In looking for suitable hardware that might be usable for an AREDN-MESH station, either fixed (base) or mobile (portable), I found these items looking at the Staples web site (www.staples.com):
VTech® VSP735 ErisTerminal™ SIP Feature Deskset
Ubiquiti™ Networks™ airMAX® 900 MHz High-Gain Yagi Antenna With
Rocket Kit, 16 dBi
The first item is a desk telephone that looks like the Cisco model that can be modified to be usable on these networks. The second item is a WiFi antenna that shows a working frequency range of 902 -- 928 MHz. My question is could these items be easily used in, or with, an AREDN-MESH network?
Thank you.
VTech® VSP735 ErisTerminal™ SIP Feature Deskset
Ubiquiti™ Networks™ airMAX® 900 MHz High-Gain Yagi Antenna With
Rocket Kit, 16 dBi
The first item is a desk telephone that looks like the Cisco model that can be modified to be usable on these networks. The second item is a WiFi antenna that shows a working frequency range of 902 -- 928 MHz. My question is could these items be easily used in, or with, an AREDN-MESH network?
Thank you.
That's generally not the way to select equipment for an AREDN Mesh network. Rater, first find out what others are using in your area. I would not recommend 900 MHz due to the large Fresnel zones [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_zone ] and the limited spectrum available in the 900 MHZ US ham band. Also, I have not heard of many (any) who have successfully built a network on 900 MHz, but I have sure heard of people having tried and failed. Go with 5 GHz if you're the first to setup a node. That'll give you the most flexibility and greatest chance of long-term success.
Andre, K6AH
For example in Northern Virginia (NoVa-Mesh) we have a 2.4/5GHz hybrid network and wherever we bring a 2.4GHz link to a 5GHz link, we must connect them with a DtD device.
We also plan on at least 2 links that run Ubiquiti M900 nodes (both sides of the link will have a 2x2 MIMO yagi pointing at each other). These are for short distances through lightly wooded areas where you really need a node but the trees are in the way. And they still require a DtD device (Netgear GS105E) to connect them to the 5GHz core network.
http://stats.allstarlink.org/getstatus.cgi?41170
Range wise... can't compare the much higher sensitive receiver and the more powerful transmitter of a relatively "narrow" FM repeater to a 5MHz wide data radio, unless, you can achieve, not just clear line of sight but also clear the Fresnel Zone at that distance.