900 system antenna configuration

[buckwheat]

We are planning on adding 900mhz V3 access points and clients on one of our existing 2.4 locations. We would like 360* coverage from our tower site (probably 3 120* sectors, h-pol) with the furthest clients at 4 miles. We expect to have at least 60 - 70 clients on 900 here. On the client side we would prefer to use the new client in a 12dbi 'roo enclosure. Is there a better way to do this? I noticed that some suppliers are using yagi style antenna on the client side rather than panel antenna. Any suggestions?

[lonnie]

You might try the 9 dB yagi before spending the bucks on the panels. We can connect from the side at 4 miles and mostly clear LOS. We use two of them, pointed East and West and they are fine.

The other big reason for you to try the yagi is that they are being included with the SR9 for a small $15 fee and shipping. It makes it pretty cheap to try. Plus I never speculate when giving advice. I am telling you the results we get and the equipment the is being used.

[buckwheat]

I have had ice problems with yagi type antenna before, is there a radome available for this one?

[lonnie]

If you have icing problems then a panel is the way to go.

[valenti]

You might try the 9 dB yagi before spending the bucks on the panels. We can connect from the side at 4 miles and mostly clear LOS. We use two of them, pointed East and West and they are fine.

The other big reason for you to try the yagi is that they are being included with the SR9 for a small $15 fee and shipping. It makes it pretty cheap to try. Plus I never speculate when giving advice. I am telling you the results we get and the equipment the is being used.

Lonnie, you just use two of them, for 360 degree coverage? Looking at the antenna patterns, I would think four. I'm just hoping to get good NLOS coverage out to 2 to 3 miles.

(Also, similar question for your War sectors: they are listed as 65 degree, do you use four for 360 degree coverage?)

[lonnie]

Our Valley is about 4 miles across and runs East West with our repeaters on one side at about 5,000 feet.

We point a 2.4 GHz and 900 MHz East and the same West. For LOS we can hit the 4 miles from the side and we aim the units mostly straight up the Valley.

If you are trying to do a fully NLOS shot in a 3mile radius, then you need something else.

[pwmaclean]

Lots of good info in this post: http://forums.star-os.com/showthread.php?t=6435

We started with 9dbi yagi's, cheap and works really good for < 4miles. We have now since changed most of them to 120 deg sectors and the improvement is well worth the cost if you can afford the wind load.

[valenti]

Lots of good info in this post: http://forums.star-os.com/showthread.php?t=6435

We started with 9dbi yagi's, cheap and works really good for < 4miles. We have now since changed most of them to 120 deg sectors and the improvement is well worth the cost if you can afford the wind load.

Thanks for the updates there. So you are using the Pac Wireless 120 V polarity sectors?

I'm pretty sure I'm going to switch my Trango 900 AP over to a SR9. That is currently using a 8dB omni, but I only have one customer connected at that site. If the signal at his place is at least as good, I'll just move the cable over to a WAR2 and keep using the omni for now.

Long term I would like to move over to 120 degree sectors, H polarity. (H is still pretty clean here, the way V was about 18 months ago, but it has gotten much noisier)

[pwmaclean]

Yep, they work good if you can stay away from interference.