Abstract:
A modular wireless Internet access communications system designed to extend broadband 802.3 linear-bus topology up to fifteen miles beyond the physical limits of DSL or cable technologies through the integration of specialized wireless hardware devices, firmware, and protocols.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/287,799, filed Nov. 28, 2005 now abandoned, entitled Wireless Communication System, by Hahn, Philip, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The invention relates generally to the field of wireless Internet communications. More specifically, the invention is directed to an improved modular wireless Internet access communications system designed to extend wireless access up to fifteen miles beyond the physical limits of DSL or cable technologies, through the integration of specialized wireless hardware devices, firmware, and protocols. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Wireless communication systems are known in the art. However, the current art is limited to short range wireless Internet access due to technical and regulatory limitations. The effective transmission power of radio frequency devices is measured as EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power). EIRP takes into account the power output of a transmitter, gains that an antenna provides, and losses from cabling. The Federal Communications Commission restricts the total EIRP of a wireless communication device to minimize radio frequency signal interference. The gain of an antenna represents how well it increases effective signal strength, measured in dBi (decibels relative to an isotropic radiator). Higher values of antenna dBi represent a greater range of effective transmission and reception of radio frequency signals; the latter due to greater sensitivity and added gain to incoming radio signals that are naturally weaker than transmitted signals. The current art uses relatively high powered amplifiers to make up for losses occurring through the cabling (up to 90% of the signal strength of radio frequency signals may be lost in just a 10-foot run of cable). This increases cost and does not address a fundamental problem of wireless networks; the transmit-versus-receive signal imbalance inherent in nearly all radio systems. The transmitted signal strength is generally several hundred times higher than that of the received signal. Range is as dependent on receive sensitivity and gain as it is on transmitted signal strength. Increasing only the gain in transmission or increasing transmit and receive gain equally rapidly reaches the power limits imposed by the FCC, restricting overall range. 
     The prior art discloses various wireless communication devices which share some similar characteristics with the present invention, though which fail to accomplish the primary objective of extended range wireless Internet access in a simple, low cost modular system. 
     Thomas, et al., Integrated Active Antenna For Multi-Carrier Applications, U.S. Pat. No. 6,812,905 (Nov. 2, 2004) discloses a system incorporating a plurality of antenna elements and power amplifiers. This system mounts an amplifier closely adjacent to each associated antenna element to minimize power loss. However, it requires one amplifier per antenna, and further requires a large number of antennas arranged in an array. These limitations result in a more complex and costly solution than the present invention. It also does not achieve the extended range of the present invention. 
     Judd, Antenna Structure And Installation, U.S. Pat. No. 6,583,763 (Jun. 24, 2003) also discloses a plurality of antenna elements and power amplifiers, with each amplifier oriented in close proximity to an antenna. However, the disclosed invention physically separates multiple radio transceivers, locating some on a tower and others at the base of the tower, thereby failing to capture the efficiencies of locating the transceivers proximate to the antennas. 
     Higgins, Wireless Internet Access System, US Patent Application 2003/0185169 (pub. Oct. 2, 2003) discloses a roof-mounted water-tight enclosure in connection with an antenna, containing a wireless modem and a power splitter. The disclosed invention, however, relies on a multiplicity of access points feeding back to a higher access point to the wired gateway. It further does not use routers at the access points. 
     Quayle, Cellular wireless Internet access system using spread spectrum and Internet protocol, European Patent Application 1098539 A2 (pub. May 9, 2001) discloses a high speed wireless Internet access system incorporating a plurality of cellular base stations located a ground level, for receiving/transmitting over a relatively short effective range of not more than 0.5 miles. 
     Dodd, et al., Antenna System, Patent Cooperation Treaty Application WO 2002/082665 A2 (pub. Oct. 17, 2002) discloses a dual antenna system with a high gain antenna for receiving signals and a low gain antenna for transmitting signals, together with a switched receiver/transmitter. 
     The above-cited prior art is easily distinguished from the present invention. The ability of the present invention to be configured without an amplifier, due to the minimization of signal strength loss, distinguishes it from the systems cited, each of which requires an amplifier. The present invention does not require large antenna arrays. The prior art does not capitalize on the efficiencies to be gained from placing the radio transceiver in close proximity to the antenna. These and other features of the present invention, described below, disclose a novel and useful invention. 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide low cost, long range wireless Internet access. 
