This "How To" will show you how to connect onto... services it offers. This guide assumes you have some computer... Introduction

This "How To" will show you how to connect onto... services it offers. This guide assumes you have some computer... Introduction

Introduction
This "How To" will show you how to connect onto the KimWUG network so you can enjoy the
services it offers. This guide assumes you have some computer skills in windows, if you do get stuck
you can join in our chat room.
This is not only a guide on how to connect but also a great learning experience. You will learn a lot
throughout this whole setup and also throughout your use on the wireless user group.
On a last note we do not provide any internet access or charge a fee for usage to make any profit.
This is a community based network and a non-profit organisation. This is also administrated by
people who have families, friends and lives so when you ask for help please do not expect the best
possible service as they are busy but they will attend or help out to the best of their abilities.
Registration
Please register yourself as a new user on our site before you begin to complete your installation. Not
only will you be able to access a lot of KimWUGs services but there are also helpful tutorials on how
to maximize your wireless connection or join in a game.
Plotting Line of sight
Before you go out and buy any equipment or register on our site you need to make sure you have
"Line of Sight" (LOS) this will determine if you can connect or cannot connect to the wireless
network.
Don’t be worried if you cannot connect, there might be someone installing a node close to you as
the network grows. Also if you’re interested in running a high site or being a node please don’t
hesitate to contact an admin.
To plot (LOS) Line of Sight you’ll need to check our forum.
Hardware
Once you have registered and you have determined you can get good line of sight you can then
purchase some hardware to connect to our network. Here is a quick guide on the purpose of each
piece of equipment used in the setup of KimWUG
Brackets
The brackets are used for mounting the mast that is going to hold the weather proof enclosures.
There are multiple types of brackets and depending on the mast size will depend on the bracket size.
These can be purchased at your local hardware store.
small bracket
tripod bracket
These brackets are mounted to the wall with either Hilties or Rawl Bolts
Rawl Bolts
Hilties
Masts
Masts are attached to the brackets and also hold the weather proof enclosure up. The longer the
mast the better the LOS will be. They come in many shapes and sizes but the standard we use is
50mm masts. These can also be purchased at your local hardware store
Wi-Fi Equipment
This equipment will allow you to connect to the KimWUG network and begin to use our services
offered
This can be purchased online and we will have the contact details after this tutorial.
Enclosures
These house the Mikrotik router board and the wireless radio cards. They provide a weather proof
seal to protect your equipment from the elements. There are many designs for these enclosures but
we will be looking at two standard designs. The integrated enclosure and the standard enclosure.
Antennas
Antennas allow the wireless signal to travel vast distances and they come in many different models
depending on how far you want your signal to go. We will be taking a look at 3 types of antennas.
Omni:
Omni’s antennas are not very popular in many wireless user groups as they tend to cause more
problems than solve them. We generally do not use these as they generate too much noise and this
could disrupt communication for other wireless devices.
Omni Directional Antenna
Directional:
Directional antennas come in different sizes from 60 degrees up to 120 degrees, they cover a much
wider span but not so much of a distance, you will see either the high sites or nodes will have some
of these up to get a wider coverage.
Directional Antenna
Grids or Satellites:
Now these babies are the coolest :)
They can cover greater distances than their counterparts and offer a better signal.
Grid Antenna
Satellite Antenna
Router board
This is the brains of the operation and allows the wireless radio cards to communicate with each
other; they also calculate valuable routing information in order to get your network packets onto the
network.
Mikrotiks RB433 Router Board
Radio Card
These allow you add wireless capabilities to the router boards in order to connect to the wireless
network. There are a lot of cards available and we will only be focusing on the 5ghz models and not
the 2.4ghz (2.4ghz is standard off the shelf and KimWUG utilizes the 5ghz range.)
Wireless lan radio card
Power supply
To power the wireless cards and the router board a POE adapter is recommended. This allows power
to travel over a normal cat5e network cable and power the equipment. This also allows for easier
installation as there is less wires. Although you can also run a 12volt power cable to the top if you
prefer not to use POE
Simple POE Injector
Another example of a POE power supply
Cable / Connectors
There are many types of cable and connectors used in the setup of the wireless panels, we will not
go to much detail about this and only talk about the most common connectors and cables used in
installation.
Cat5e: this is a common network cable used to join computers to a network. It normally has a RJ45
connector and a boot attached to either side to allow for connections to the network ports. These
are normally crimped in a certain standard. It is preferred to use a UV Shielded cat5e cable as it will
be in the harsh elements. You can purchase pre made cables at your local IT shop.
