Question 1

Will this work for outdoors? I would like to link an access control system between two buildings. The other building is less than a block away.

Accepted Answer

We installed these between two buildings at opposite ends of our parking lot. we mounted them in some high windows, with Power Over Ethernet that comes in the kit. There is some aiming that needs to be done once you get them into place. Three are some green lights on the unit to indicate when there's a good connection. We had someone up on a ladder and someone down low with a laptop, watching the signal strength meter display on the laptop, and telling the person on the ladder when the throughput was best. Then the person on the ladder tightens the mounting screw(s). We've had good performance from our pair, but that's over a 100-yard distance. 2-3 miles might take some more precise aiming. I hope someone else responds with their experience over that kind of distance.

By the way, we tested it out on the ground first, with one antenna near a volunteer's house, and the other antenna down the street, being powered by the electrical outlet in someone's SUV, and with a laptop at the far end to send and receive large files. This proved to us we could get good throughput over the necessary distance, and gave us practice aiming the antennas.

(Apology to those who have already read this answer elsewhere.)

Question 2

I have a business w/ a good high speed option (100 mbps for cheap) that is about 2.5 to 3 miles from my home.  To obtain LOS, I would have to mount these pretty high, and do not really want to do that.  Would this be a viable option for me?

Accepted Answer

Line-of-sight is important.

We installed these between two buildings at opposite ends of our parking lot. we mounted them in some high windows, with Power Over Ethernet that comes in the kit. There is some aiming that needs to be done once you get them into place. Three are some green lights on the unit to indicate when there's a good connection. We had someone up on a ladder and someone down low with a laptop, watching the signal strength meter display on the laptop, and telling the person on the ladder when the throughput was best. Then the person on the ladder tightens the mounting screw(s). We've had good performance from our pair, but that's over a 100-yard distance. 2-3 miles might take some more precise aiming. I hope someone else responds with their experience over that kind of distance.

By the way, we tested it out on the ground first, with one antenna near a volunteer's house, and the other antenna down the street, being powered by the electrical outlet in someone's SUV, and with a laptop at the far end to send and receive large files. This proved to us we could get good throughput over the necessary distance, and gave us practice aiming the antennas.

Question 3

These are the transmitter and the receiver? I would have one on each end?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you need one at each end (sort of). That is, you could use one as a classic access point where would want to have better signal in a given direction (See beamwidth specs).  But as a 'bridge' such as we use it to extend our network to a warehouse next door, you buy two of them.

You then configure one as an 'access point' that is hidden (no ssid transmit) and also mac address bound to the remote one. The remote is just a wifi client that connects to the first unit and again mac address bound to the first one.

These are 'rock solid' and has worked 100% sunny, rain, wind, etc..

Question 4

What exactly in included in the kit?

Accepted Answer

Hello, The kit will include the NanoBeam, a somewhat small mounting bracket, and a PoE Injector. Have an eggcellent day! Newegg.com

Question 5

Could this be used as a WiFi Access point. Say I want better WiFi coverage at a particular spot on the other end of my property. Or must you use to of them to create a bridge?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it can be used as an access point. It should be noted that the distance figures are under near unobtainable conditions and with two units pointing at each other. Most client devices have antennas optimized for physical size rather than performance.

Question 6

Could this be used as a WiFi Access point. Say I want better WiFi coverage at a particular spot on the other end of my property. Or must you use to of them to create a bridge?

Accepted Answer

I think these are just for bridging.  We purchased two and created a bridge between two buildings.  Ubiquity has a mesh device that you could connect to your existing network and extend WiFi from there.   We've done this too in areas that just need a extra coverage.

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