Sydney club plays with wireless VoIP

14.12.2006
With an outdated telephone system and basic network infrastructure, Burwood RSL Club in Sydney has deployed new IP telephony and wireless networks, including a wireless link between two disparate sites.

Burwood RSL's technical manager, Bill Millard, told Computerworld Australia the club's existing infrastructure consisted of one "flat" network with a Cisco Systems Inc. router, a few Netgear Inc. switches, and two D-Link wireless access points for IT.

When Burwood RSL purchased Club Burwood, about one kilometer away, Millard needed to join the two telephone systems and saw VoIP as the only viable way to do it.

"We looked at fiber but the most cost effective way to network the two clubs was with wireless," he said. "We also had an existing DECT wireless system so I went the whole hog and covered both the venues with wireless."

The wireless link was accomplished with two 802.11a Aruba 54Mbps links running four access points in bridge mode. One bridge carriers all voice and one carries all data, which Millard said "felt safer that way." With the standard antennas not suitable enough, the club chose larger 500mm beam antennas with a dish back grid.

Inside the clubs there are a total of 37 access points with 10 set up as monitors to monitor the other 27 to ensure the load is balanced properly. With about half of telephones wireless, Millard said the Hitachi Inc. Cable IP phones work just like the wired phones.