Non Shielded RJ45
Shielded RJ45
Pigtails: These are used to connect from the wireless radio card to the LMR jumper cable.
They have a Ufl connector on one end and a N-type connector on the other.
LMR: This cable is used to connect from the outside of the enclosure to the antenna and is designed
to be protected from the elements. It is also shielded so to not loose and valuable signal strength.
LMR 400 with N-type connectors
Kits
Now the nice guys at Scoop and Miro are kind enough to of have built up some pre made kits for the
wireless user groups springing up all over the country. You may take a look at the kits on their
websites.
www.scoop.co.za
www.miro.co.za
They have some nice kits that are perfect for connecting to the network.
Mikrotik has just released the SXT kit that is easy and simple to install. I would recommend this.
you can check it out here
Scoop and Miro do stock these.
Setup / Install
It’s as simple as setting up a TV or dish
Mount, Align and Configure Software.
Equipment needed
Drill and Masonry drill bits
Ladder
Power leads
Pliers and Side Cutter
Spanners
Carpet Knife
Hammer
Cable Ties (to neaten up the installation and cables)
** some friends willing to help and willing to learn, this way it makes the installation a lot more fun
:)
Mounting brackets, Mast and Panel
Before you go out and just start drilling holes into you walls start to plan your installation. This will
not only prevent your walls from looking like Swiss cheese but also help you better to setup and run
your cables. You will be looking for a spot easily accessible and away from trees that would grow and
cover up your signal. Mount the Bracket, Mast and Panel in a place where you are able to see the
High site or Node. This must be sturdy as you do not want your wireless panel to fall to the ground.
Frankenstein’s Install
Striders Setup
Running cable
When running the cable down from the mast to your power supply, be sure to hide it away from the
elements as much as possible, also look into the easiest route to your power supply
Get connected
Once you have all the equipment up and it is powered on you may now sit down in from of your
computer and begin to connect to the network.
Connect to RouterOS
RouterOS is the software installed on your router board and you need to connect to this in order to
configure it to connect to KimWUG. You will be needing Winbox in order to connect to Mikrotiks
routerOS. This can be downloaded at www.mikrotik.com. Once you have downloaded that you may
then fire it up and connect to your router.
Step 1: Press the magic button
Step 2: Select the routers details
Step 3: Press connect.
Step 4: Go to System -> Identity
Enter in your Nickname on how the Wug will identify you
Step 5: Enable the wireless card
Go to wireless on the left and select the wlan1 and press the green tick button
Step 6: Setting up the radio card
6.1 Double click on the wlan1.
6.2 Again enter in your Nickname on how the Wug will identify you
6.3 Set your country details.
6.4 Press apply
Scanning / connecting
In order to connect you need to initiate a scan to search for the KimWUG high sites or nodes.
This can be done by pressing the scan button.
Once you have found a SSID (this is the name given to a wireless network to identify it) with the
KimWUG name in you may press the connect button.
Here you can see you signal strength and noise levels.
Choose the best signal possible.
Ask for IP address
Once you have established a connection you may then get in contact with an admin in order for
them to create a route and allocate IP addresses to you. Give them your equipment’s identity and
await a IP address
Entering in your IP Address and Route
Log onto winbox again
1.IP Addresses
Go to IP -> Addresses
1.1 Click on the red plus button and add an ip address for the wlan1 and enter in your wlan ip
address given to you from the WUG admins
1.2 Again click on the red plus button and add an ip address for the ether1 and enter in your ether ip
address given to you from the WUG admins
2.Routes
To add a route click on IP -> Routes
Click on the red plus button and add a route,
2.1: Under Dst-Address add 172.23.192.0/18
2.2: Under Gateway add the IP you were given by the WUG administrator.
Connecting your PC
To connect your computer to the network you need to setup your IP address to the IP range handed
over to you from one of the WUG admins. If you get stuck in any way please ask one of the admins
for help.
Congratulations
Congratulations you are now connected to the Kimberley Wireless User Group. Please take a look on
our website where you will find other information on how to use the services KimWUG has to offer.
Also take a look at the Legal Stuff section on what or what not to do.
Again on a last note we do not provide any internet access or charge a fee for usage to make any
profit. This is a community based network and a non profit organisation. This is also administrated
by people who have families, friends and lives so when you ask for help please do not expect the
best possible service all the time as they are busy but they will attend or help out to the best of their
abilities. Please help us to keep the WUG a pleasant experience.
Have fun on KimWUG