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How To Create an Outdoor Mesh Network with wifi cameras Circling a Neigborhood

MumtazY

2 weeks ago - last edited 2 weeks ago

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How To Create an Outdoor Mesh Network with wifi cameras Circling a Neigborhood

2 weeks ago - last edited 2 weeks ago

Tags: #Mesh #Installation #Firmware Update #EAP ACL

Model: EAP650-Outdoor CPE510 VIGI C340-W

Hardware Version:

Firmware Version:

We wanted to update our old cabled security camera system with TP-Link's VIGI C340-W cameras. We needed 29 wi-fi cameras surrounding our neighborhood. First, the local TP-Link tech experts advised us to create a mesh network with four EAP650 devices. It turned out that it is almost impossible for EAPs to catch each other's signals. Since, our contractor promised us a solution, he installed four additional EAP225, four CPE510, and two CPE710 with three separate routes that merge in our security building. However, it became a mess due to limited data transfer rates of CPEs (300mbps) that drop with each hop. As a result, we started experiencing low video quality (especially at night), very low frame rate (as low as 10fps), frequent drops in recording etc. due to signal and data transfer rate limitations.

Our neighborhood consists of 105 houses and the 29 security cameras surround them almost in a circle of 2.56 km.

The Tp-Link USA Outdoor Solution Guide suggests that EAPs can be only used on 3 hops to create a mesh network. Moreover, the Tp-Link data suggests that EAPs almost have 250 m range on 2.4 ghz, and may be some more on 5ghz if each cameras are connected to eaps via switch to turn them to 5ghz.

I would definitely be appreciated if you could kindly answer some of those following questions:

- Is it possible to form a mesh network with supposedly 10 or more EAP devices? Can it be supported via software updates?

- If not should we only use CPEs to transfer video data of each camera one by one like a mirror?

- What would be a wiser solution for a large-scale wifi camera system like ours?

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d0ugmac1

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2 weeks ago - last edited 2 weeks ago

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Re:How To Create an Outdoor Mesh Network with wifi cameras Circling a Neigborhood -Solution

2 weeks ago - last edited 2 weeks ago

@MumtazY

Caution, this post contains some reality.

Let's set some baselines:

- Mesh is not Magic

- There is no such thing as a free Lunch

- You can not eat your cake and have it too

Some constraints

- There are only 3 non-interfering 2.4G channels

- Mesh shares the 5.8G access radio with users' traffic

- All Mesh nodes subtending the same root AP must use the same 5.8G radio channel

- Traffic generated on first hop APs, generates 2X radio traffic, 2nd hop 3X radio etc.

Recommendations

- Only deploy linear strings of groups of 5 APs shaped like mAP - mAP -rootAP- mAP - mAP and avoid >2 backhaul links on any 1 AP

- Use EAP225-outdoors with directional antennae for the two outside AP nodes (leftmost and rightmost)

- Use wireless bridges to create new root APs where needed for coverage, using 60Ghz links (AirFiber) will free up more 5.8G user channels in dense areas

- Disable 5.8G access by users (in your case cameras), as this will greatly improve the backhaul speeds

Gotchas

- Most neighbourhoods are flooded latest generation gigabit plus home routers, which typically have at least two 2.4G radios and two 5.8G radios EACH and they broadcast at maximum power ALL the time

- Per above, every ISP home router occupies 66% or more of the available 2.4G space around them

- If you allow user traffic via your 5.8G radios they compete, packet for packet with every meshed packet moving through that AP, some of them move twice if they are being relayed through that node

- Assuming a dense noisy RF environment, you'll need to keep your radio links in the 100' (30m) range

I would say your project is very optimistic and your budget will likely have to supersize itself to even accomplish 1/4 of what you want.

<< Paying it forward, one juicy problem at a time... >>

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MumtazY

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2 weeks ago

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Re:How To Create an Outdoor Mesh Network with wifi cameras Circling a Neigborhood

2 weeks ago

@d0ugmac1 Thank you for your kind reply and some useful suggestions with stick of truth!

I would like to clarify some more points and ask some further questions (some might be repetitive for clarification).

Creating a mesh network with only four EAP 650 was a recommendation from a lead Chinese network engineer of Tp-Link deployed in my country. Soon after the real-world implementation, it was revealed that it was not that easy as you also suggested. We are still in search of a more realistic and effective solution. Thus, if it becomes a real solution, your suggestions will be precious to many including Tp-Link's own engineering team as well.

We have 19 camera poles with 29 cameras installed on them. Our contractor connected most of the Vigi C340W cameras to EAP and CPE devices via then available indoor switches on most of the poles. Therefore, if I am not wrong, I believe the RF traffic noise is significantly reduced since a smaller number of APs (compared to all 29 cameras) communicate with each other. However, from what I have acknowledged through TP-link documentation CPE devices also significantly reduce the data transfer rate since most of them are limited to a 300mbps data transfer rate.

Under those circumstances;

i. How can we connect groups of 5AP devices with each other? All of their data must be send to a security building on one corner of our neighborhood.

ii. Can we utilize Tp-Link EAP215 bridge kits?

iii. Should we still keep APs on 30m range?

iv. Vigi C340W cameras come with only a very limited 2.4ghz antenna. Should we connect them all with EAPs via a switch to benefit from their 5ghz antennas?

d0ugmac1

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Re:How To Create an Outdoor Mesh Network with wifi cameras Circling a Neigborhood

2 weeks ago

@MumtazY

Hi, you haven't characterized the RF environment in your deployment area yet. This will determine how much overbuild you need relative to 'ideal condtiions'. Suggest something like the Android 'Wifi Analyser' app which you can do a walk about and see how many other competing radios there are.

I looked up your cameras and they are 2.4Ghz only with a max data transmission rate of 150Mbps.

A site plan showing the 19 pole locations and central security building would be helpful as well.

To answer your questions:

i. How can we connect groups of 5AP devices with each other? All of their data must be send to a security building on one corner of our neighborhood.

The central 'root AP' is the AP that is connected back to the security building using something other than wireless mesh. This could be outdoor CAT6 or it could be 60Ghz radio links. Less ideally, something like the CPE710 or EAP215 bridge, both of which will compete in the 5Ghz band, and the bridge kit will interact unpredictably with your meshed devices.

ii. Can we utilize Tp-Link EAP215 bridge kits?

Until TP-Link improves the control of these units, ie enable forcing a unit to be the slave, I don't recommend them. You would do better with a 60Ghz solution like the AirFiber product (unfortunately TP-Link has not yet entered the 60Ghz space yet).

iii. Should we still keep APs on 30m range?

This depends on the local RF environment.

iv. Vigi C340W cameras come with only a very limited 2.4ghz antenna. Should we connect them all with EAPs via a switch to benefit from their 5ghz antennas?

Adding 30 EAPs is a significant investment, but perhaps you can optimize somewhat. For instance, some poles will have multiple cameras and it may make sense to add a switch (TPlink has an outdoor POE+ to POE 5 port switch (SG2005P-PD) that would be applicable) and EAP at these points, and leave the solo cameras on the 2.4Ghz wifi.

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How To Create an Outdoor Mesh Network with wifi cameras Circling a Neigborhood

How To Create an Outdoor Mesh Network with wifi cameras Circling a Neigborhood

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