Current Modern Tech WLAN/Data System For 20 Acre Property
THIS DOCUMENT CREATED BY THE LIBERAL PREPPER'S COMMS GROUP
In today's world prepping is not just a crazy lifestyle. Between climate change, government upheaval and civic unrest there stands a solid chance that the ease of access we have counted on with the internet and it's uninhibited flow information could be snuffed out from any number of points in the chain.
Loss of power, provider, lock down by government... there are no few ways needed information might disappear.
So while having a back up in the cloud can be a good thing, having a solid data storage capability for information, entertainment media and local communication is vital.
This document and it's companion post was created to allow a homestead or intentional community access to such a database via a non internet WLAN or Wireless Local Area Network.
Using a home server/router combination in conjunction with repeaters and older cell phones, tablets and/or laptops allows for a system where information still remains in the pocket or hand without having to be tied to the internet or the main system 'back at the ranch", so to speak.
-Wytchcat, Admin OGWL and Liberal Prepper's groups
This design considers a 20-acre site WLAN using readily available consumer networking components in combination with entry-level commercial components that are available at higher cost, but still within the realm of feasibility (prosumer). This primarily includes a Wi‑Fi hub, point‑to‑point bridge kits as necessary, and a few modern outdoor/mesh access points.
Constraints and Strategy
Use one high‑power outdoor AP as a central hub mounted high on the main structure to blanket the yard and adjacent open areas with coverage.
Extend connectivity to outbuildings and distant areas with pre‑packaged wireless bridge kits (point‑to‑point) plus local outdoor APs at each remote end to provide client network connectivity.
If called for, deploy a consumer mesh system indoors and maybe one outdoor‑capable mesh node for patios and close‑range coverage.
5 GHZ is preferred for client access. 2.5GHZ may be used in its place to increase distance and signal penetration but at lower bandwidth. Modern APs can provide both if needed. That’s fine for endpoint connectivity as long as a single standard is used for the main backhaul topology.
Example 20‑acre layout / Topology
Assume a roughly square 20‑acre parcel (~935 ft per side) with house near one edge, plus barn / outbuilding and workshop.
Node 1 - House / main dwelling:
This node covers the house, immediate yard, and close yard / fields.
ISP connects to indoor mesh router (main node) – if available.
The main node connects to network services (NAS, Media, Web, etc) via wired ethernet.
Wired ethernet connects from main node to central outdoor omni-directional AP on the roof (RadioLabs‑type kit or Wi‑Fi 6 outdoor AP with omnidirectional antenna).
Node 2 – Barn / Outbuilding (~300–800 ft away):
Create a point‑to‑point bridge pair between house and barn using a 5 GHz farm bridge kit; clear line of sight over that distance is typical for these kits. At the barn, connect the bridge to a PoE‑powered outdoor Wi‑Fi 6 AP mounted high on the barn wall to cover barn interior and nearby pens or equipment yard.
Node 3 – Workshop / second outbuilding:
If within a few hundred feet and line-of-sight to either house or outbuilding, use another wireless bridge or, if closer, a mesh‑capable outdoor AP that wirelessly uplinks to the central AP directly.
The local AP at this node provides connectivity to Wi‑Fi to tools, sensors, and cameras.
Node 4/5 – Field / perimeter posts:
Use at critical perimeter areas (gate, livestock pen, camera location, likely ingress), mount small outdoor APs or extenders that mesh back to the nearest main AP, or a directional client radio paired to the central omni. Reliable links are achievable at 1,000–1,500 ft using such bridges and outdoor APs when mounted high and unobstructed (aka ideal conditions).
Configuration:
Network design: Use the indoor mesh/router as the only DHCP/NAT device; treat outdoor APs and bridges as simple layer‑2 components (bridge mode / AP mode, not routers).
Use a single SSID and key across all APs (indoor and outdoor) if possible, or at least consistent naming for “Main” vs “Field/Cameras”.
Power and resilience: Use PoE‑powered outdoor APs/bridges so every remote node runs from a single low‑voltage cable back to a PoE injector or switch at a protected power source. Cable runs must be 100M or less to minimize signal attenuation and voltage drop.
For off-grid operation, run key nodes (indoor router, central outdoor AP, and main bridge) from a 12 V battery bank with inverter or DC‑PoE injectors plus solar charging, similar to off‑grid farm deployments.
