Access Point Setup - Juneau Wireless

How Do I Get Involved

Access Point Setup

Purpose

To cover a public area with your 802.11 signal. Where and what antenna to mount (if any) will depend on the area you want to cover. Line of sight is important, putting the access point near a window is good.

Using an external antenna

After the antenna has been picked attach it to your access point. (see Volunteer List for help on picking your equipment).

Where to mount the antenna

Keep your AP as close to your antenna as possible. Think about a weather proof enclosure or mounting it in the attic with a short string outside.

Make sure you mount your waterproof box so that the holes are at the bottom of the box, and use self-amalgamating tape on any exposed connectors. Add a little copper grease to threads so that they can be more easily undone.

Providing power if you mount your AP outside very often is done by Power Over Ethernet. You can buy a cheap one online for about $40 or make one (see http://www.nycwireless.net/poe ).

How do I configure a AP

Depends upon the AP. but very basically as follows.

open system authentication, no WirelessEquivalentPrivacy?
a SSID juneauwireless (or something with juneauwireless in the name)

following IP services (may or may not be provided by the AP, could also be provided by your upstream)

DHCP
DNS
Route IP (BGP or if no BGP specific static routes would do fine as well, BGP preferred though)
NAT to internet (NOT REQUIRED, but sometimes nice to do)
Gateway with authenticated network access (see [NoCatAuth] or [wsplash] or others) (NOT REQUIRED)
resource control (NOT REQUIRED)
isolation of wireless network from your own LAN (NOT REQUIRED)

and lastly

your AP must be listed in the node directory, recommend a webpage to describe it.

Juneau wireless will provide a node directory, authentication database (available through internet or local wireless)

space for you to describe your node

This page should be added on too. But for a quick spiel I think it's alright.