Broadband for multiple flats

[berryhill]

Bit of a long shot this one and prob the most distant question from the usual actinic questions but does know of any broadband providers/solutions which makes it possible to use/share one broadband connection between a block of apartments (up to 20 homes)

Any advice/experience greatfuly received

Andy

[wjcampbe]

Try http://www.teknology.co.uk/ for an Actinic shop selling network service solutions.

[AdamL]

You need a 'last mile' implementation of shared xDSL.

To do it properly, you need a Digital Subscriber Line Annex Multiplexer, or an IP DSLAM for short.

In addition, you will likely need a Service Gateway, especially if you want control over the access to each dwelling, which is likely.

Each dwelling will then need a router/modem (bridge if using VDSL).


The hardware for this can be expensive. Try here -

ZyXEL IP DSLAM

That piece of kit is the same as the stuff BT put in to telephone exchanges to deliver xDSL broadband services to the home. Although BT use mostly Alcatel kit, not ZyXEL.

To implement a last mile solution to 20 flats will cost about £4K in hardware. The current state of the buildings phone system will determine installation costs.

The only ISP I knew of who had managed services for this kind of setup went bust mid 2004.


If you are an experienced Linux (preferable Debian) user, you can build your own service gateway, but you will have to buy a DSLAM.


The other option is wireless, but with wireless being un-licenced low power poo, I wouldnt advise it for a Multi-Tenant Solution - The support for it would kill you.

[wjcampbe]

Poor man's version - one D-Link DSLG604T modem/router, one 1m patch cable, one 24 port switch, couple of rolls of cat6 cable, bucket of sweat and a few metres of plastic pipe.

[AdamL]

There are significant security issues having 20 private dwelling on the same LAN.

It would at least require a Layer 2 managed switch with VLAN, and then a hardware firewall in each dwelling.

There is also the issue of installing CAT5 to 20 dwellings, the biggest issue being if the building owner/management/lease holder will allow it.

Even after that, dont underestimate the cost of putting cat 5 to 20 seperate dwellings.

Ive seen situations where it is more cost effective (and a lot less hassle) to use a multi-tenant unit rather than VLANs in a 3 dwelling property.

[berryhill]

Thanks Guys

Solutions at both ends of the spectrum, technically and financially.

Prob is trying to consolidate the issue of them all having broadband individually and obv indiv monthly fees with several ISP's

Was just really after if its really poss within a reasonable cost

[wjcampbe]

Andy,

You could find the middle ground here is rooted in the 'Internet Cafe' model, where individual usage of resources is recorded on a software meter and charged accordingly.

AdamL correctly raises the security question, and the question of what the building owner will permit, both of which would need to be addressed seriously.

BTW - I would look at cat6 rather than cat5 for the distances involved if this is a ten-storey 2 flat per storey building - in fact for the difference in cost I'd go with cat6 anyway. Installation cost as always, depends on how much you can/will do yourself.

[gary in jersey]

really poor mans version

1 d-link wireless router, 1 v high speed conection, central placement, no encryption, will keep the tenants happy for free..!

[berryhill]

Thats the one for me Gary!

shouldn't be a prob with the owner

Dsistance wise it a 20 apart on 2 floors, longer than higher

hadn't thought of the cafe style idea, seems a workable model.

[berryhill]

any suggestions for a BB provider??? any stand out from the rest?

[AdamL]

If you are going for the hotspot/cafe model, this will be good reading -

Wireless Hotspot Gateway Faq

[wjcampbe]

And here is an alternate http://www.dlink.co.uk/?go=jN7uAYLx/...nYZoK2H9K79jE=

[berryhill]

Thanks again.

Plenty to ponder over here, as usual pretty much boils down to price of equipment and how much effort is required versus savings and functionality.

[Froogle]

You could probably set up a wireless network, but it depends what sort of distance you're talking between the computers.

Belkin have a Pre-N router which is under £100. This is supposed to have 400 times wider coverage and 400 times signal strength.

The people in the flats would then need a wireless network card to pick up the signal

[AdamL]

Your entering dangerous ground using a wireless router to share connections - it will be no different than using a LAN.

Brand is irrelivent, whats important is the device you use must be a service gateway, not a plain router, and critically it must support Layer 2 Isolation, otherwise an unscrupulous resident could wreak havoc.

WPA etc will only protect the whole WLAN from unwanted access from outside, it wont protect each node from attack from each other node on the same WLAN, which is the main concern in this type of implementation.