Recommended off-the-shelf components
Central outdoor hub: High‑power 2.4 GHz outdoor AP/omni kit marketed for RV parks, ranches, or marinas (e.g., RadioLabs o2Surf/Omni 12 dB kit, or similar farm/ranch Wi‑Fi AP). Mount 20–30 ft up with clear line of sight; such kits are designed to cover “acres” or even multi‑acre RV parks from a single point.
Outdoor Wi‑Fi access points (APs): Wi‑Fi 6 outdoor APs from brands like Ubiquiti UniFi (U7 Outdoor/U6 Mesh) or EnGenius/TP‑Link Omada, all sold to consumers and prosumers. These support mesh, PoE, and cloud/app management so you can drop 2–4 units around key zones (barn, workshop, yard, perimeter posts).
Wireless bridge kits (for barns/sheds): Pre‑configured point‑to‑point bridge kits rated for hundreds of meters to several kilometers (e.g., GNS or RadioLabs 5 GHz bridge, or similar “farm Wi‑Fi bridge” bundles).
Indoor core / mesh system: Any modern Wi‑Fi 6 or 6E mesh system (Eero, Deco, Orbi, etc.) to cover the bunker/house itself, with one node feeding the outdoor hub/AP gear via Ethernet.
Parts List
Since this is considered a contemporary, off-the-shelf deployment, consider the following shopping list as a starting point. Note that this list is NOT all inclusive. Better or more appropriate options may be available for your specific deplo`yment. Due diligence is your friend. That said…
Core network and indoor coverage
1× Wi‑Fi 6 mesh kit (3‑pack) – e.g., TP‑Link Deco, Eero, or Netgear Orbi, with Ethernet backhaul option.
1× Small unmanaged gigabit switch (5–8 ports) to fan out Ethernet from the main router to PoE injectors/APs. If the switch supports PoE natively, you may be able to forego some of the injectors.
Central outdoor hub
1× Outdoor omni-directional Wi‑Fi kit, 2.4 GHz, high power, with 12 dBi omni antenna and mounting hardware (e.g., RadioLabs Outdoor Access Point High Power – 12 dB Omni WiFi Antenna kit).
1× PoE injector (often included with the kit) or PoE‑capable switch port to power the outdoor AP.
1× Mast or antenna pole (10–20 ft) plus brackets to mount the omni above the roofline.
Outdoor Wi‑Fi 6 access points
~4× Indoor/outdoor Wi‑Fi 6 mesh APs, PoE powered, ~1,500 ft² each (e.g., Ubiquiti U6‑Mesh or similar).
~4× PoE injectors (if not using a PoE switch) – one per outdoor mesh AP.
Mounting hardware for wall/pole/soffit depending on building locations. Basic hardware is often included with APs, but make sure what’s included supports your intended installation or purchase a specialty kit to accommodate the install.
Wireless bridges (to barns / remote buildings)
~2× Pre‑configured wireless bridge kits (each kit includes 2 radios, PoE injectors, and mounting hardware), rated for at least 300 Mbps and up to 1–3 km line-of-sight – e.g., RadioLabs ZipBridge or similar farm/ranch bridge kit.
Kit 1: House to Outbuilding.
Kit 2: House or outbuilding to remote structure.
Cabling, power, and protection
1× 500–1,000 ft spool of outdoor‑rated, UV‑resistant Cat6 Ethernet cable for all outdoor runs.
1× box of RJ‑45 connectors and a basic crimp tool (if making custom lengths).
Weatherproof junction boxes or NEMA enclosures for PoE injectors and cable terminations near each outdoor node.
Inline Ethernet surge protectors + ground wires for long exterior runs (optional but recommended for lightning‑prone areas).
Sufficient AC outlets or power strips near where PoE injectors and / or the switch will be located.
Surge protection and UPS at all AC inputs.
Offgrid Operation
1× 12 V (or 24 V) battery bank sized for at least 24 hours of runtime for router + central AP + at least one bridge. Ideally, that all runs over PoE to avoid extension cords.
1× Solar charge controller matched to panel and battery.
1–2× Solar panels (200–400 W total) dedicated to networking gear.
DC‑to‑PoE converters or a small pure‑sine inverter to power the router, switch, and PoE injectors from the battery.
Mounting and environmental gear
Hose clamps and U‑bolts for attaching bridge radios and APs to poles (often included with kits).
UV‑resistant zip ties for cable management along masts and building exteriors.
Silicone or rubber grommets and cable glands for weather‑tight entry into enclosures.
Electrical tape Lots of it.
