Radio Equipment

So what does any hardcore Air-Stream member do when they get their hands on some hardware?

They look for ways to mod it of course!

The RB/SXT was Mikrotik's first outdoor, integrated CPE solution.

It is a 5ghz, Dual Polarity, 802.11n, MIMO radio device. It is capable of 200mbit throughput (100mbit in each way simultaneously) while maintaining a neat small package which is weather proof and coax free!

It has a 16dBi dual polarity panel antenna inside the case with POE Ethernet socket and a USB socket for 3G modems.

We have interesting plans for this device, in true Air-Stream style, but that is reserved for the next post on the SXT, for now the pictures!

Another Hardware Tear Down for you :)

Note the UFL connectors for the antenna..... re-boxing an M900 anyone..?

Also the unusual Antenna array... someone care to enlighten us?

You didn't think I'd leave without a face off did you? :)

Here are some comparison shots between the devices. Amazing how similar they are, no? :)

I've had a few emails off the back of the Groove picture Reviews, asking "Will the Groove work on an Omni?"

To which technically I can reply 'Yes!', however the 'Omni' everyone thinks of is a 2.4GHz Omni for client access. To which the Groove will not work with, as it is 5GHz only.

So what else is out there? Well in the Integrated Space, the only current option is a product by Ubiquiti, called the 'Bullet'. Put simply, its a 2.4GHz version of the Groove. More technically the operating system is far different.

The current offering from Ubiquiti is the Ubiquiti AirMax Bullet M2 HP (M2 = 802.11n single stream)(HP = High Power).

The sun finally came out, so I jumped on the roof and installed the Groove.

This is the Direct-To-Dish method, you can also have a short run of coax and mount it to the pole. Mikrotik have stated they support both this configuration and mounted to a pole, but not with the Ethernet port facing up (As there are some air vents there).

It was very sturdy and fits quite well. This is installed on a kenbotong 25dBi 5ghz Parabolic Grid. I will swap it for a hills soon to show this form of mounting on both grid's.

Shots of the install after the break :)

Well I just received my new Mikrotik Groove 5Hn.

For those familiar with Mikrotik's recent 711 series, this hardware is identical to the RB711-5Hn-M which has been proven, on the Air-Stream network, to perform at 100mbit speeds (11MB/s throughput). So the Groove is an excellent advance as its not only smaller, but fully contained inside a weather proof enclosure!

So the testing will be later, for now here is a few shots of the unit enjoy!

Dbii Networks produces a range of high quality wireless cards that integrate Lightning & ESD* protection into their entire range of 802.11a/b/g/n with robust surge protection built in. It employs patent pending architecture that integrates the protection for the antenna port from static electric build-up during thunder storms and other power surges.

The card feature good output power performance and high receive sensitivity as they are designed with long distance outdoor wireless networks in mind. The cards also have built-in Heat-sinks that make them ideal for Australian conditions.

Dbii Networks has recently given Air-Stream Wireless a number of samples to trial on our network, which are currently with the Network Planning Team for deployment.

Units for testing include:

• F20-Pro - 2.4Ghz 802.11b/g
• F50-Pro - 5.8Ghz 802.11a
• and the F52N-Pro N card for 2.4 & 5.8Ghz a/b/g/n

Hi all
Found a 44db outdoor usb n adapter on ebay. The supplyer is in sydney. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280655523743

I sent them a question about the max power in Australia but I bet a lot of people are happy to go over the limits and even more would not know what they are. More unwanted background noise I guess.

Darren

ebayed a usb 802.11 b/g/n adapter and married it to my biquad
runs fine on my machines but the device doe not work yet with kismet - no moniter mode - so much for my eeepc happy little ubuntu boxen it is. tried to get a usb xp running for it (netstumbler works great with the device) without success - the i5 desktop boots fine into xp though from usb stick. guess I might have to try the xp to internal ssd then dd to an sd card, kind of makes me unhappy having to wipe ubuntu for xp though ;-)