     It is a further object to provide a modular wireless communication system which may be customized by using one or more of the modules to individual customer needs. 
     It is yet a further object to provide a wireless communication system which can be mounted in a variety of environments, such as atypical structures without traditional power supplies, or with exposure to weather extremes. 
     Other objects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the description that follows. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention comprises multiple special purpose wireless devices integrated into a wireless communication system for the purposes of providing “last mile” wireless Internet connectivity. Depending on the existing local services available, one or several of the wireless devices may need to be used in conjunction with each other, with potentially multiples of each type of wireless device used in a single wireless communication system. 
     The three special purpose wireless devices are a wireless communication device, a wireless bridge device, and a wireless repeater. The wireless communication system must have at least one wireless communication device. In various embodiments it may also have one or more wireless bridge devices, and one or more wireless repeaters. 
     The wireless communication device is comprised of one or two radio transceivers, routers, and switches; an antenna element; cabling; Ethernet cables; a heat sink, programmable firmware, and a power supply interface. These elements allow the wireless communication device to receive electronic information via a broadband modem from one or more computing devices and/or the Internet and to transmit the electronic information to one or more wireless computing devices, as well as to receive electronic information from one or more wireless computing devices and to transmit the electronic information via the broadband modem to said one or more computing devices and/or the Internet. Depending on the specific configuration, the wireless communication device may provide wireless communication access to wireless computing devices up to 3.5 miles away. 
     The wireless bridge device is comprised of a radio transceiver and switch, an antenna element, cabling, a heat sink, and a power supply interface. These elements allow the wireless bridge device to receive electronic information from a wireless communication device and to transfer the electronic information to one or more Ethernet routers located at a client site, as well as to receive electronic information from one or more wireless routers and to transmit the electronic information to the wireless communication device. The wireless bridge device has no independent connection to the Internet but rather must be used in conjunction with the wireless communication device. 
     The wireless repeater is comprised of a routing transmitter, a non-routing bridge receiver, a first antenna element, a second antenna element, and a power adapter. These elements allow the wireless repeater to receive and retransmit electronic communications between the wireless communication device and the wireless bridge device, thereby allowing for an increased distance between the devices and extending the effective range of the wireless communication system. 
     A bi-directional amplifier may be used to help balance the transmit and receive gain levels, especially to incoming signals from wireless clients whose power output is naturally weaker than that of the transmitter. Most bi-directional amplifier systems increase transmit and receive gain proportionally and soon reach the FCC limitation for transmitted output power, before the appropriate receive gain level is achieved. There is no FCC limitation on receive gain amplification. Therefore the receive gain can be boosted as necessary to achieve network balance. For example, for a typical wireless transmitter outputting 1 watt EIRP, a typical wireless client returns only 50 mw to 100 mw EIRP to the transmitter, which results in wireless network imbalance. At long range, the received signal has insufficient power to travel back to the transmitter, making communication impossible In the present invention, the amplification for the weaker client signal takes place through the use of a non-proportional bi-directional amplifier located at the transmitter. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention are described below 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic depiction of an embodiment of the wireless communication system of the present invention, showing a wireless communication device mounted on a tower, in direct wireless communication with a computing device and in indirect communication with additional computing devices through wireless communication with a wireless repeater mounted on a tower and wireless communication with a wireless bridge device; with the wireless repeater in direct wireless communication with a computing device and in indirect communication with additional computing devices through wireless communication with a wireless bridge device; and two wireless bridge devices each connected by Ethernet to wireless routers located at the client site, said wireless routers providing wireless connectivity to computing devices. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic depiction of the components of an embodiment of the wireless communication device of the present invention, said wireless communication device in communication with a broadband modem through an Ethernet data cable, in communication with a management computer through an Ethernet management cable, and in wireless communication with a computing device. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic depiction of the preferred embodiment of the wireless communication device, said wireless communication device comprising a panel antenna having an interior portion into which is placed an integrated first radio transceiver/first router/first switch device, said panel antenna shown with its cover removed. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic depiction of an alternative embodiment of the wireless communication device. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic depiction of an embodiment of the wireless bridge device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic depiction of an alternative embodiment of the wireless bridge device. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic depiction of an embodiment of the wireless repeater of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention comprises multiple special purpose wireless devices integrated into a wireless communication system  400 . See  FIG. 1 . 
