There are times where a client has an existing service that needs a little tweaking to make it exactly what they need.
This client had an existing Starlink internet service that was connected to a Ubiquiti WiFi network that had been installed a fair few years ago, so it was basically at “end of life”. The existing WiFi network did not cover all the areas in the premises that needed to be covered, nor did it offer any expandability to be able to add to it in any aspect.
Due to this, Essential Communications Services sent our lead lead network engineer to the property to complete a comprehensive site survey & run a number of field tests, as well as to scope out the area for the new WiFi and Point to Point plan. As a Cambium Networks Partner, we felt that Cambium Networks equipment was the obvious choice. Cambium equipment copes perfectly with the speed that comes through from Starlink and offers cloud overview.
Within the home there were four WiFi points that needed to be changed over to Cambium equipment. One in the kitchen, one in the living room area, one in the hallway near the master bedroom and one in the hall between the two children’s bedrooms. We used one Cambium Networks XV2-22H on a desk stand, one Cambium Networks XV2-22H mounted on the wall and two XV2-21 WiFi 6 Access Points mounted to the ceiling for these areas. Signal coverage and speed increased exponentially over the previous WiFi coverage & speed.
As there were outdoor areas on the property that previously had no WiFi and the client wanted these areas to be covered, we decided that the best way to cover these areas was to implement long range, high powered Cambium Networks XV2-2TO Outdoor WiFi. Once installed, we “walk tested” the range of these units, 750m from the house. The only reason that this was the outer edge of the signal, is that this is a tall tree line on the bank of a river that runs through the property. If that had been just a little further away the WiFi signal would have definitely reached further.
Close to the house there were two small sheds, one used as the carport and another as a pump shed for the irrigation equipment for the grounds, that had an existing Cat6 ethernet link to the home. We installed two Cambium Networks XV2-21 Access Points in these sheds to also extend the WiFi area within the confines of the house yard. As the pump shed was considered a “messy” area, we installed a 4RU Data Cabinet to house the Cambium Networks EX1010-P Switch, powering the access points, and other electronic equipment for the irrigation system.
The client also has three equipment sheds on the top of the hill near the house, approximately 900m away. We also needed to get internet and WiFi to these sheds. We installed a Cambium Networks Force 425 PtP link, that can handle up to 1GB speed, to shoot the signal up to the main shed and, due to there being an existing ethernet pipe between the main shed and the other two sheds, we were able to utilize this to draw through two new CAT6 ethernet cables to push through the upgraded signal.
As Starlink internet speeds increase over the next few years the Cambium Networks equipment will seemlessly cope with the changes, due to them being next level PtP, Access Point & peripheral equipment. This means that this installation is future proof.
The main shed already had a data cabinet that needed to be tidied up but, to be able to keep the equipment clean and tidy in the other sheds we installed two 4RU data cabinets on the walls.
All three sheds had previously installed WiFi points that did not do what was needed so we removed these and installed one Cambium XV2-21 unit to each shed, each access point being PoE powered by a Cambium Networks ex1010-P switch. This cleared up the “black spot” areas within the sheds, pushing signal to every corner.
Luckily, as the client has a 10m scissor lift on site, reaching the ceiling of the sheds, as well as the roof line, was easy. Essential Communications Services are licensed operators of all kinds of scissor lifts and boom lifts, up to 120 metres.
The main gate to the property has a security camera installed but, again due to being “end of life” the existing link from the main shed to the gate needed to be replaced. A Cambium Networks Force 300-16 PtP link was installed to shoot the signal to the gate to run the security camera.
Once the system was all in place and had been operational for a couple of weeks, the client decided, after their Starlink internet system was down for a weekend, that they needed to have a Telstra 5G Mobile Broadband backup internet service. Unfortunately, due to the home being at the bottom of a fairly deep valley, there was no usable signal at this point.
We returned to site and spent some time ensuring that signal was available at the farm sheds, which it was. We then put a plan in place to supply, install & commission a 5G mobile broadband system at the shed.
To receive the best possible signal we installed a Panorama 4×4 MiMo 4G & 5G Directional Panel Antenna to a Telco 3 metre Serviceable Mast, utilising LCU400 Coaxial Cable down to the existing data cabinet. We supplied a Peplink BR1 Pro 5G Modem Router and set it up in “bonding mode” so that it would initiate a seemless failover from Starlink to Telstra 5G Mobile Broadband in case of an outage, and back when the Starlink returns to service.
Obviously, with the internet now being situated at the main farm shed, we had to shift the Starlink dish from the house to the roof of the shed, as well as change the Cambium Networks Force 425 Point to Point link around so that the shed was now the AP and the house was now the SM.
The entire installation took 25 days to complete, mostly due to the fact that the home was an 1850’s bluestone cottage with very little “wriggle room” for in ceiling and down walls running of cabling as well as weather and other factors.
If you have a communications & telecommunications infrastructure challenge please do not hesitate to get in touch with Essential Communications Services, it would be our pleasure to be of assistance to you anywhere in Australia.