sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Looking to run aerial CAT5e between two buildings

Wireless Bridge.

I have a customer with two buildings connected via a wireless bridge with directional antennas and it works like a charm.

They ar "budget conscious" and went with cheap DLink access points and directional antennas and have been using several PC's anda couple of IP Phones with great success.

Well, the customer is transmitting (encrypted I assume) credit card information, to the payment processor online (via his point-of-sale system that I didn't install). Not sure if using wireless would breach PCI compliance. Regardless, I'm not a fan of using wireless in a business situation where sources of noise can cause intermittent problems (i.e. cordless phones, neighbors install a wireless access point, etc). Fiber appears to be the way to go. Now to find more than one place to price and get a quote to the customer. PM if you have a source.

pm sent.

This application just cries out for a wireless bridge. I have done quite a few of them and have had great results. A couple of low cost access points and a couple of patch panel antennas is all you need. You can go POE for the access points. Total cost would be under 500 dollars for materials.

Problems with interference would be very limited with good directional antennas between the points. The antennas are what make the difference. If you try to do this with Omni Directional antennas you could open yourself up for noise, but a couple of patch antennas should give you enough power to go right through the wall unless that is leaded brick, or aluminum siding. about the only thing that would muck with the system would be falling rain or dense fog, and your distance is short enough that shouldn't be an issue.

If you are concerned about security, just run a vpn over the wireless link.

Some 6 fiber indoor / outdoor MPO cable with fiber cassettes on each end would work well and no termination required.

I sent the customer a quote a month ago and they balked at the preterminated fiber costs. They're going to leave the (stranded indoor patch) wiring as-is and hope for the best.