Wireless Internet Service Provider Rollout

Wireless Internet Service Rollout Example, Eastern NC from Duck to Wilmington

Requirements

To provide high speed internet access for the Eastern NC cost to compete with DSL, Cable modems, ISDN, and similar technologies. By competing we define this as similar Internet access speeds at similar cost of competing technology to the consumer.

Solution
In order to accomplish this task we had to be able to keep the ISP's infrastructure cost low, provide a large coverage area and keep end user install cost to a minimum. All this was accomplished by utilizing the new BreezeAccess II 2.4Ghz ISM band Frequency Hopping High power microwave radios. These new radios (released in Early 2001) offer Point to Multipoint links of over 10 miles at 3Mbs ! Base station AU-E radios are less than $2,000.00 each and the subscriber end (customer) SU-I less than $500.00

In order to get a large coverage area we choose to install a series of antenna's called sector antenna's at a 60 degree spread with 3 to 4 per tower (depending on areas we were tying to get signal to).

Here we are getting ready to install 4 Til-Tek sector antennas on a 300' tower.

During the initial install phase we did a site survey and located this 300' tower in Manteo NC, this site was ideal as was located across the sound and had clear line of site to the entire Outer Banks area. Here the tower crew is getting ready to install the antenna's. Note in the Til-Tek antenna on the ground in the lower portion of the picture.

350' Monster, our antenna's will be about 10' below the Halo on the top.

Here is a distance picture of the 300' tower showing where we will be mounting our antennas. Currently the tower is loaded with Cellular, paging and PCS antennas. The 2.4Ghz ISM band does not interfere with them and co-exist well in this environment.

Crew mounting antenna's on tower legs and getting ready to run cable.

We threw in this picture to give you a perspective of what 300+ feet looks like from the air! This is why only professionals should climb towers, one slip here and there is no second chance. Note the cellular Hard line in the right hand side of this picture. The new BreezeAccess II radios run a lower frequency 440Mhz IF base band and smaller cheaper RG-58 can be used up to 100 feet. At runs longer than 100' LMR-400 can be used. This saves a lot in material cost, labor and reduces loading on the tower.

A view of the equipment install in process at the base of the tower.

Here is a view of the equipment rack in the communications room at the base of the tower. Note the T1 feeds located on the right hand side of the picture, from here we feed this to a Cisco router, then to the radios for distribution. The equipment takes up less than 5U of rack space and as you will see later we can wall mount the entire system (including a UPS) if a rack is not available.

Tower crew installing antenna's on a smaller Rohn 25 at 140'

The Til-Tek antenna's are small and lightweight. This allows us to mount a few at 140' and 120' on this lightweight Rohn tower. The wind was blowing about 35k knots this day, note the tie lines blowing in the breeze. This tower is primarily used for FM communications and now covers the northern Portion of the Outer Banks region with high speed Internet access.

Typical install of a client side Breezecom external antenna

Here we are installing a Breezecom BreezeAccess II series high power unit on the chimney of a customers house. The BreezeAccess II unit is comprised of two pieces, an external antenna/transceiver and a internal radio/data unit. Normally up to 100' of RG-58 is used to connect the two. A typical install from opening the box until pulling out of the driveway takes less than 1 and 1/2 hours.

Here is an install in progress w/o using a rack. (Wall Mount)

Here we are in a very small equipment room in which they didn't even have a rack. We had to install the equipment on the wall. Note the custom made rack assembly for the UPS and Cisco router. The gold plate you see was installed for added surge protection as it allowed us to bond the units to one common ground. a surge/lightning protection is already built into the new BreezeAccessII radios and external protection is not required.

Mobile Command Unit in action, home away from home for the Installers.

The MCU (Mobile Command Unit) is a mobile lab on wheels. It features completely wireless communications inside, three wireless radios, a mobile command and control tracking computer, GPS, remote controlled web cams, video conferencing, two offices, kitchen, full bath, all major appliances, and sleeps 6. This unit is very comfortable and allows the Engineer and installers to remain on-site for weeks or months at the time if required. The unit was completely customized for this specific purpose.

Rollout example of Rural Goldsboro, NC WISP Marketing web site.