but after several attempts to configure the "Client" mode on this router using different factory firmwares, I tried DD-WRT firmware. I was unable to achieve a satisfactory connection. I decided to postpone the router and try to configure D-LINK DAP-1150 \ RU first. For the access point, such a complete instruction was not found, but the interface is very similar to the original D-LINK DIR-620 A1 interface, in which I have already made the settings several times. Thus, the first wireless bridge connection was configured on D-LINK DAP-1150 \ RU, updated to the latest version of the original firmware, according to the instructions for D-LINK DIR-620.
The setup is simple and does not take much time.
This is how the web interface of the access point looks. Press the middle button to manually tune. 
I go to the section Net to set the required IP address and prohibit the access point from distributing addresses (since there is already a DHCP server on the network). 
Then I go to the section WIFI- tab Customer, where you need to find the desired network, specify the encryption when connecting and the network key. 
If you do everything correctly, do not forget to save the configuration, then the access point connects to the existing WIFI network as a client. A computer connected to the LAN receives an IP from a DHCP server and has access to the workshop network.
Equipment selection
When it came time to connect the second machine to the network, the D-LINK DIR-620 A1 was already used in another network segment (see below). So the question arose about choosing a wireless client.Considered routers and access points. The selection criterion was the ability to customize as a client in standard firmware. I bought TL-WR743ND - an inexpensive TP-LINK access point that supports multiple wireless connectivity options in standard firmware.
Installation of purchased equipment
The access point turned out to be easy to install. I was especially pleased with the fact that the operation of the device actually coincides with what the manufacturer claims (which cannot be said about D-LINK home routers). By simply configuring the access point, which is described on the Internet many times (including in the instructions on the TP-LINK website), we connect the machine to the workshop network. We fix the access point higher so that it is in line of sight from the router to which it is connected.Result
As a result, we have a couple of machines connected to a common network with minimal costs of money and installation time. The transmission speed over the radio channel was measured using the Mikrotik RB2011UAS-2HnD-IN router utility, to which all WIFI clients in the workshop are connected. It is enough to download small files to the machine several times per hour.Expand
About the third network segment
Conditions
The building in question is divided into a production facility and an administrative and amenity complex. The ABK is connected to the rest of the corporate data transmission network using FOCL.Between the workshops, the network is carried out with a twisted pair cable intended for indoor installation, four pairs of which are occupied by two telephone lines, and the remaining four are uplink for a small local area network of the production facility. The cable is fixed with knots tied to the supports. According to my calculations, the cable should have already broken, i.e. it will break just about, tk. indoor cable cannot be used to connect buildings.
Scheme
It is necessary to connect a small local network of the workshop with the ABK network, it is easier than making another high-quality connection between buildings. In addition, it is necessary to connect a machine with MS DOS to the KSPD, to which it is necessary to dump jobs. Now tasks are carried to the machine on diskettes.
Solution
The location of the means of production in the workshop is such that laying the cable from the ABK to the machine tool and from the ABK to one of the workshop switches will require much more cable than the line-of-sight distance when organizing a wireless bridge (about 120 m and 190 m, respectively). If twisted pair is used, it is necessary to install a switch, repeater or other link-layer device (additional point of failure) somewhere in the shop in order to withstand the standard for the maximum segment length.Solution scheme
To reduce the installation work to a minimum, I choose the option with the organization of a WIFI-bridge, following the example of another workshop. The main WIFI router will be Mikrotik RB2011UAS-2HnD-IN, and D-LINK DIR-620 A1 clients with ZyXEL Keenetic firmware and TP-LINK TL-WR743ND.
Configuring and Installing the Router as a Base Station
Separately, it must be said that the cable broke a couple of days earlier than I planned to install. I had to quickly configure the routers in the morning, install them in the workshop. It all took about two hours. Of course, if I had not prepared the routers, then I would have spent a lot more on cable installation.First, I set up the Router OS of the main router. In this example, I am not using many of the features that can be configured on the Mikrotik router. Perhaps someone will consider its use excessive, but its stability was important to me. For 4 thousand rubles, I did not find any access points or routers that could show the necessary reliability. Although for this money you can buy good home Internet centers ZyXEL, Asus.
