Many folks here at seattlewireless have been researching methods of getting adhoc devices onto a rooftop. It's not as easy as it may sound.
Rooftops are best for radio LineOfSight. But you may be one of the lucky ones who can use an IndoorAdHoc. A related antenna page is also at TreeTopAdHoc
Contents
Goals
Provide a easy to install & maintain solution for non techy users
- Waterproof
- Ideally uses Open Source Software
Has ethernet coming out. This could be via a 'router' machine, that could drive USB RoofTopAdHoc devices.
- Could be upgraded (via duplication) to a three radio setup.
- Under $200 cost
Current Ideas & Projects
USB client adapter
From: Scott Bradford <> Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2002 11:37:24 -0800 Subject: Linux ad-hoc wireless usb router enclosed cantenna
There was a very interesting post earlier today that may have been missed by the general public. Steven Boger is running a Linksys WUSB11v2.5 in Linux red hat. For those that remember, I have been working on using a WUSB11v2.5 as a true ad-hoc access point. It was kind written off because it depends on sub which has been windows based up until now. Here is where we stand now.
The cantenna has been a great discovery. The WUSB11v2.5 is very small inside it's case. I have been building Cantennas out of 4" pvc with pretty good success. The Wusb is small enough that it could be built into the back of my PVC cantenna. The WUSB11v2.5 uses an MMCX connector. Pigtails are usually 12" to 19" which is plent long to reach the N connector on the cantenna. I have built and tested USB over ethernet Up to 25 feet and ALMOST worked at 50 feet. I have a powered usb extender that I haven't tested yet, but I suspect that it will push it through to the 50 mark. USB/Lan down to your computer and you are set. No LMR-400, No waterproof boxes, minimal wind loading, and the best part, the ENTIRE thing costs far under $150. You now have a cantenna that runs true ad-hoc or infrastructure, not the flakey proprietary bridging that the wap11 does. And now, for you Anti-windows people, it will work for Red Hat. You will have to ask Steven for the details on the linux stuff. We have already been discussing using it as a router point
-Scott Steven S. Boger says: The Linksys WUSB11v2.5 alone is an interesting device with great potential. Out of the plastic case, it's only a few inches big and features a mmcx connector see here for a picture. As Scott mentions above, its possible to substitute cheap Cat5Cable for the usb cable and roofmount the device ON the antenna itself. USB through Cat5 can do about 25-30 feet without too much of a problem.
Oh! Oh! oh! Check this out: http://www.comready.com/gwc5musbacex.html
"This product can extend the distance of a USB Device up to 40/80 feet"
I know that powered USB extentions exist and I have used them with great results. Problem being that they are more expensive than LMR-400 per foot. 16ft are usually $30-$50 $2 a foot LMR-400 is usually under a buck. My 50 foot USB over Cat worked, but a single USB amp would probably push it to 100 ( at least 75) I will find out one of these days, I have a powered extension laying around, but it has the wrong genders on it. Will post results when I get them. Even if you had to buy one powered USB extension, this is still the cheapest way to get ad-hoc on the roof.---Scott
RG1000 running Linux
It can be done! Matt has created his own distro of the works. See AirportLinux for details.
Linux or BSD box with PCMCIA or PCI client card
While not a rooftop solution, a linux or BSD box can be the client radio and the router. This solution works well for those who are pointing antennas out a window or have antennas mounted near a window.
Single board computer
Using a board, such as the SoekrisNet4521, you add a few wireless NICs and install a *nix system. The nice thing about this set-up is the small foot print (easily placed in WaterProofBoxes), low power consumption (good for PoE) and good upgrade paths (such as if you want to go to 802.11a someday). The bad thing about SBCs is they are more expensive than other computers.
MetrixCommunication is selling outdoor wireless kits for community networkers. SeattleWireless members get a discount.
see also SamSung4510
Actiontec Dual PC Modem
Actiontec's only product that appears to run linux is their Dual PC Modem which is described below. Their wireless access points do not seem be running linux.