     The first of the wireless devices is a wireless communication device  100  comprising a first radio transceiver  110 , an antenna element  120 , a first router  130 , a first switch  140 , first cabling  150 , a first Ethernet data cable  154 , a first Ethernet management cable  155 , a first heat sink  160 , programmable firmware, and a power supply interface  170 . See  FIG. 2 . These elements allow the wireless communication device  100  to receive electronic information via a broadband modem  510  from one or more computing devices  530  and/or the Internet and to transmit the electronic information to one or more wireless computing devices  530  as well as to receive electronic information from one or more wireless computing devices  530  and to transmit the electronic information via the broadband modem  510  to said one or more computing devices  530  and/or the Internet. Depending on the specific configuration, the wireless communication device  100  may provide wireless communications access to wireless computing devices  530  up to 3.5 miles away. Typically, the wireless communication device  100  is mounted on a tower  540 , though it may also be mounted on the exterior of a structure, such as on the roof of a building, on a utility pole, or in any other suitable location. 
     The wireless communication device  100  is managed by a client site management computer  535 , which communicates with the wireless communication device  100  by a device management communications means. In the preferred embodiment the device management communications means is the first Ethernet management cable  155 , which connects the client management computer  535  to the wireless communication device  100  at the first switch  140 . The management computer  535  may be any general purpose computer supplied by the user having a user interface and an Ethernet port. The management computer  535  determines how many wireless users are online and their MAC address identities; it increases or decreases the transmission power from the first radio transceiver  110  into the antenna element  120 ; it sets and changes encryption codes that control log-on (using two-way encryption and password authentication); it sets various parameters of the wireless communication device  100 , such as outside WAN IP address and subnet information, inside LAN IP address and subnet information, and firewall settings between inside and outside networks; and it is used to do a firmware upgrades. 
     The first radio transceiver  110  of the wireless communication device  100  is an integrated radio frequency signal receiver and transmitter, suitably adapted to receive and transmit radio frequency signals. Such radio transceivers are well known in the art and any appropriate radio transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals may be used in the wireless communication device  100 . In the preferred embodiment the first radio transceiver  110  operates on a 2.4 gHz frequency. The power output of the first radio transceiver  110  is in excess of 50 mw, and in the preferred embodiment is 79 mw. 
     The antenna element  120  of the wireless communication device  100  is suitably adapted to direct radio frequency signals to and from the first radio transceiver  110 . Various types of antenna known in the art may be used, such as dish antennas, providing short range communications, panel antennas, providing medium range communications, and parabolic antennas, providing long range communications. Other types of antennas may also be used. In the preferred embodiment the antenna element  120  is a panel antenna configured to have an interior portion  122  which is sealable against the weather. The antenna element  120  has a gain in excess of 10 dBi, and in the preferred embodiment the gain is 14 dBi. In one embodiment a Rootenna™ model RT24-14 14 dBi Panel Antenna may be used as the antenna element  120 . 
     The first router  130  of the wireless communication device  100  is suitably adapted to direct radio frequency signals between a broadband modem  510  and the first radio transceiver  110 . Such routers are well known in the art. In the preferred embodiment the first router  130  is integrated with the first radio transceiver  110 . See  FIG. 3 . Integrated routers/radio transceivers are well known in the art. In one embodiment a Linksys™ model WRT54G v.2 Wireless Router may be used as the integrated first radio transceiver  110  and first router  130 . 
     The first switch  140  of the wireless communication device  100  is suitably adapted to alter the operation of the first radio transceiver  110  between receiving mode and transmitting mode, providing half-duplex communications through the first radio transceiver  110 . In the preferred embodiment the first switch  140  is integrated with the first radio transceiver  110 . See  FIG. 3 . 
     The first cabling  150  of the wireless communication device  100  is suitably adapted to place the first radio transceiver  110 , the antenna element  120 , the first router  130 , and the first switch  140  in physical communication with each other. To the extent that any of these components are integrated with each other the first cabling  150  is not required to place said components in physical communication with each other. 
