| Forum Home | ||||
| Press F1 | ||||
| Thread ID: 99771 | 2009-05-14 10:52:00 | Networking solution required | dzina (6860) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 773802 | 2009-05-14 10:52:00 | Hi, I have to setup a wireless/wired network at Fieldays in June. Anyone who knows Fieldays knows it is almost impossible to establish a stable network because of the huge digital noise issue. I will use 2x 14dBi gain Yagi antennas aiming at each other (this is at the tractor pull area so 1 end is in a moving tractor just to make it more interesting - have 240v inverters in there for power). Max distance is approx 120m My plan is to have the wireless router (Dlink DI 624) in the tractor sending a wireless signal to the control hut (router has to be in the tractor). From the control hut I want to run a wired network to other laptops. My question is can I have a router at the control hut end "recieving" the signal? (I need router type hardware for two reasons: 1 to connect the bigger antennas to and 2 so I can access a switch to distrubute LAN to other laptops.) This router would then allow wired connections via the built in switch (or connect to a switch if not built in). Is this the role of a network bridge? I did think of using a PC (not laptop) with a PCI wireless card in (which can connect the antenna) Then connect a switch via the onboard LAN port. Would this work? I am trying to reduce the amout of wireless connections hopefully to be more robust due to digital noise. Any advice would be appreciated. |
dzina (6860) | ||
| 773803 | 2009-05-15 00:01:00 | Noise? And you want to attach this stuff to tractors? Wireless and large junks of iron doen't go well together. Take it off the machinery and you'd have less trouble. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 773804 | 2009-05-15 00:12:00 | Out of interest, why do you need a wireless router on a tractor? Are there going to be multiple devices on the tractor connecting wirelessly? Assuming there's one device on the tractor, I'd have a wireless AP / router in the control hut with a high gain antenna and have a wifi adapter with a good antenna on the unit in the tractor. But as pctek said, wireless + metal cage = bye to signal. |
inphinity (7274) | ||
| 773805 | 2009-05-15 00:49:00 | If removing the router from the tractor was an option I would do it - unfortunately it is not (well not that I can see) . I have a PLC onboard that needs a connection with a wireless router to send the info back to the control hut . The PLC has no wireless capability, only RJ45 . There is a laptop on the tractor providing the GUI for the PLC . So we have a PLC with RJ45 connecting to router (DI 624), Laptop running GUI connecting to same router and wireless signal connects with control hut which wants several laptops connecting via cat5 to monitor PLC output etc . If we could all connect wirelessly that would be fine but the digital noise that is created onsite is like nothing you can simulate so want to be hard wired as much as possible . The antenna will be mounted to the cab window (more plastic in new tractors than iron :o) and have clear vision to control hut so I am hopeful of a stable connection (wont know until Wednesday when it all fires up – last year we had it all going fine on Tuesday but Wednesday – Saturday no connection!) . To explain the setup – we have a weight adjusted tractor pull sled that is controlled by the PLC . The weight of each tractor is entered into the PLC (via the onboard laptop) and the PLC adjusts the rate of weight transfer during the pull to handicap the bigger tractors to produce a fair competition . The PLC outputs data (Speed, distance, pressure) that will be monitored by systems (mainly laptops but can put in desktops if need the hardware) and displayed via a 4x3m screen . We need to get the data from the PLC wirelessly and passed to the video mixing station and other systems (wired) for display, etc . So all in all a very unique network requirement that I am sure not many people would have come across before! Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated . |
dzina (6860) | ||
| 773806 | 2009-05-15 01:10:00 | My question is can I have a router at the control hut end "recieving" the signal? (I need router type hardware for two reasons: 1 to connect the bigger antennas to and 2 so I can access a switch to distrubute LAN to other laptops.) This router would then allow wired connections via the built in switch (or connect to a switch if not built in). Is this the role of a network bridge The answer to this question is yes, you can use a router to be the "receiving" end - you just need to change some settings on it in the web interface. On one of my routers (running the DD-WRT 3rd party firmware), it's a simple matter of switching the wireless into "Client" mode. From what you have described, I think you have already thought of the most viable solution possible. You may wish to experiment with different channels for the WiFi signal, as it could be that other equipment in the area is interfering with your signal (i.e. if someone is using some wireless AV transmission equipment). |
somebody (208) | ||
| 773807 | 2009-05-15 02:32:00 | Yea figured to lock it onto a channel to seeif we can dodge a bit of traffic. So do most wireless routers have a client mode? Is this a bridge mode or different? Would the PC with 2 LAN adaptors (one wireless and one wired) work? Thanks for your input. |
dzina (6860) | ||
| 773808 | 2009-05-15 02:38:00 | So do most wireless routers have a client mode? I'm not 100% sure - your safest bet could be to buy a wireless router which will work with a 3rd party firmware like DD-WRT, and flash it. Would the PC with 2 LAN adaptors (one wireless and one wired) work? Yes - though it might be a bit more tedious to set up. |
somebody (208) | ||
| 1 | |||||