Small wireless network

I have not used the Buffalo brand of wireless equipment so I cannot talk about its suitability for your application. Most SMB's I have dealt with have chosen Cisco, Linksys, or DLink.

1. The planning phase
2. The implementation phase
3. The site survey phase

During the planning phase you should determine what equipment is needed. Sounds like you will need a couple of wireless bridges. A wireless bridge can be used as a kind of "cable-less cable" for connecting remote areas together. You will also need a couple of bridge mounting kits and something to protect the electronics from the elements. Next, you will need to determine the proper type of antenna. Two possible choices include dipole and Yagi. A dipole antenna is directionless while a Yagi is direction orientated. You will also want to consider the purchase of lightning arrestors; otherwise one big storm might knock out the organizations infrastructure.

Once the preceding items have been taken care of you will be ready to begin building the wireless network. From what you have described attenuation is going to be a problem. Attenuation is the decrease in strength of the wireless signal; the strength decreases as the distance from the antenna increases. It can be caused by the natural conductivity or resistance of all sorts of physical matter such as the blockage of another building. This may require you test out several different antenna designs to determine the one that produces the strongest signal strength at the second location. I would start with a Yagi design. A large selection of antennas can be found at www.fab-corp.com.

Your final task will be to perform a site survey. The site survey either can be performed in-house using tools and equipment provided by wireless vendors, or it can be outsourced to an expert in site surveys.You will want to examine the range and coverage, the data rate and capacity, interference immunity, and the security of the communication. Consider WPA the minimum security standard.