Using a tractor for wireless Internet installation

[ultrarunner]

Would like to ask a few questions as I am facing the same issue in Olympia WA.

How did you structure the deal with your neighbor because this is proving to be difficult when the neighbors think something is not on the up and up...

Do you need power on both ends?

What about resetting the router?

 

[aczlan]

Not sure of the manufacturer of my crimper but I paid a healthy sum for it. Nope, my issue is the Cat 6 RJ-45 connectors. At least the version I had you had the CAT -6 wires are so thick that they have to be stacked, thus needing a divider that slides inside the RJ-45 connector. Could never get it all to come together. Maybe it was my hope to keep the exposed wires short that made it even more difficult. Will try again but in the end I am using wireless AC spec so I am not loosing any speed at the moment.

Here are the plugs that ishiboo and I are talking about: Platinum Tools 100010C EZ-RJ45 Cat 6+ Connectors, Clamshell, 50-Pieces - Crimpers - Amazon.com
Makes it MUCH easier to get all the wires in the right place.

Would like to ask a few questions as I am facing the same issue in Olympia WA.
How did you structure the deal with your neighbor because this is proving to be difficult when the neighbors think something is not on the up and up...
Do you need power on both ends?
What about resetting the router?

In my case, I use a pair of Ubiquity Nanostation M2 Loco access points running to a family member's house. They can be setup to automatically reboot if they can't connect to the one at the other end of the link. They need power somewhere at each end, but then power goes to the access point over the network cable. Mine are powered at the router at each end, then they have a 10' to 50' network cable running outside to the actual access point (which sits under the eaves).

Aaron Z

 

[woodlandfarms]

Aczlan - thanks so much for the link and the info on your setup. I will check my crimpers but my question is will those connectors work in all crimpers (Mine are Cat 5 but they were not cheap). Just wondering if the "clamshell" crimp is specific to the crimper.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Also, why are you using 2.4GHZ and not 5GHZ (I assume cost but maybe something technical i have not thought of).

 

[aczlan]

Also, why are you using 2.4GHZ and not 5GHZ (I assume cost but maybe something technical i have not thought of).

2.4ghz will push through leaves and such better than 5ghz. 900mhz will push through leaves even better, but IIRC its the slowest of the three.

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

Aczlan - thanks so much for the link and the info on your setup. I will check my crimpers but my question is will those connectors work in all crimpers (Mine are Cat 5 but they were not cheap). Just wondering if the "clamshell" crimp is specific to the crimper.

The only thing specific to their crimper is that they have a razor blade that chops off the excess wire which is sticking out of the connector.
You could do the same with a regular crimper and a razor knife.

Aaron Z

 

[woodlandfarms]

Gonna order a box as I have a couple thousand feet of cat6 to play with (have no idea what I am going to do with it, but I got it). Thanks for the info on HZ. I thought that the higher hertz traveled better, but realize that everytime I upgrade I seem to loose signal strength...

 

[ishiboo]

Basically, as a general rule the higher the frequency, the less range you get BUT you get more speed and less interference. At the same time, there are different EIRP requirements for the bands and the technology changes on the newer AC stuff (2.4/5.8ghz) that starts to counter the range issues. In many metro areas, 900mhz is unusable with interference/noise and 2.4ghz is not far behind!

I haven't tried the Platinum connectors yet... I very rarely crimp RJ45, everything is punched down and patch cables. The only stuff I crimp is the outdoor stuff, where I use the Ubiquiti connectors with the spot for the shield drain for the foil-shielded cable. Platinum makes a shielded one but it has a weird external crimping area I don't really appreciate, instead of a nice spot to crimp the drain wire. People seem to like them though and I can definitely see how it would be a LOT easier to work with.

I drove by the endpoint and I see that there has been locate work done! They are still missing the natural gas, but once the locate is complete they only have 10 days to start construction before it's no good, so I'm excited to say it appears the install date has been bumped up from January to this month!!! So excited.

 

[ishiboo]

Basically, as a general rule the higher the frequency, the less range you get BUT you get more speed and less interference. At the same time, there are different EIRP requirements for the bands and the technology changes on the newer AC stuff (2.4/5.8ghz) that starts to counter the range issues. In many metro areas, 900mhz is unusable with interference/noise and 2.4ghz is not far behind!

I haven't tried the Platinum connectors yet... I very rarely crimp RJ45, everything is punched down and patch cables. The only stuff I crimp is the outdoor stuff, where I use the Ubiquiti connectors with the spot for the shield drain for the foil-shielded cable. Platinum makes a shielded one but it has a weird external crimping area I don't really appreciate, instead of a nice spot to crimp the drain wire. People seem to like them though and I can definitely see how it would be a LOT easier to work with.

I drove by the endpoint and I see that there has been locate work done! They are still missing the natural gas, but once the locate is complete they only have 10 days to start construction before it's no good, so I'm excited to say it appears the install date has been bumped up from January to this month!!! So excited.

An update - when I drove by and saw the locate work, I had no idea the work was actually finished already.

Went from about 2.5mbps (max) down, .5 mbps (max) up to a reliable 95mbit+ down and 7mbps up. I currently have a cable issue where I am only getting 10/100 to the antenna on my property... once the ground freezes and/or dries out, I'll replace the cable that feeds the radio. I am guessing I should see 100+ on the download side then.

A night and day difference which allows me to work so much more efficiently, plus I am able to have a live copy of our production database locally for testing purposes, incremental off-site backups, etc. Without my tractor I'm not sure I would have dreamed up the project but I am sure glad I did!

 

[Handloader109]

Cool project, I moved into home that is only about 2miles to town, no cable for a mile, no dsl for about 3/4 mile. And Att doesn't offer dialup anymore...... So dish satellite was best choice. OK, but limited use. I end up using phone data for a lot also.

 

[TnAndy]

About 10 years ago, I built a 100' tower at the top of our mountain for a wireless company to use. They provided the equipment. Worked pretty good for several years, then they went out of business, leaving us with realllllllllly crappy DSL (512k..really). Then a guy moved next to us and wanted high speed, so he paid for a cable connection on the other side of the mountain at a buddy of mines house, I climbed the tower and hung the antennas, and we were back to 20meg again.

That worked for several years until he moved, and now I'm getting another wireless company...this time I'm renting them space for $100/mo, and I get 50 meg service included. ( I supply the power service).

The tower base is a "rock box", 8x8x6' box I welded out of 3" pipe to 6" tubing, then lined with chain link fence. Dragged up up the mountain and filled with rocks.

Nice view from the top. That's my house just to the left of center closest to the trees, and 800' in elevation below the tower.

 

[ultrarunner]

Great pictures and very resourceful....

 

[Alien]

I wouldn't have the guts to climb that thing.

 

[ishiboo]

Agreed. I don't do heights, even going up 35' to work on my pole with the scissor lift is terrifying for me.

 

[TnAndy]

Here's a pic of my pants and boots:

 

[k0ua]

Here's a pic of my pants and boots:

No guts, no glory!:thumbsup:

 

[Alien]

Ahhhhrrrg!!!

 

[B7510HSD]

Here's a pic of my pants and boots:

You left your climbing belt on the tractor!!

 

[woodlandfarms]

There are a bunch of videos coming out with kids climbing super tall buildings freehand, but at the end of the day, this video is the most interesting and sweat inducing to me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFMHjDqHL_Y

 

[TnAndy]

Photos don't show it, but I use a full body harness with 2 lanyards on the waist rings, and one on the chest ring. Two are always connected as I climb....about impossible to fall with a rig like that.

I did rock free climbing as a youth, but I'm long past that now.....dead men don't need internet !