There is a wiki that is community maintained at http://www.embeddedlinuxinterfacing.com/ewiki/index.php?id=ActiontecDualPCModem
Actiontec has also released full source code and development toolchain on their opensource website at http://opensource.actiontec.com/
The only problem with it in relation to this site, is that it does not have any upgradable components and does not include any wireless capability. Actiontec seems extremely willing to listen to the community however, and they do have wireless devices... 
Maybe at some point we'll see a linux based wireless device from them.
USB Extension cables to 60 Feet
There are active USB extension cables that let you extend USB up to 60 feet in one cable. An example of a shorter 16-foot version for $29 (with picture) is at http://www.usb-port.com/uec500.html . The Supertronix electronics retail store in Tukwila sold a 35-foot one for approx $45 and a 60-footer for $59. That store has both surplus and retail components, connectors, and cable. They also do orders. As with all cables exposed to outdoor elements, be sure that the plastic in the cable doesn't rot in the sun. You may have to replace the cable with one that has a jacket that will withstand ultraviolet and rain exposure. A listing of electronics stores in our area is at http://www.ee.washington.edu/stores/local_stores.html .
I have not yet tried it, but perhaps a signal can be stabilized by putting in a self-powered hub inline with the cable at some point to serve as a "repeater". There are cheap versions of unpowered USB 1.1 hubs sold for $9.95 or less online.
Here is a pricey-looking solution which extends USB 1.1 over 100m (300ft) of Cat5 with an interface box at each end. Made by Icron. I don't know anyone who has used these.
-Putting an active extension halfway up the wire, or maybe at the card itself may push it through. The genders on the active extensions are all messed up though, I am changing the connectors to something easier to work with. ---Scott
(From Nate: I have been able to get 30 feet, two 10 ft at first, then a standard USB hub, free with rebate from Iogear, then another 10 ft extension, but that's all it can go)
WUSB11 v2.6 Changes
Well, it looks like the internal connector is now gone in the v2.6 version of the adapter. However, there is now an ANT2 on the board, so, it still might be possible to add on an additional antenna. More pictures and info are available:FCC Specs for 2.6 - Steve
==WUSB11 v2.6 website== I would like to attach an antenna to it, but havent figured out how I am yet. http://members.cox.net/igneouschris/wusb.htm -chris
I want to do the same like you chris; I own the same AP and I want to solder a wire to the motherboard to put a SMA conector to the linksys. The problem is that I don't know where to solder: must I solder the shielding of the wire? where? If I connect simply the original wire of the antenna to an SMA will it works? I Show I few mods of this linksys in www.infolinksys.com, but the pics don't show how to solder to the mother board. Could anyone help?
- Javi
"WUSB11 v2.6 version works fine with the at76c503a driver"
(From Nate: I took a old BNC connector that had a small diameter cable coming from it and soldered it to where the old antenna connector is and it works great, have same model as your pics, cable was only 3 inches anyway, I think a small SMA connector would mount right to that place on board and would stick out the side, just drill a hole, I may do that later on)
WUSB11 v2.8 Changes Yet Again
"WUSB11 V2.8 support was added to the at76c505-rfmd2958 module"
WUSB11 v2.8 Even More Additional Information
V2.8 does not have an internal antenna connector, nor a connection for one.
Also it is based on an Atmel chipset. Interestingly enough, it works better with the drivers supplied on the linksys CD than with the default windows drivers (win XP).
Also interesting is that the antenna on the WUSB11 v2.8 is quite directional (its a dual layer PCB antenna), with best signal being recieved when the outward facing side of the antenna arm is pointing towards the reciever.
WUSB11 v3.0 In Stores Now!
The WUSB11 v3.0 seems to be prism based, sortof works under linux with wlan drivers after adding device id's to src/prism2/driver/prism2sta.c, but my laptop kernel panics if I transmit/receive any large amount of data. Still works great with kismet(got 2 of them for $20 each, running parallel). Seems to have a MMCX connector inside, but need to get a pigtail first to be sure.
Anybody have any more information/patches for drivers/etc.?
Q: Where did you find these for $20? I Want in!
