Test site 1 was selected primarily so we
could become familiar with the gear but also because we wanted to study
the performance with the antennas below the tree canopy.
Our antennas were with the exception of one test are all
below the tree canopy and in most cases very close to the trees this is
perhaps the worst way to deploy wireless equipment, but sometimes we
have no choice
The reason we wanted to study this performance is
because an option being looked at to provide internet in rural areas is
fibre along the main population corridors with a wireless option to
reach more isolated households along side roads. Our question was how
far could we reasonably expected to reach deploying the antennas as
described on low cost utility poles or other vertical structures of
around 15m in our particular terrain.
The tests have revealed that in the worse case
scenario consisting of dense 20m pine trees we can expect 1-2km but with
a bit of careful planning and some luck we can expect 2-4km.
A short link through heavy pines.
TVWS
and Canopy 900 attempting to make the same link
A 3.4 km link over a small forest hill.
Mixed results in the forest.
A failed link so far.
A marginal link
that didn't make it
Another short link over a hill
1.6 km mainly through
trees with good signal levels. All test were
conducted with the same 8dBi yagi antennas at base and mobile. |