Hello benunsworth,
This is a tough question you have asked; however, it is a question I
personally have experience with. I was part of an install that covered
an area of this size and we had a couple of different ideas on how best
to get this done.
The solution I would advise you go for would be many wireless access
points connected via ethernet cables to a single router that provided
Internet access.
Are you interested in providing an Internet access mechanism?
The setup I would advise you use would be multiple access points. My
personal choice is the Linksys WAP54G located here:
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US
%2FLayout&cid=1126536803676&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper
Remember there are other manufacturers of access points, but I would advise
you to keep away from Dlink. Their wireless hardware is atrocious in my
experience.
You would need long cable runs to connect each of the wireless points
together (Ethernet cannot run over 100 metres in a single link).
Place the wireless access points along the sides of the arena (do not
place that right at the edge otherwise you are wasting 50% of the
signal).
You have to remember about the channels and overlaps, it is always a
good idea to try to leave a 3 channel difference between access points
(AP) that are next to each other.
Have your corner AP as channel 1, the next at channel 4, the next at 7,
the next at 10 and the final at 13 if your router can extend to that
channel, once you have placed an AP using the highest channel possible
work your way back down the channel list until you have reached the last
edge. Ideally before starting this work a site survey would be most
appropriate to work out obsticals, transmit levels of the area and if
there are any other wireless networks within range. Once all the APs
have been placed repeat the process for every side and ensure you have a
complete blanket coverage of the area. Connect each of the wireless
points to each other using the ethernet cables. It may be wise to have a
central switch where all of the APs terminate so as not to exceed the
total Ethernet length restriction.
Ideally your best choice is to construct a set of high standing
structures that are placed down the middle with Cisco aironet wireless
access points (located here
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps4570/index.html )
pointing away from each other giving you a blanket coverage and a
central location for the wireless points. This solution could be very
expensive.
To sum up, you would be best purchasing 1 wireless access point, testing
the distance of transmission and coverage that the point is able to
provide and then work out the total number of access points you will
require (you are using a square field and APs transmit in a circle) you
can then install these APs along the edge of the field (not right at the
edge so you do not waste the AP transmission) and then connect them all
up to a central switch over ethernet.
This should provide you with a working LAN. You will have to look at the
DHCP implications of everything and work out a subnet or supernet that
will provide the complete access you will require for all guests.
Let me know if you need more information.
--keystroke-ga |
