A wireless bridge for CCTV cameras is a pair of outdoor radios that carries video from remote cameras back to the recorder over a 5 GHz link instead of a cable. It suits gates, car parks, farms and warehouse yards where trenching is impractical or the distance is beyond copper, provided there is clear line of sight and the real throughput at that distance is calculated.
This guide explains when to choose a bridge over copper or fibre, how to read the distance and throughput figures on the Hikvision DS-3WF02C-5AC/O datasheet, and how to size the cameras per link, check the Fresnel zone, power the units and set them up. It sits within the network and communication systems AZEIDK delivers in Saudi Arabia, from design and supply to installation.
Key takeaways
- The DS-3WF02C-5AC/O works in the 5 GHz band with an 867 Mbps maximum wireless rate and a range of up to 5 km, per the datasheet.
- Real throughput is lower than the air rate: 230 Mbps at 0.5 km, 200 Mbps at 1 km and 40 Mbps at 5 km on a point-to-point link.
- Size the number of cameras from each camera’s actual bitrate plus a margin, not from the 867 figure.
- Seeing the far end is not enough. At least 60% of the first Fresnel zone must be clear of obstructions.
- Power comes from a 12 VDC adapter or the included passive PoE injector, and each unit is set to AP or CPE with a DIP switch.
In this article
- When do you need a wireless bridge for CCTV?
- Wireless bridge for CCTV cameras, copper cable or fibre?
- Hikvision DS-3WF02C-5AC/O: what the datasheet says
- How do you calculate wireless bridge throughput and cameras per link?
- Line of sight and the Fresnel zone: why seeing the far end is not enough
- Power and installation: passive PoE and the remote-end switch
- Setup: AP mode, CPE mode and the DIP switches
- Where does the DS-3WAP623E-SI outdoor access point fit?
- Common mistakes when linking cameras wirelessly
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion
When do you need a wireless bridge for CCTV?
On Saudi sites the hard part is rarely the camera. It is the route from the camera to the recording room: a gate camera hundreds of metres from the admin building, poles in an open car park, a detached warehouse inside a factory compound, or a guard room on a farm. A cable means trenching and ducts under asphalt or internal roads, which can be costly or simply not allowed on an operating site.
A wireless bridge replaces that run with two radios: one at the recording room or core switch, and one at the remote location feeding a small switch and the cameras. To the network, the link behaves like a long Ethernet cable, as long as its throughput covers the combined camera streams.
Wireless bridge for CCTV cameras, copper cable or fibre?
Start with distance and whether a cable route exists. TIA-568 and ISO/IEC 11801 limit the horizontal copper channel to 100 m from the switch, as covered in our article on structured cabling and network systems. Some PoE switches offer a long-range mode: the Hikvision DS-3E1309P-EI page lists up to 300 m depending on the camera and cable condition. Beyond that, you need fibre optic cabling or a wireless link.
| Option | Best fit | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Copper cable (Cat6) | Cameras within 100 m of the switch with an available route | 100 m channel limit; protected ducts or containment outdoors |
| Long-range PoE mode | One or a few cameras just beyond 100 m | The stated distance depends on the camera and cable; check both datasheets |
| Fibre optic | Long runs, many cameras, or where a route already exists | Civil works, media converters or fibre-port switches, and post-installation testing |
| Wireless bridge | No trenching possible, scattered sites, or a fast link of up to several kilometres | Clear line of sight, throughput that drops with distance, possible interference, and channel settings to local rules |
Hikvision DS-3WF02C-5AC/O: what the datasheet says
The figures below come from the AZEIDK product page and Hikvision’s official datasheet. Each box contains one bridge unit with a 12 V adapter and a PoE injector, so every link needs at least two units: one in AP mode and one in CPE mode.
| Item | Datasheet value |
|---|---|
| Frequency band | 5 GHz (approx. 5150 to 5850 MHz; available channels vary by region) |
| Standard and maximum wireless rate | 802.11a/n/ac, up to 867 Mbps |
| Maximum distance | Up to 5 km |
| Antenna | 12 dBi gain, 35° horizontal and 35° vertical beamwidth |
| Transmit power | 22 dBm, subject to local regulations |
| Channel width | 20, 40 or 80 MHz, manual or auto |
| Ports | 2 × 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45; PoE/LAN1 accepts passive PoE input |
| Power and consumption | 12 VDC 1 A, or passive PoE via the included injector; 4.5 W maximum |
| Protection and temperature | IP55; operating −30 °C to 70 °C |
| Mounting | Pole mount |
How do you calculate wireless bridge throughput and cameras per link?
The most common mistake is designing around 867 Mbps. That is the air-interface rate. What actually passes is the throughput Hikvision publishes for a point-to-point link with an 80 MHz channel:
| Distance | Real throughput (point-to-point) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 km | 230 Mbps |
| 1 km | 200 Mbps |
| 5 km | 40 Mbps |
| 1 km, point-to-multipoint (1 to 8) | 80 Mbps in total |
These are manufacturer test values. A real site can deliver less because of interference or imperfect alignment. Size the link in three steps:
- Add up each camera’s actual bitrate as configured on the camera or NVR (main stream, plus any sub-stream pulled over the same link).