     The programmable firmware of the wireless communication device  100  is integrated with and controls the output of power from the first radio transceiver  110 . In one embodiment the programmable firmware is incorporated into a Linksys™ model WRT54G v.4 Wireless Router and is programmed to establish a power output of 28 mw. When coupled with the preferred antenna element  120  having a gain of 14 dBi, the total EIRP of the wireless communication device  100  is 2000 mw, which is up to 100 times more powerful than the off-the-shelf WRT54G router. 
     The wireless communication device  100  is connected to a broadband modem  510  by the first Ethernet data cable  154 , whereby electronic information may be communicated to and from the wireless communication device  100  along the first Ethernet data cable  154 . One end of the first Ethernet data cable  154  is connected to the first router  130  and the other end of the first Ethernet data cable  154  is connected to the broadband modem  510 . This configuration is well known in the art. 
     The power supply interface  170  of the wireless communication device  100  is suitably adapted to establish a powered connection between the wireless communication device  100  and a power supply. In one embodiment the power supply interface  170  is a power cord  172  suitably adapted to be plugged into a standard wall outlet. See  FIG. 3 . In another embodiment the wireless communication device  100  also comprises a power adapter  174  suitably adapted to provide Power over Ethernet (“PoE”) functionality. See  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment the power supply interface  170  is the first Ethernet data cable  154 . In one embodiment a BreezeNet™ PoE power splitter/power injector is used as the power adapter  174 . 
     The wireless communication device  100  uses a first heat sink  160  which is suitably adapted to dissipate heat away from the wireless communication device  100 . Various configurations of heat sinks are well known in the art and may be used. In the preferred embodiment the first heat sink  160  is constructed out of aluminum. The first heat sink  160  is located adjacent to the first radio transceiver  110 , which is the primary source of heat buildup in the wireless communication device  100 . Without a heat sink to cool the wireless communication device  100  in hot weather, the wireless communication device  100  would overheat and fail when temperatures exceed 90° F. In the preferred embodiment the first heat sink  160  is interposed between the first radio transceiver  110  and the antenna element  120 , with the first heat sink  160  being adjacent to and in contact with the antenna element  120 . 
     While most of the components of the wireless communication device  100  described above need have no particular physical orientation with regard to each other, the first radio transceiver  110  must be placed sufficiently close to the antenna element  120  to eliminate substantially all appreciable power loss between the first radio transceiver  110  and the antenna element  120 . The distance between the first radio transceiver  110  and the antenna element  120  should be able to be bridged by twelve inches or less of cabling. In one embodiment, the wireless communication device  100  comprises a weather-resistant casing suitably adapted to contain the antenna element  120 , the first radio transceiver  110 , the first router  130 , the first switch  140 , and the first cabling  150 . This casing is mountable on the exterior of structures. In the preferred embodiment the length of the first cabling  150  connecting the first radio transceiver  110  with the antenna element  120  is eight inches. 
     In the most preferred embodiment in which the antenna element  120  is a weather-resistant panel antenna having an interior portion  122 , the first radio transceiver  110  is placed within the interior portion  122  of the panel antenna. See  FIG. 3 . This configuration prevents substantially all appreciable power loss between the first radio transceiver  110  and the antenna element  120 . This is because, when using 2.4 gHz technology, most of the power loss is in the cable that connects the antenna to the radio transceiver. The greater the length, the greater the power loss, with as much as 90% of the signal strength of radio frequency signals being lost in just a 10-foot run of cable. By placing the first radio transceiver  110  within the antenna element  120  and keeping the length of the first cabling  150  to a minimum, very little power leakage occurs, and what little power leakage does occur is captured by the antenna element  120  due to its close proximity to the first radio transceiver  110 . This configuration provides a high level of efficiency to the wireless communication device  100  and as a consequence a far greater range using lower power than other wireless communication devices. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the wireless communication device  100 , the wireless communication device  100  further comprises a first amplifier  180 , suitably adapted to increase the strength of a radio frequency signal transmitted by the first radio transceiver  110 . See  FIG. 4 . Such amplifiers are well known in the art. In one embodiment the first amplifier  180  is bi-directional, operates on 2.4 gHz, and has an output of between 350 mw and 750 mw, with the most preferred output being 500 mw. In using such an amplifier, together with the first radio transceiver  110  programmed to output 28 mw and coupled with an antenna element  120  with a gain of 14 dBi, a wireless communication device  100  may have an EIRP of up to 14,000 mw. This may be attenuated to an EIRP of 3,980 mw by the programmable firmware. An EIRP of 14,000 mw provides very long range wireless communications and is particularly desired in countries which do not limit total EIRP of wireless communication devices. In an alternative embodiment the antenna element  120  may have a gain of 19 dBi, which when coupled with an amplifier  180  having an output of 1000 mw provides an output of over 100,000 mw, and in still another embodiment the antenna element  120  may be a parabolic antenna having a gain of 24 dBi, which when coupled with an amplifier  180  having an output of 1000 mw provides an output of over 550,000 mw. Such configurations are generally restricted to use outside the United States, where the FCC typically limits total EIRP to 4,000 mw (though certain configurations having greater power output may also conform to FCC). 