Configuring a Mikrotik router as an AP
So, from the main menu I go to the section IP-Addresses... Correcting the default installation settings. Here you can create multiple addresses for the router. For each port, for example. 
I save the settings and see the following result. 
Then, I go to the section DHCP Server, where I delete the entry, tk. in our network, a second such server is not required. 
To configure WIFI, go to the section Wireless, where we make the interface settings. 
We enter the values of the SSID of our network, select the channel and frequency parameters. 
Then switch to the tab Security Profiles, where we indicate the network key and encryption settings. 
After setting up, we fix the router on the balcony wall - where direct visibility to the objects we need will be ensured. This will require a network cable from the nearest switch and electricity. It is dark in the room, so the indication of the router is clearly visible. This came in handy for diagnostics six months after installation, when the floor was no longer powered. The lack of indication was visible from afar.
Ugly photos
Configuring the Router as a Client
WIFI-router D-LINK DIR-620 A1, which I could not configure with standard firmware and firmware DD-WRT, Open-WRT of various modifications (I think someone could), I flashed in ZyXEL Keenetic using instructions and files from the site deadc0de.ru. Just yesterday I noticed that the site is not available. It's a pity. Downloaded website web pages from google cache.Here is the by deadc0de instruction that I used:
Firmware from the DIR-620 web interface:
Go to the settings page (by default 192.168.0.1);
Select System -> Firmware upgrade (System -> Firmware upgrade);
Click "Browse ...", select the firmware file dir-620-to - ***. Fwz;
Click "Update" and wait for the end of the firmware process;
We go into the web-interface of the router and make further settings.
And here is the link to the file. The flashing was simple and successful, thanks to deadc0de. Keenetic is much more convenient than D-link "a in setting, it seems to me.
Customization
To configure the router as a client, from the main menu, go to the section System - Operating Mode... Here I have chosen the mode wireless wifi bridge.
Then I go to the section Home Networking - Networking, where I specify the ip-address and disable the DHCP server. 
I'm getting started with setting up WIFI. In chapter WIFI Client - Networks Overview you can see the signal strength of the nearest wireless networks, choose the one you need. 
In the window that opens, you can configure the connection parameters. 
In chapter Safety I indicate the network key and encryption. Then the WIFI client is ready. It remains only to fix it higher in the visibility range of the base station. 
Configuring an access point as a client
To connect the DOS machine to the network, I used the TP-LINK TL-WR743ND access point, as in the first workshop. Setting up the WIFI client in this case was especially easy because I was setting up this AP for the second time in a week.Photo of an AP mounted on a wall
Result
Both wireless bridges were stable enough that directional antennas were not required. The speed measurements were carried out using the built-in utility of the Mikrotik router.Measuring speed
Tags:
- wi-fi
- wifi-brigde
- wireless networks
- data networks
- network administration
It often happens that the Wi-Fi signal of the router is not enough for the whole apartment, or, for example, you need to connect several devices, but so that they do not work in the same network. If you suddenly have another router lying around, then you can solve the problem by simply throwing a bridge between them. In fact, for example, the issue with the signal is decided by repeaters who catch the signal and, as it were, transmit it further, but why buy them if you already have everything you need. Now we will look at how to configure a Wi-Fi bridge using the example of TPLink equipment.
general information
First, let's try to answer the most common question on this topic: Wi-Fi bridge - what is it? In fact, after correct configuration, one router, which is connected to the Internet, transmits a signal to the second, which is simply turned on, and the latter distributes a separate network. It should be noted right away that devices from the same manufacturer will work more stable in pairs.
Setting up a bridge between two routers: Video
How to setup
The first thing we need to figure out in order to create a wireless Wi-Fi bridge is the address where you can enter the settings. Go to any browser and type either 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 in the address bar - as a result, a window with lines for the login and password will be displayed.
Now, if nothing has changed, enter admin in both lines and get to the main settings page.
