I set out on my weekend to build a new platform for my satellite dish (the wind blew it out of alignment) and finally get a WET11 on the roof. I've been using a WET11 for several months to "borrow" neighboring internet connections. I figured one on the roof would provide me with multiple APs, and a redundant path to the internet. The problems were weatherproofing and power.
No sense in duplicating good work, so here's a link to nycwireless's PoE page. This is basically exactly what I did, and there are lots of good pictures etc. Anyone with the most basic of soldering and electronic skills can do this, just be sure to test carefully so as not to inject 12VDC into your switch or access point. Anecdotally, I didn't have any problems with losing too much power over a LONG ethernet cable, but I am also powering a WET11, not a WRT54G.
Next was waterproofing. I took the WET11 out of its case and removed the antenna pigtail. With some finesse, the WET11 board fit perfectly into a Radio Shack project enclosure. I drilled a hole in the top for the antenna (which could simply be unscrewed to replace it with any other antenna that fits that connector (TNC?)), and a hole in the bottom for cat5. A little JB Weld and Marine Goop later, and the enclosure is sealed against the elements.
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At this point, why a WET11 and not a WRT54G? Yes the WRT54G with Sveasoft firmware is much more useful, and could do the same thing as the WET11. It's also $20 cheaper. However, the WET has some advantages.
| WET11 | WRT54G (Sveasoft Firmware) |
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+ Smaller (easier to fit in enclosure) + Will not overheat +/- 1 antenna, easier to waterproof + Specialized for job of bridging + Lower power requirement (long wire = resistance) - Less versatile |
+ More versatile +/- Diversity antennas + More powerful(?) - Bigger - Requires more power - Overheats - Crashes more often |