     In another alternative embodiment of the wireless communication device  100 , performance is improved by adding a second radio transceiver  112 ; a second router; a second switch; two amplifiers  180 , 182 ; a second Ethernet data cable  158 ; a second Ethernet management cable  159 ; second cabling; a second heat sink; and two power splitters  176 , 177 . See  FIG. 4 . The power splitters  176 , 177  are suitably adapted to direct power from the power supply along the power supply interface  170  to each of the first and second amplifiers  180 , 182 . These additional components are comprised of and/or configured in the same manner as their analogues described in the previous embodiments, with the second Ethernet data cable  158  being used to connect the second router with the broadband modem  510 , the second Ethernet management cable  159  being used to connect the second switch with the management computer  535 , the second heat sink located adjacent to the second router, and the programmable firmware further integrated with and controlling the output of power from the second router. As in all previously described embodiments, the second radio transceiver  112  must be placed sufficiently close to the antenna element  120  to eliminate substantially all appreciable power loss between the second radio transceiver  112  and the antenna element  120 . In the preferred embodiment this is achieved by placing the second radio transceiver  112  within the interior portion  122  of the panel antenna used as the antenna element  120 . See  FIG. 4 . 
     Having two radio transceivers  110 , 112  allows the wireless communication device  100  to serve two functions: first, to provide wireless Internet connectivity directly to client site computing devices  530  at a range of up to 3.5 miles away; and second, to provide a communications link to more distant clients through another type of wireless device, a wireless repeater  300 , described more fully below. One of the two radio transceivers  110  is dedicated to providing connectivity to the client site while the other radio transceiver  112  is dedicated to communicating with the wireless repeater  300 . In a variation on this embodiment the wireless communication device  100  further comprises a second antenna element  124 . The second antenna element  124  may be a high gain antenna. The two antenna elements  120 , 124  may be high-gain sector antennas or panel antennas. The two antenna elements  120 , 124  must face different directions. A third antenna element  126  may also be used. See  FIG. 4 . When multiple antenna elements are used, an antenna power splitter  190  may be used in connection with the antenna elements to divide the radio frequency signals coming from a radio transceiver between the antenna elements. Splitting the radio frequency signals by use of an antenna power splitter  190  and directing those radio frequency signals to multiple antenna elements reduces the total EIRP per antenna, bringing the system configuration into FCC compliance, since limits on total EIRP is measured per antenna, not per system. In another variation on this embodiment the power supply interface  170  constitutes a pair of power cords  172  suitably adapted to be plugged into a standard wall outlet. In yet another variation of this embodiment the wireless communication device  100  also comprises a power adapter  174  and a second power adapter  175 , both power adapters  174 , 175  suitably adapted to provide PoE functionality. See  FIG. 4 . In this variation the power supply interface  170  comprises the first and second Ethernet data cables  154 , 158 . An example of such power adapters  174 , 175  is the BreezeNet™ PoE power splitter/power injector. 
