Connecting 2 buildings approx 2 mi. apart

[mturman]

I would like an opinion on the best way to connect 2 buildings approx. 2 miles apart with wireless. I'm guessing 2 bridges, but with what kind of antenna, Yagi or directional? Or am I off the hook here? Any opinion would be appreciated.

[gamccall · Accepted solution]

Do you mean "Yagi or dish"? There are many types of directional antenna, of which Yagi is one example and parabolic dishes another. For a two mile bridge, a pair of Yagi's should be quite adequate.

However, you need to make sure that you have line of sight. Not just point-to-point line of sight like for a laser, but a wide clearance around the line so that you don't have obstructions (including tree leaves) into the cigar-shaped Fresnel zone. For two miles you'll need about a 30' radius around the line of sight to be clear, at the midpoint of the path.

Fresnel zone calculator with explanation and pretty picture at http://www.ydi.com/calculation/fresnel-zone.php

[mturman]

Yes,I did mean dish, thank you for correcting me, and thank you for the response.

[xavier.zhindon]

HI.

I THINK YOU SHOULD CONSIDER AN 12 DBI OR LESS GAIN ANTENNA, SINCE DE DISTANCE IS QUITE SHORT. YAGUIS ARE EASY TO AIM TO THE OTHER POINT, BUT ARE MORE SUCEPTIBLE TO INTERFERENCE.

DIRECTIONAL GRID ANTENNAS ARE CHEAPER THAN THE PARABOLICS, BUT ARE QUITE HARDER TO AIM AND CALIBRATE. PERSONALLY I LIKE TO USE THE GRIDS SINCE I HAD LESS TROUBLE THAN USING YAGUIS.

I HOPE THIS WILL HELP YOU