ScottyS
01-06-2010, 05:03 PM
Hi everyone,
I have been looking at the various possibilities of implementing a remote wireless network for use in environmental monitoring research. The ability to communicate over IP to stations and sensors is infinitely better than traditional 1-way radio data streams or on-site downloading of stored data. The bandwidth and protocol of wireless IP will enable support of webcams, high-spatial-density sensor arrays, troubleshooting, and virtually unlimited expansion of additional experiments on permanent study plots.
Long range wireless IP communication has been historically more expensive, complicated, and power-hungry than many publicly-funded science projects have the ability to support (in addition to already-expensive instrumentation!). To a certain extent, science in remote areas has been limited in terms of data volume because of bandwidth and onsite storage factors. In this day and age, I see no excuse for this. These products from Ubiquiti appear to address all of these issues, hence my interest.
Basically, I would be looking to use these types of products to get from the closest point of internet access into field locations where various sensors and dataloggers are placed. In some cases this may only be a mile or less. In others, it can be over 50mi.
The thing to remember is that for all locations other than the point-of-internet-access, no line power will be available. Everything would need to run off of solar/wind/dc power. Everything would need to be able to operate in ambient air temps ranging from -30F to 120+F. High altitude sites (over 10,000ft) would see high winds and lots of snow/ice. Obviously all batteries, cabling, and electronics would be housed in fiberglass enclosures.
1) I would like to hear some suggestions on specific hardware configurations for using the Ubiquiti products on DC power. All of the power generation and storage is taken care of, hardware can be 12v or 24v. The PoE adapter, for instance, would need to be DC/DC. And what sort of switches are likely to be reliable?
2) Failure. It happens, and preparing for it is a good thing. In this case, you can't just get a ladder and walk up on the roof to swap out a malfunctioning device. Every point on a remote network is by definition difficult to physically access. Given the inexpensive nature of the hardware, in critical locations such as "repeater" or "hub" sites, it may be worth while to set up redundant systems. Does this sound possible or realistic, given enough mounting space for antennas? Could the redundant hardware remain inactive and in the event of a failure be re-activated over the network? What are the considerations here?
3) How would Ubiquiti compare their solutions in terms of durability and reliability to much more expensive Long Range products such as Moto's Canopy?
Some background: at this time I am involved in a science project that could benefit greatly from reliable, power-saving, long-range wireless IP technology. I am not a networking guru, I have gone as far as flashing my own router with DD-WRT and that is about it. Besides owning an SRC 300mw a/b/g PCMCIA card and couple directional antennas for quite some time, I have no experience with Ubiquiti products. I have been impressed enough over the years with the card that I think Ubiquiti makes good stuff.
I have worked out some possible solutions using more expensive hardware, but this new technology puts the overall cost well within the budget range of even very small projects. There are likely many more people like me who know just enough about radio comms and networking to implement this stuff, and who may be wondering the same things....plus, I personally intend to use whatever solution I come up with in the end in future remote applications.
The attached diagram shows the layout of the sites I am considering now. The sites A-E would all need the capability to interface multiple devices via ethernet or even addition AP's for local short-range wireless sensors. The access for anything over 2 basically means a day or more of hiking with gear, depending on the season. Essentially, these locations may need redundancy of some sort.
I'm not asking for a parts list or anything yet, just some basic input from wireless networking experts on if the Ubiquiti products are up for the task, and general comments on feasibility.
By keeping the power requirement lower, cutting hardware complexity, and dramatically slashing implementation and maintenance costs, I see the Ubiquiti products as offering possibility for my application where other solutions are expensive and perhaps marginal.
Any comments are welcome.
I have been looking at the various possibilities of implementing a remote wireless network for use in environmental monitoring research. The ability to communicate over IP to stations and sensors is infinitely better than traditional 1-way radio data streams or on-site downloading of stored data. The bandwidth and protocol of wireless IP will enable support of webcams, high-spatial-density sensor arrays, troubleshooting, and virtually unlimited expansion of additional experiments on permanent study plots.
Long range wireless IP communication has been historically more expensive, complicated, and power-hungry than many publicly-funded science projects have the ability to support (in addition to already-expensive instrumentation!). To a certain extent, science in remote areas has been limited in terms of data volume because of bandwidth and onsite storage factors. In this day and age, I see no excuse for this. These products from Ubiquiti appear to address all of these issues, hence my interest.
Basically, I would be looking to use these types of products to get from the closest point of internet access into field locations where various sensors and dataloggers are placed. In some cases this may only be a mile or less. In others, it can be over 50mi.
The thing to remember is that for all locations other than the point-of-internet-access, no line power will be available. Everything would need to run off of solar/wind/dc power. Everything would need to be able to operate in ambient air temps ranging from -30F to 120+F. High altitude sites (over 10,000ft) would see high winds and lots of snow/ice. Obviously all batteries, cabling, and electronics would be housed in fiberglass enclosures.
1) I would like to hear some suggestions on specific hardware configurations for using the Ubiquiti products on DC power. All of the power generation and storage is taken care of, hardware can be 12v or 24v. The PoE adapter, for instance, would need to be DC/DC. And what sort of switches are likely to be reliable?
2) Failure. It happens, and preparing for it is a good thing. In this case, you can't just get a ladder and walk up on the roof to swap out a malfunctioning device. Every point on a remote network is by definition difficult to physically access. Given the inexpensive nature of the hardware, in critical locations such as "repeater" or "hub" sites, it may be worth while to set up redundant systems. Does this sound possible or realistic, given enough mounting space for antennas? Could the redundant hardware remain inactive and in the event of a failure be re-activated over the network? What are the considerations here?
3) How would Ubiquiti compare their solutions in terms of durability and reliability to much more expensive Long Range products such as Moto's Canopy?
Some background: at this time I am involved in a science project that could benefit greatly from reliable, power-saving, long-range wireless IP technology. I am not a networking guru, I have gone as far as flashing my own router with DD-WRT and that is about it. Besides owning an SRC 300mw a/b/g PCMCIA card and couple directional antennas for quite some time, I have no experience with Ubiquiti products. I have been impressed enough over the years with the card that I think Ubiquiti makes good stuff.
I have worked out some possible solutions using more expensive hardware, but this new technology puts the overall cost well within the budget range of even very small projects. There are likely many more people like me who know just enough about radio comms and networking to implement this stuff, and who may be wondering the same things....plus, I personally intend to use whatever solution I come up with in the end in future remote applications.
The attached diagram shows the layout of the sites I am considering now. The sites A-E would all need the capability to interface multiple devices via ethernet or even addition AP's for local short-range wireless sensors. The access for anything over 2 basically means a day or more of hiking with gear, depending on the season. Essentially, these locations may need redundancy of some sort.
I'm not asking for a parts list or anything yet, just some basic input from wireless networking experts on if the Ubiquiti products are up for the task, and general comments on feasibility.
By keeping the power requirement lower, cutting hardware complexity, and dramatically slashing implementation and maintenance costs, I see the Ubiquiti products as offering possibility for my application where other solutions are expensive and perhaps marginal.
Any comments are welcome.