     The above-described two-radio transceiver embodiment of the wireless communication device  100  is intended for applications where low to moderate power output is needed. When the second antenna  124  is used the total power output may be up to 104 watts EIRP when used omni-directionally. If the antennas  120 , 124  are used directionally (i.e., facing the direction of most of the client communications traffic), without an antenna power splitter, the total power output may be 160 watts EIRP. If a single antenna element  120  comprising a thirty-six inch parabolic antenna is used, with no amplification, 104 watts EIRP may be obtained. For wireless communication devices to be used in the United States for point-to-multi-point applications the total power output is limited to 4 watts EIRP per antenna. These greater power output levels described above remain within FCC standards because they are achieved by the use of high gain antennas, rather than from high output amplifiers. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment of the wireless communication device  100 , a bi-directional radio frequency amplifier  184  is added. See  FIG. 3 . The bi-directional radio frequency amplifier  184  is interposed between the radio transceiver  110  and the antenna element  120 . The bi-directional radio frequency amplifier  184  serves two purposes: a) it comprises a special filter used to prevent band-edge transmissions from propagating into upper and lower frequencies adjacent to the frequency currently in use; and b) it increases the radio frequency signals from the one or more wireless computing devices  530  to a greater extent than the radio frequency signals transmitted from the radio transceiver  110 ; that is, the bi-directional radio frequency amplifier  184  has the characteristic of reverse gain factor that greatly exceeds the forward gain factor. The forward gain is limited by FCC rules and regulations, but there is no such limitation on reverse gain. By amplifying reverse gain, the client radio frequency signal level is increased to a point comparable to the radio frequency signal level broadcasting from the radio transceiver  110  and a forward-reverse signal balance level is achieved. This can be viewed as send-receive balance or balanced input-output at the radio transceiver  110  output location. 
     The use of the bi-directional radio frequency amplifier  184  has two advantages: a) the balanced radio transceiver input-output increases the speed at which the radio portion of the communication can occur; and b) it increases the radio transceiver&#39;s  110  sensitivity to the client signal by adding up to 22 db gain to these generally very weak client signals as they enter the radio transceiver  110 . Radio frequency signal level loss caused by the use of the bi-directional radio frequency amplifier  184  is 8 db. Therefore a forward gain of 8 db is generated in the bi-directional radio frequency amplifier  184  to compensate for this loss. The overall output power does not measurably change when compared to a non-amplified device, thereby allowing the amplified device to retain its output power-related FCC certification. This has been validated by an FCC testing lab. In all cases, the receive gain is increased by at least 22 db at the bi-directional amplifier, and is increased by at least 1,500 mw net gain total by combination of amplifier and antenna gain, also accounting for cable and amplifier insertion loss of up to 8 db. 
     The second of the wireless devices is a wireless bridge device  200  comprising a radio transceiver  210 , an antenna element  220 , a switch  240 , cabling  250 , an Ethernet cable  254 , a heat sink  260 , and a power supply interface  270 . See  FIG. 5 . These elements allow the wireless bridge device  200  to receive electronic information from the wireless communication device  100  described above and to transmit the electronic information over the Ethernet cable  254  to one or more computing devices  530  located at the client site, as well as to receive electronic information from one or more computing devices  530  and to transmit the electronic information to the wireless communication device  100 . 
     Alternatively, the Ethernet cable  254  may be connected to one or more wireless routers  230  located at the client site, allowing electronic information to be transmitted wirelessly to and from computing devices  530 . An advantage of this functionality of the wireless bridge device  200  is that clients who are directly wired to the wireless bridge device  200  do not have to employ wireless adapters in their computing devices  530  in order to enjoy wireless Internet connectivity, since the wireless bridge device  200  provides the wireless connectivity functionality. This method of Internet connectivity will represent a cost savings to clients, especially those without wireless-ready computing devices  530 . Another advantage of using a wireless bridge device  200  is that multiple wired clients can enjoy Internet connectivity from just one wireless bridge device  200  connection, realizing economy of scale for networks of more than two users. Yet another advantage of using the wireless bridge device  200  is that it can be used as the Internet gateway for an existing wireless network. This accommodates and allows long-distance wireless connectivity migration from every type of existing Ethernet network, without discarding previously purchased, previously configured, or previously deployed technology. 