- Take the real throughput for your distance from the datasheet table.
- Leave a design margin. We suggest keeping total video at about half of the real throughput. This is engineering practice, not a manufacturer figure.
An illustrative example: at 4 Mbps per stream, a 1 km link (200 Mbps) with a 50% margin carries about 25 streams, while a 5 km link (40 Mbps) carries about 5. To work out bitrate from resolution, compression and retention, see CCTV storage and bandwidth calculation for NVR systems.
Line of sight and the Fresnel zone: why seeing the far end is not enough
A radio signal does not travel along a thin line. It occupies an ellipse around the straight path between the antennas, called the first Fresnel zone. If a warehouse roof, trees or rising ground cut into it, the link weakens even when the far end is visible. The usual link-design rule is to keep at least 60% of that zone’s radius clear.
The radius at mid-path is approximately: radius (m) = 17.32 × √(distance in km ÷ (4 × frequency in GHz)). Assuming 5.5 GHz:
| Link length | Fresnel radius at mid-path | 60% (minimum clearance) |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 km | 2.6 m | 1.6 m |
| 1 km | 3.7 m | 2.2 m |
| 3 km | 6.4 m | 3.8 m |
| 5 km | 8.3 m | 5.0 m |
In practice, longer links need both units raised on poles or rooftops so the path clears obstacles by this margin, allowing for tree growth and planned buildings. With a 35° beamwidth, both units must be aimed carefully at each other.
Power and installation: passive PoE and the remote-end switch
The datasheet specifies power from a 12 V 1 A adapter or passive PoE through the included injector on the PoE/LAN1 port. It does not list IEEE 802.3af/at as an input. Plan the injector and a power point at each end, and do not rely on a switch PoE port to run the bridge.
At the remote end the cameras also need power. The usual answer is a small PoE switch connected to the bridge, such as the Hikvision switches AZEIDK supplies. For PoE budget and port count, see PoE switches for CCTV; we do not repeat it here.
The unit is rated IP55 and operates up to 70 °C per the manufacturer, and mounts on a pole with the supplied binding tape. Keep the injector and adapter in a protected enclosure or room, as the datasheet gives no outdoor rating for them.
Setup: AP mode, CPE mode and the DIP switches
A basic link on this model needs very little configuration:
- AP/CPE switch: the unit on the main network is usually set to AP, the remote unit to CPE.
- SSID switch: a 4-character SSID DIP switch gives 16 matching options, and a CPE joins the AP with the same setting.
- Management: web interface, iVMS-4200 or Hik-Partner Pro, which per the datasheet shows link status and supports bridge alignment and spectrum scanning.
- Reset: hold the reset button for 4 seconds.
The datasheet notes that available channels and transmit power vary by region and are subject to local regulations. In Saudi Arabia the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) regulates spectrum use, so channels and power should be set in line with its rules. Run a spectrum scan before picking a channel to avoid nearby networks.
Where does the DS-3WAP623E-SI outdoor access point fit?
The Hikvision DS-3WAP623E-SI is not a bridge substitute. A bridge links two sites; an access point provides Wi-Fi coverage for users and devices in outdoor areas. Per its product page it is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 access point with built-in omnidirectional antennas, IP68 protection, IEEE 802.3af/at PoE input, and wall or pole mounting. The two can work on the same project: a bridge carries the network to a remote building and an access point covers its yard.
Common mistakes when linking cameras wirelessly
- Sizing cameras from the 867 Mbps air rate instead of real throughput at the distance.
- Ignoring the Fresnel zone and mounting units low over roofs or trees.
- Putting many cameras on a point-to-multipoint link without accounting for the shared total throughput.
- Plugging the bridge into a standard switch PoE port instead of the supplied injector.
- Leaving the channel on auto without a spectrum scan on sites crowded with wireless networks.
- Not recording IP addresses and SSID switch settings for each link.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum range of the Hikvision DS-3WF02C-5AC/O?
Up to 5 km per the datasheet, but real point-to-point throughput at 5 km drops to 40 Mbps.
How many cameras can one wireless bridge carry?
It depends on each camera’s bitrate and the link length. Divide the real throughput for the distance, after a margin, by the bitrate per camera.
Do I need two units per link?
Yes. A point-to-point link needs one unit in AP mode and one in CPE mode, and each box contains one unit.
Will the bridge work without direct line of sight?
It is not recommended. The link needs line of sight with at least 60% of the first Fresnel zone clear.
How is the bridge powered?
By a 12 VDC 1 A adapter, or by passive PoE through the included injector on the PoE/LAN1 port.
Conclusion
A wireless bridge is a practical answer for remote cameras when cabling is costly or impossible. Its success rests on three checks before purchase: real throughput at the distance from the datasheet, total camera bitrate with a margin, and Fresnel zone clearance. With correct power, AP/CPE settings and documented configuration, the link becomes a stable part of the surveillance network.
Cameras on a gate, car park or remote building? Send us the distance, camera count, bitrate and photos of the link path, and we will propose the right link with bridge, switch and cameras. Talk to the AZEIDK team