Now let's dive into what needs to be done on the main device. On the left you will find the "Wirelles" or "Wireless Mode" tab if your firmware is Russified. For convenience, we immediately change the name of the network and the channel - put, for example, 7, and end with the main one.
We connect to the additional one and also get into the settings. Now we are interested in the "DHCP" tab: after entering here, we turn it off, as shown in the screenshot, so that there are no two devices distributing network settings.
Now we go to the local network or LAN section and change the IP, for example, to 192.168.1.2, so that there are no two identical addresses. After clicking on the "Save" or "Save" button, the router will reboot.
When the reboot is complete, there should be an automatic return to the settings. Now, just like on the first device, go to the wireless mode tab, change the name, channel, and check the WDS checkbox below.
As a result, additional lines should appear at the bottom and the "Search" or "Survey" button - click on it. You will be thrown into the list of available networks - we find the first router by the name and click on the blue inscription "Connect" on the right.
The rest of the lines are full, so don't worry about them. The only thing worth considering is that if there is a password on the main device, then you need to enter it in the appropriate field and select the encoding just above.
Today, due to the territorial distribution of company divisions, the problem of combining them into one common network often arises. If you are also interested in the solution to this problem, then we can offer the installation of equipment to ensure wireless communication between objects via a WiFi radio bridge. Under ideal conditions, with line of sight * and no interference, the maximum WiFi bridge's uninterrupted operation range is 5-10 km. Although there are also stable wireless bridges with a communication range of up to 25 km.
2. ADVANTAGES OF WIFI RADIO BRIDGE
- Implementation of the last mile, ideal where the cable cannot be laid.
- For comparison, cable laying work takes about a month or more.
- The cost of installation is ten times lower than the cost of laying a cable.
- Stable connection over long distances
- The data connection speed of the radio bridge can be from 10 Mb / s to 1.4 Gb / s
(The speed depends on your requirements and equipment) - The object with which the connection is established will be able to access the Internet through your network or vice versa.
- Radio bridges can be used for various purposes from data transmission, including the Internet, to the installation of video surveillance. In places where it is not possible to lay a cable, or the cost is beyond reasonable limits.
We recommend using Ubiquiti Networks equipment to install a WIFI link at your site. Radio bridges from the Ubiquiti Networks company have established themselves as reliable and quality equipment for building radio bridges, time-tested. Leave a request in the feedback form and we will prepare a commercial offer for you.
Quotation request form:
Today I want to touch on the topic of a street router, to which there is a very great interest among my readers. Namely, you regularly wonder how to make a wireless connection between two distant buildings, for example, between an office and a warehouse, between two apartments in different residential buildings, or between a private cottage and a garage. The answer is - you need to create. How? Read on ...
First, as always, let's figure out the diagram of the future connection. Our task is to create a WiFi bridge, that is, to combine two independent local networks (wired or wireless - it doesn't matter) or to connect a remotely located one computer to our home network using a Wi-Fi signal.
If we are talking about a room that is located near the source of your signal, that is, from the router, then it is likely that he will finish it with or without additional devices to increase the range. If we are talking about several hundred meters or tens of kilometers, then completely different devices are already required.
The main condition for the stable operation of a wireless bridge is a line of sight between two objects.
Namely, an external wifi access point designed for outdoor installation. Again, if the distance is no more than a few tens to hundreds of meters, then you can just do with the usual two routers, which have support for the bridge mode and to which external antennas are connected.
But for more serious distances and more stable operation, it is recommended to use special wifi access points designed specifically for building such wireless bridges. They are already equipped with a powerful directional antenna and are designed to work in conjunction with each other. The market leader in the production of such equipment is the Ubiquiti company. There are many models of different price ranges and performance characteristics.
WiFi access points and other equipment
Let's consider some of them in terms of range. If you are planning to create a wifi bridge over a distance no more than 3 km line of sight, the Ubiquiti NanoStation Loco M2, NanoStation Loco M5, NanoStation M2 models are suitable - in ascending range.
The following WiFi hotspots are already hitting up to 10 km - Ubiquiti NanoStation M5, NanoBridge M5 22dBi, NanoBridge M5 25dBi. The last 2 are with more amplified antennas.
