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Forum Discussion
RBR50 - RBS50 need outdoor access point
I have an RBR50 connected to 3 RBS50s and an RBS50Y on the way to sit outside and extend the network into the yard. I need some sort of a wireless access point at the end of a driveway for a camera ...
FURRYe38, as far as I understand the problem, it's less a question of absolute range (although that might very well be another aspect) - but rather of finding a way to wirelessly connect ethernet-only devices to the network. With indoor devices such as the RBS50, this is easily possible (wireless backhaul, using the RBS50's ethernet ports to connect the wired devcies - all you need is power), but I'm not aware of an outdoor equivalent (the RBS50Y is weather proof, but offers no ethernet port for further wired devices to use).
your terminology is better : client / bridge probably better. Has to be wired ethernet. Thats the driving need.
Less worried about range - I get excellent coverage with the Orbi's as set throughout the house but to the end of the driveway I dont want to run ethernet, and as mentioned the RBS50Y didnt give off the ethernet that I need.
If the bridge has good 2.4 or 5g wifi coverage at the end of the driveway - is there a non MESH option thats "easy" and reliable? Obviously I dont see anything within the orbi ecosystem, and thats ok.
the "rugged" housing idea is probably suboptimal though I agree - they probably run above and below their temp/humidity ranges, but thats a pricy test if theres a better client bridge that I can put out there.
As in FURRY38's referenced link, making a normal RBS50 'weather proof' is probably easier than finding a rugged device (weatherproofing the ethernet ports will always be a problem, while the military has solutions for that, they come with an according price tag) capable of client-bridge mode. Technically the wifi standards don't allow clients (STA) to be bridged, so basically extenders (not that you'd find that many weather proof ones among those either) would be 'impossible' devices, as IEEE 802.11 simply only defines a way to transport 3 MAC addresses, rather than the 4 required for bridging. Classic wireless extenders try to fool around this by clever proxying (in order to avoid routing and somehow still allow all devices to share the same broadcast domain), but this is fragile, buggy and generally doesn't work with IPv6 traffic at all. Mesh systems are more clever and reliable, as they don't need to speak pure IEEE 802.11 for their backhaul, but can rely on proprietary protocal extensions instead - this is generally much more reliable and stable (the orbi range is pretty good at this, it really is network transparent).
The other alternative would be laying fibre... (I'm saying fibre and not ethernet here, as it's no longer than much more expensive and avoids all the problems with lightning strikes, differences in voltage potentials and safety protocols, it's just two tiny glass strands in a plastic pipe, nothing conductive).
painful, but helpful!
I am using an EnGenius ENS202 to do exactly what you are describing. I put the EnGenius in a static IP mode then tell the ORBI to reserve that IP address for the EnGenius wireless bridge. There is only one ethernet connector on the EnGenius but that's all I needed. It sits about 75 feet away from the main Orbi router through a concrete/stucco wall and has enough signal strength to run my attached device on 2.4gHz. Has worked flawlessly for over 3 years in AZ heat and monsoonal weather.
Unfortunately, they discontinued that model but replacement models are available. Other companies make similar products. Good Luck!
So I did what you all recomended - got the outside enclosure. it works great with an RBS50 (actually an RBR50 converted to RBS50). Which brings up the security thing : any way to prevent any other wired devices from coming off that singular sat? I've been searching in access control and I dont see an easy way to prevent wired connections from a singular satelite? Risk is low, and I have a padlock on the enclosure, but if there was an easy box, that'd take a smidgen of risk down for direct wired access into the network.
NeedOrbiHelp wrote:Which brings up the security thing : any way to prevent any other wired devices from coming off that singular sat?network.
In a previous life, I used two types of "RJ45 Lock". One sticks into the RJ45 jack and cannot be removed without a special key. Several companies make them, including Panduit and NTW (see Amazon). Another model fits over an RJ45 plug and locks the patch cord into the RJ45 jack. These are really popular in school and library settings where visitors are not allowed to plug in their own devices.
Google "YouTube RJ45 Lock" for fun videos of several products. The NTW package is $16 for 10 plugs and one key.
