Point-to-point (long range) wireless

A point-to-point wireless link carries network traffic between two fixed locations using a pair of directional radios. It is often the practical answer when you need to connect a second building, a gatehouse, a yard or a remote site and trenching fibre would be slow, disruptive or expensive. We study the path, design the link, install and align it, and test it before handover.

A well-built link behaves much like a cable between the two sites. A poorly planned one drops out in heavy rain, slows down when trees leaf out in spring, or picks up interference from other radios nearby. The difference is almost always in the planning: the path, the frequency, the mounting and the margin built into the design.

What we look at

• The requirement. How much bandwidth the link must carry now and later, what runs over it (data, voice, cameras, building controls) and how much downtime you can tolerate.
• Line of sight and clearance. Whether the two ends can see each other, and whether buildings, trees, terrain or structures intrude into the Fresnel zone, the area around the direct path the signal needs to stay clear.
• Frequency and licensing. Whether licence-exempt bands are suitable or a licensed link is worth the extra cost and lead time, and what Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) rules apply.
• Mounting points. Rooftops, walls, masts and towers, their structure and access, and how cable will reach the network equipment inside.
• Power, grounding and protection. Power over Ethernet or local power, surge protection and bonding of outdoor equipment.
• Local radio environment. Other links and networks in the area that could cause or suffer interference.

What the link design accounts for

The design works through a link budget: what the transmitting radio puts out, the gain of each antenna, the loss over the distance and through cables and connectors, and the signal level the receiving radio needs to run at the planned speed. The difference between the expected received signal and what the radio needs is the fade margin. Margin is what keeps the link up through rain, ice on the antennas, seasonal growth and small shifts in alignment, so we size it for the band, the distance and how much downtime you can accept.

How it works

1. Requirements. We ask why you need the link and what it must do, then confirm the two end points and any future sites that may join.
2. Path study. We review maps and elevation data, then visit both ends to confirm line of sight, obstructions and mounting options.
3. Design. We choose the frequency band, radio and antenna type, mounting heights and expected link margin, and identify any licensing needed.
4. Installation. We mount the radios, run and terminate the cable, bond and protect the equipment, and connect it to your network. Any work at height is done by people trained and equipped for it, under a fall protection plan.
5. Alignment and testing. We align the antennas, confirm signal levels against the design, test throughput and latency, and record the results.

What to have ready

• Addresses or coordinates of both ends, and of any site that may need connecting later.
• Permission from the building owners at both ends to mount equipment, run cable and access the roof.
• Roof plans or structural drawings if you have them, and details of any existing masts, anchors or roof penetrations.
• Where the link will connect to your network at each end, and who manages those switches.
• Any restrictions on appearance, access times or work on the roof.

What you get

• A path study with line-of-sight findings, mounting recommendations and any obstructions to resolve.
• A link design stating the band, equipment, antenna heights and expected margin.
• An installed, aligned and tested link, with signal levels and throughput recorded at handover.
• As-built documentation of equipment, settings, mounting locations and cable routes.

A typical link

An industrial site has a scale house at the far side of its yard that needs data, phones and a camera feed. Trenching across the yard would mean cutting through paving that carries heavy trucks. The path study finds clear sight from the main building's roof, but a row of trees along the fence line comes close to the lower edge of the Fresnel zone. The design raises the main-building radio on a short mast so the zone clears the trees with room for growth, chooses a band suited to the distance and the local radio environment, and sizes the margin for winter conditions. At handover, the test record shows signal levels against the design figures, throughput and latency, so future problems can be compared with a known starting point.

Who it's for

• Campuses, industrial sites and yards with outbuildings, gatehouses or scale houses that need a network connection.
• Property owners connecting buildings across a road, parking lot or property line.
• Sites that need a backup path in case a fibre or carrier circuit fails.
• Remote or temporary locations where cabled service is not available.

Related guides

Point-to-point wireless links explained covers how these links work and what affects them. Licensed vs unlicensed wireless backhaul helps you weigh the frequency choice, and Grounding and bonding explained covers why outdoor equipment needs proper protection.

Common questions