The PowerBridge M3 and PowerBridge M5 models with built-in powerful narrow beam antennas will help you overcome the distance of 20 km.
And finally, you can cover the maximum distance up to 30-50 km using the Ubiquiti Rocket M2, Rocket M5, Rocket M5 GPS models (with coordinate synchronization). Also, for more stable reception, they can be further strengthened with antennas - for example, RocketDish 2G-24 is ideal for a Rocket M2 point operating at 2.4 GHz, Rocket Dish 3G for Rocket M3, and RocketDish 5G-30 for Rocket M5.
If there is no line of sight, then the NanoStation Loco M900 model will help you at a distance of up to 5 km. Unlike most access points operating at 2.5 GHz, this equipment has a frequency range of 900 MHz, which helps radio waves to better avoid obstacles.
In addition to the points themselves, during outdoor installation, some more devices will be needed - this is the so-called Lightning Protection, which protects devices operating using PoE technology (that is, receiving power through a network cable) from hazardous voltages that may arise due to atmospheric phenomena.
Let's summarize a little - to create a bridge, you will need 2 configured local networks, 2 external access points with antennas and 2 lightning protectors. If you are in doubt about what to buy, then just google and find online stores that sell this equipment. In most cases, they have a convenient model selection wizard or there are ready-made assembled kits that you just have to purchase and configure.
Here are the characteristics of a series of access points from the Ubiquity website:
Access points of the NanoStation M and NanoStation Loco M series are perfect as client devices for receiving a signal from a base station; as a transmitting antenna in the indicated direction; as a bridging connection where visibility between objects is limited, by means of a MIMO 2 × 2 antenna.
Bullet APs do not come with built-in antennas and are therefore versatile. An N-type connector can be used to configure a panel, directional or circular antenna of the appropriate range. It is mainly used for building bridges and for distributing signals in a circular direction.
Access points of the Rocket series are designed for building provider-class point-to-multipoint connections and for highways over 40 km due to their joint use with proprietary antennas AirMax Sector, Dish and Omni. The main advantages of dots are power, performance and support for MIMO 2X2 mode.
The AirGrid, NanoBridge and PowerBridge series access points have built-in directional antennas and are primarily designed for bridging. Antennas differ from each other in performance, power, form factor and purpose.
Ubiquiti NanoStation M5 model review
Configuring a Wi-Fi Bridge
After you have decided on the distance and selected a set of devices, it's time to start configuring the bridge. I will show with the example of the Ubiquiti NanoStation M5 mid-range wifi access point, which operates for 5 km and supports up to 40 workstations.
Setting the first point in Access Point mode
We connect the point to the lightning protection, and it to the PoE adapter (a device that allows you to supply power through the LAN connector), which in turn is connected to the mains through the network adapter. Also, into the PoE adapter, we insert a patch cord into the LAN connector, which also comes from the LAN router to which the Internet is connected.
After that, go to the browser at https://192.168.1.20 (it is indicated on the case or packaging), log in using your login / password "Ubnt" and we get to the main page of the admin panel, which displays general data and network status.
We need a WireLess tab, in which we will configure everything that is needed to work. There are already familiar items here, such as SSID, and Security (encryption type, login and password for connection) - I will not repeat myself, how to configure this is described in detail in the very first article about wireless connection.
Now I will focus on the new basic parameters.
Wireless Mode- the role of this device - Access Point (point) or Station (client). One, the main access point, we set the AP mode, the second, the client - Station. There is also a WDS mode that allows you to network multiple devices, but we don't need that for now.
Channel Width- channel width. The channel bandwidth depends on the value in this field: 40 MHz to 300 Mbps, 20 MHz to 130 Mbps, 10 MHz to 65 Mbps, 5 MHz to 32 Mbps.
Frequency- channel frequency. Be sure to indicate a certain number that differs from the neighbor's wifi.
Output power- transmitter power. Expose to the maximum.
Max Data Rate allows you to set a specific baud rate or select automatic mode.
The rest can be left as is.
We configure all these parameters and go to another access point.
