Anyone have long range 802.11ah / HaLow experience?
from thebardingreen@lemmy.starlightkel.xyz to selfhosted@lemmy.world on 28 Oct 20:52
https://lemmy.starlightkel.xyz/post/419168

A friend and I want to create a point to point connection across roughly 3.5 miles / 5.5 km. We have good LoS. Can HaLow do this? It seems like that distance might be a latt order, I think directional antennas might help, but would it be enough? What kind of equipment would we need?

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litchralee@sh.itjust.works on 28 Oct 21:01 next collapse

For a link of 5.5 km and with clear LoS, I would reach for 802.11 WiFi, since the range of 802.11ah HaLow wouldn’t necessarily be needed. For reference, many WISPs use Ubiquiti 5 GHz point-to-point APs for their backhaul links for much further distances.

The question would be what your RF link conditions look like, whether 5 GHz is clear in your environment, and what sort of worst-case bandwidth you can accept. With a clear Fresnel zone, you could probably be pushing something like 50 Mbps symmetrical, if properly aimed and configured.

Ubiquiti’s website has a neat tool for roughly calculating terrain and RF losses.

IcedRaktajino@startrek.website on 28 Oct 21:08 collapse

I think the point of 11h is to achieve that kind of range without directional antennas. Basically as a higher-bandwidth version of LoRa.

empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 28 Oct 22:23 collapse

And at significantly lower transmit power too. Ubiquiti 5ac ptp rigs use like 8w, 802.11ah can make a link with under a watt. Sure it won’t be fast at all but if you’re doing a remote embedded device on a solar panel, it makes a huge difference.

jared@mander.xyz on 28 Oct 21:48 next collapse

What about Reticulum with LoRa nodes?

BakedCatboy@lemmy.ml on 28 Oct 21:54 next collapse

Sounds like a job for a pair of second hand nanobeams or something similar.

I second the other commenter who suggested using WISP gear. If you have clear fresnel zones it should work a treat.

bastion@feddit.nl on 28 Oct 22:55 collapse

was gonna suggest similar.

possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip on 28 Oct 22:35 collapse

You could just do a full on internet link