     The components of the wireless bridge device  200  are comprised of and/or configured in the same manner as their analogues described in the embodiments of the wireless communication device  100  described above. As with the wireless communication device  100 , the radio transceiver  210  of the wireless bridge device  200  must be placed sufficiently close to the antenna element  220  to eliminate substantially all appreciable power loss between the radio transceiver  210  and the antenna element  220 . In the preferred embodiment this is achieved by placing the radio transceiver  210  within an interior portion of a panel antenna used as the antenna element  220 . See  FIG. 6 . In an alternative embodiment the antenna element  220  and the radio transceiver  210  are placed within a weather-resistant casing. 
     In another embodiment of the wireless bridge device  200 , the wireless bridge device  200  further comprising an amplifier  280 , suitably adapted to increase the strength of a radio frequency signal transmitted by the radio transceiver  210 . Such an amplifier  280  is analogous to the amplifiers  180 , 182  described above in various embodiments of the wireless communication device  100 . 
     The third of the wireless devices is a wireless repeater  300 . The wireless repeater  300  comprises a routing transmitter  310 , a non-routing bridge receiver  312 , a first antenna element  320 , a second antenna element  324 , cabling  350 , and a power adapter  374 . See  FIG. 7 . The routing transmitter  310  is suitably adapted to transmit radio frequency signals. The non-routing bridge receiver  312  is suitably adapted to receive radio frequency signals. The first antenna element  320  is suitably adapted to direct radio frequency signals from the routing transmitter  310 . The second antenna element  324  is suitably adapted to direct radio frequency signals to the non-routing bridge receiver  312 . The power adapter  374  is suitably adapted to provide power to the wireless repeater  300  from a power supply. Each of the routing transmitter  310 , the non-routing bridge receiver  312 , the power adapter  374 , the first antenna element  320 , and the second antenna element  324  are in physical communication with each other. All of these elements are individually well known in the art. The wireless repeater  300 , configured thusly, provides wireless Internet connectivity directly to client site computing devices  530  at a range of up to 3.5 miles away. The wireless repeater  300  also provides wireless Internet connectivity indirectly to wired clients through the wireless bridge device  200 . The wireless repeater  300  may be managed wirelessly by a management computer  535 , as described above. Alternatively, it may have a physical connection over an Ethernet management cable to the management computer  535 . 
     Typically, the wireless repeater  300  is mounted on a tower  540 , see  FIG. 1 , though it may also be mounted on the exterior of a structure, such as on the roof of a building, on a utility pole, or in any other suitable location. 
     In the preferred embodiment the first antenna element  320  of the wireless repeater  300  is a medium range, weather-resistant panel antenna having an interior portion. The routing transmitter  310 , the non-routing bridge receiver  312 , and the power adapter  374  are placed into said interior portion of the first antenna element  320 . The first antenna element  320  is then sealed against exterior environmental conditions. 
     In another embodiment the second antenna element  324  of the wireless repeater  300  is a short range dish antenna. 
     In yet another embodiment the second antenna element  324  of the wireless repeater  300  is a long range parabolic antenna. 
     The wireless communication system  400  is comprised of at least one wireless communication device  100 . The wireless communication device  100  may be the simple device configured with a single radio transceiver  110  or the enhanced device configured with two radio transceivers  110 , 112 . In the preferred embodiment the wireless communication system  400  also comprises at least one wireless bridge device  200 . In yet another embodiment the wireless communication system  400  further comprises at least one wireless repeater  300 . See  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment the wireless repeater  300  is used to increase the effective range of the wireless communication system  400 . The wireless repeater  300  is geographically interposed between the wireless communication device  100  and the wireless bridge device  200 , thereby allowing the wireless bridge device  200  to be located further from the wireless communication device  100  than the effective range of the wireless communication device  100 . Where multiple wireless repeaters  300  are used the effective range of the wireless communication system  400  is further increased. 
     Configuring the wireless communication system  400  requires appropriate placement of the wireless devices. For example, the height of the wireless communication device  100  above the ground, as well as the height of the wireless repeater  300  above the ground, are factors dictating the ultimate range of the wireless communication system  400 . These heights are calculated based on the distance from one device to the other while accounting for the freznel factor for 2.4 ghz frequencies as well as the known distance of the horizon at a given height relative to the curvature of the earth. 
     Other embodiments not specifically set forth herein are also within the scope of the following claims.