Setting up a second point in Station mode
Just as in the first case, after all the procedures for connecting to electricity and LAN, we go to its IP (the same as the first one), after which it must be changed, since the first point already has such an address. To do this, go to the "Network" tab and change to 192.168.1.21 .
We save the settings by clicking the "Change> Apply" button, wait for the reboot and now go back to the admin panel, but at the new, changed address.
Go to the "Wireless" tab and, as I said, change the mode of its operation to "Station".
In the "SSID" item, click on the "Select" button and in the window that opens - the "Scan" button. The device should detect the first already configured access point.
We put a checkbox in front of our point, copy its MAC address and paste it into the field Lock to AP MAC... Click "Change> Apply" to save the changes.
Finally, the last step - go to the "Advanced" tab and in the "Distance" line indicate the distance to the first wifi access point. Leave the rest as default and save everything again.
That's all - a wireless wifi bridge built with two wifi access points is ready. In conclusion, here are some visual videos that illustrate everything described above. Good luck!
The fast transmission of information is of paramount importance in the world today. Through the Internet, which has entangled our planet with a web, distance trading is carried out, transactions are made on stock exchanges, scientific organizations share relevant information about achievements and experiments, and thousands of ordinary users communicate with each other and receive the necessary information.
Usually communication is carried out over cable lines. However, their use is not always rational. Difficult terrain conditions and long distances often make cabling unprofitable. And in these cases, the right solution would be to use radio relay communications. Instead of laying a cable using wireless access points that relay data, a circuit is created that forms a communication channel of the required capacity. If only two devices are used for data transmission, then this type of connection will be called a radio bridge.
Depending on the setting of tasks, a variety of equipment can be used for these purposes. If you need to connect a remote building to the Internet or interconnect the offices of small organizations, it would be best to create a WiFi bridge using Ubiquiti access points. To do this, the company has a variety of options in its arsenal. Well suited access points of the NanoBeam, PowerBeam, NanoBridge and PowerBridge series, which have a productive radio part with high power (up to 28 dBm) and parabolic, focusing the radio signal into a narrow beam, which allows you to achieve a connection range of up to 15 km or more in conditions of direct visibility between devices ...
An analogue is the line of AirGrid access points, which, with similar characteristics, have a lower windage, since their reflectors have a lattice shape. The use of AirGrid can be recommended in places with high wind loads, such as high-rise buildings or in the mountains.
It should be noted that access points manufactured by Ubiquiti use different frequencies depending on the model. If you plan to operate them in a city where the density of networks in the most common 2.4 GHz band is extremely high, it is worth creating a WiFi wireless bridge in the 5 GHz range or using non-standard frequencies of 3 and 10 GHz (access points with article numbers M3, M10). Separately, we can distinguish access points operating in the 900 MHz range (article number M900), which, due to the longer wavelength, allows in many cases to establish a connection with a significant overlap of visibility between devices, and even in its complete absence.
Setting up a WiFi bridge is not very difficult, but it still requires some professional skills. In addition to setting the parameters of the network part of the access points, which are set in the web interface of the proprietary operating system AirOs, it is necessary to install the devices at the site of operation - these can be radio towers or buildings, and also to align the devices - that is, to orient the transmitters so that they were directed at each other. You also need to connect power to the devices, which is carried out using PoE technology and is supplied through an Ethernet cable.
When creating backbone communication channels, the bandwidth that a conventional WiFi radio bridge provides may not be enough. Unique provider-class radio relay stations AirFiber have been specially developed for this purpose. The throughput of the connection, created on their basis, reaches 2 Gb / s, which is possible due to the use of broadband data transmission, as well as the use of GPS synchronization, patented hybrid duplex technology, an original configuration with a diversity of receiving and transmitting, and other technical features. AirFiber uses the 5 GHz and 24 GHz bands, depending on which model you choose. As you can see, the choice of equipment for microwave communications and wireless bridges, presented by Ubiquiti Networks, is very wide and allows you to find an option to solve any problem. You can select and buy a WiFi bridge of the required configuration in the "Ready-made solutions" section or use the form above, after which our specialists will select the necessary equipment to create a WiFi bridge.
