Are we going to need a laptop to set this up? To be able to plug into at the physical locations, or can it all be done from the house end? We don't have one.
It's perfectly doable to set these up ahead of time. You wouldn't even point them at each other - you just lay 'em around the room pointed away from each other and get everything connected up. The important settings to decide on is if you want them to perform better but only be able to talk to each other (Airmax On - Ubiquiti's proprietary TDMA) or if you want anything in the area to be able to connect to them, sacrificing some performance. I'd probably try the latter in your scenario first and see how it goes. The other important setting is that the main one will be in router mode, set up as
Access Point WDS, and all others will be
Station WDS in Bridge mode.
What I see on the spec sheet, the LocoM and NSM has the same processor/ram/flash... although the LocoM9 has more ram (which I wasn't looking at getting) . Do I have it right? Means the capacity/speed should be the same if the signal is good on the LocoM? And you figure a LocoM (2.4ghz) would be enough to go through a couple trees and have good signal?
Does two ethernet ports also mean 2 devices could be connected, like a camera and a computer?
Yup - you got that correct. I installed a few nanostations this week specifically because I wanted to connect 2 devices and didn't want a switch in the mix. The trees aren't much of an issue - everyone preaches that 2.4 can handle some foliage, 5.8 can't handle any - but I was installing a 5.8Ghz nanostation loco yesterday - with a tree completely blocking my of my tower that was nearly a half-mile away - at first I was worried I might not get a reliable signal, but I plugged in the power (via an inverter) in the back of my suburban (truck pointed at the tree blocking view of the tower, so whole car to go through, and tree) and with the thing laying face down in the truck it still had a great connection. Your tree line looked thin enough, and your distances are short enough, I doubt you'll have any issues at all.
So what Im thinking of doing is:
At the shed, mount a Nanostation M2 on the wall, and plug the ISP connection into that. Does that act as a "firewall"?
Yes - it has that option - it can be set as a router and have all the normal features a router would have. That is, if your ISP doesn't deliver CPE (premise equipment) that also acts as a router - if they do, then you'll just use bridge mode.
At the cow barn and solar, mount Loco M2's and plug in the camera and inverter respectively.
Yes
At the house, mount a Loco M2 and plug in a VOIP ATA like Cisco SPA122 and plug a switch into the ATA for the computers.
Plugging rest of the network into the ATA generally means the ATA is acting as a router and enabling some QoS and the computers would be behind that. I would try plugging a switch into the Loco, and connect the computers and phones at the same level first. If that doesn't work, it'd be time to look at turning on Airmax and getting the built-in QoS via the radios. Doing it at that level (computers behind ATA) only catches what's in the house - everything else around the property would be in front of the ATA, and that might even segment them so things don't talk to each other correctly. I'll look up the docs on that specific ATA when I have some more time.
At the camp, mount a Loco M2 and plug in a switch for a camera and computer. Alternately Im thinking I should just use a Nanostation and plug the camera and computer into that.
Either way works - as I mentioned above, I do that at times to avoid the cost of a switch... the radios are like $30 difference, which is less than a switch - but a switch gives you room for more equipment later. Then again, you might want a 3rd port to add another Wifi access point at the camp - I'm not sure, that's up to you.
So far.
Another part is power consumption. The specs are saying 8watts max for a nanostation, is that typical or is it usually much less. Im trying to size a UPS for the nanostation and ISP equipment at the shed to last a few hours.
I really can't say - I've never tested actual consumption - but I do frequent the WISP forums and everyone seems to size their UPS' based on the rated watts, so 8 watts there. Unfortunately standard UPSs are inefficient for this type of load but there aren't any affordable options for 1-2 radios; the ideal way is to skip the DC->AC->DC conversion and just hook 24V straight into the radios, but that's not easily accomplished.
And what would you do for ground/surge protection? Would you have a surge protector on the ethernet line from each antenna? Should there be a ground rod, etc?
In my neck of the woods, lightning damage is almost unheard of - I know that's not the case for many people though. Properly wiring these radios is crucial - buy a box of their ToughCable, either L1or L2, and a box of their connectors. This wire is called FTP - it's a foil-shielded twisted pair with a drain wire. When you crimp their ends on, the foil makes contact with the shielded housing of the connector, and the drain wire connects to a little stub on the connector. This ensures end-to-end shielding, and and ESD is discharged via earth ground by their power injector. Nothing else should be required unless you're adding super tall poles or anything like that.
When you get ready to do this, I'm also a reseller and could help you put together a package with all the best mounting equipment for each location, etc. The thing I have to warn you though is this stuff is *always* backordered. The only places that have it readily available are the most expensive options - generally 3rd or 4th level resellers. Be prepared for it to take a month from when you decide to pull the trigger to when you get your equipment - for that reason, I tend to buy extra.