As an endpoint, this looks like an attractive solution, especially at $50 each. Flytec has them at $98/pair with free shipping. It looks like it uses a processor similar to the Rocket M5.
The LBE-M5-23 may have an XW board and be in the same boat in wait for a fix as other ubnt devices. Who wants to buy one of these to determine if it is an XW board and other relevant information necessary to provide support (at some unspecified time in the future)?
So I got brave and tried loading the AREDN beta for the nanostation M5 (XW). It loaded, but it wouldn't give me an IP nor could I reach it on 192.168.1.20. No problem, been down this road with other nodes so I put it in TFTP mode and went to the ubiquiti website. EGADS! The 5.5.11 XW firmware isn't available...actually NO firmware is listed on the website. I opened a support ticket, and in under 5 minutes I got a reply that suggested using 5.6.2 as 5.5.11 has a number of limitations (like the litebeam is only in station mode, you HAVE to use the airmax extensions). Anyway, I loaded up 5.6.2 expected that to mess up the MTD map. It didn't...after loading 5.6.2 I'm still using U-Boot 1.1.4s797.
I did some testing on an existing Bullet moving up and down from 5.5.x to 5.6.x. What I found was that the version of uboot stayed the same with a tftp process. When I did the same test using the AirOS gui to upload images, the version of uboot was upgraded then downgraded. Note that the flash partitioning layout never changed in both tests. The Ubiquiti XM 5.6.x factory firmware has an additional "/bin/preflash" executable embedded that looks to be executed only when using the AirOS gui when uploading an image. Lesson learned: the result can be different depending on if the firmwall is installed by tftp or via AirOS Gui.
[corrected the following, incorrectly read on first round--device was received with XW 5.5.x loaded and not 5.6.x...]
Note, this XW 5.5.x device has a uboot (the program) version (in 2014) different than what is in the current downloadable "XM 5.5.x" (2012) firmware images. Did you capture the actual partition information before making changes, or after a few tftp image gyrations?
I'm not aware of anyone that has moved this topic forward. The 3.17.1.0RC1 loco-xw image 'should' work (follow the 'downgrade' to AirOS 5.6.x instructions to be conservative). Who has this device and willing to test?
To re-iterate the above posts. Single antenna/polarity (non-MIMO) devices will under perform, often 50% thoughput, compared to the MIMO dual polarity devices. If you go in with a group buy, we have found the Nanobridge M5s (1' MIMO dishes) for $64 per unit with box of 5 in the past. We see 50+Mbps links to Sector panels out to ~15 miles with tne NB 5G25.
Note: this is not yet a supported device.
It's also only single chain it's much like an AirGrid in that regard except solid dish not grid.
Multi chain (polarity) devices tend to perform better.
hope this is supported soon. my plans currently rely heavily on this for cheap point-to-point links
As an endpoint, this looks like an attractive solution, especially at $50 each. Flytec has them at $98/pair with free shipping. It looks like it uses a processor similar to the Rocket M5.
http://dl.ubnt.com/datasheets/LiteBeamM/LiteBeam_LBE-M5-23_DS.pdf
I'd still use multichain devices on backhauls instead.
The LBE-M5-23 may have an XW board and be in the same boat in wait for a fix as other ubnt devices. Who wants to buy one of these to determine if it is an XW board and other relevant information necessary to provide support (at some unspecified time in the future)?
I just ordered two of them. They'll be delivered Wed or Thur...I'll let you know.
awesome! Thanks Michael.
First think we'll want is the /etc/board.info file.
(obviously, there's other work that has priority over this, but, good to know for futures.)
The two litebeams arrived today....slick packaging...no more than the size of a shoebox. They are running airos version:v5.5.11 (XW).
XW.v5.5.11# cat board.info
board.sysid=0xe865
board.cpurevision=0x00001122
board.name=LiteBeam M5
board.shortname=LB5
board.subtype=
board.netmodes=7
board.hwaddr=44D9E75ACC3F
board.reboot=40
board.upgrade=150
board.phycount=1
board.phy.1.maxmtu=2024
board.phy.2.maxmtu=2024
radio.1.name=
radio.1.shortname=
radio.1.bus=ahb
radio.1.subsystemid=0xe865
radio.1.subvendorid=0x0777
radio.1.txpower.max=25
radio.1.txpower.offset=6
radio.1.antennas=3
radio.1.def_antenna=4
radio.1.antenna.1.id=4
radio.1.antenna.1.name=Not specified
radio.1.antenna.1.gain=0
radio.1.antenna.2.id=1
radio.1.antenna.2.name=Feed only
radio.1.antenna.2.gain=3
radio.1.antenna.3.id=2
radio.1.antenna.3.name=11x14
radio.1.antenna.3.gain=23
U-Boot 1.1.4-s797 (Aug 12 2014 - 17:19:58
(u-boot tester shows GOOD)
Anything else you want me to try?
What's the MTD map look like with the U-Boot Tester?
So I got brave and tried loading the AREDN beta for the nanostation M5 (XW). It loaded, but it wouldn't give me an IP nor could I reach it on 192.168.1.20. No problem, been down this road with other nodes so I put it in TFTP mode and went to the ubiquiti website. EGADS! The 5.5.11 XW firmware isn't available...actually NO firmware is listed on the website. I opened a support ticket, and in under 5 minutes I got a reply that suggested using 5.6.2 as 5.5.11 has a number of limitations (like the litebeam is only in station mode, you HAVE to use the airmax extensions). Anyway, I loaded up 5.6.2 expected that to mess up the MTD map. It didn't...after loading 5.6.2 I'm still using U-Boot 1.1.4s797.
Can you send the "dmesg" output? The NSM5 XW has an internal switch and may be the reason you can't access this device if it does not.
I did some testing on an existing Bullet moving up and down from 5.5.x to 5.6.x. What I found was that the version of uboot stayed the same with a tftp process. When I did the same test using the AirOS gui to upload images, the version of uboot was upgraded then downgraded. Note that the flash partitioning layout never changed in both tests. The Ubiquiti XM 5.6.x factory firmware has an additional "/bin/preflash" executable embedded that looks to be executed only when using the AirOS gui when uploading an image. Lesson learned: the result can be different depending on if the firmwall is installed by tftp or via AirOS Gui.
[corrected the following, incorrectly read on first round--device was received with XW 5.5.x loaded and not 5.6.x...]
Note, this XW 5.5.x device has a uboot (the program) version (in 2014) different than what is in the current downloadable "XM 5.5.x" (2012) firmware images. Did you capture the actual partition information before making changes, or after a few tftp image gyrations?
Joe AE6XE
Here's the dmesg output:
XW.v5.6.2# dmesg
[ 0.000000] Linux version 2.6.32.65 (buildd@builder) (gcc version 4.1.2) #1 Thu Jul 16 11:50:24 EEST 2015
[ 0.000000] flash_size passed from bootloader = 8
[ 0.000000] CPU revision is: 0001974c (MIPS 74Kc)
[ 0.000000] ath_sys_frequency: cpu srif ddr srif cpu 535 ddr 400 ahb 200
[ 0.000000] Determined physical RAM map:
[ 0.000000] memory: 04000000 @ 00000000 (usable)
[ 0.000000] User-defined physical RAM map:
[ 0.000000] memory: 04000000 @ 00000000 (usable)
[ 0.000000] Initrd not found or empty - disabling initrd
[ 0.000000] Zone PFN ranges:
[ 0.000000] Normal 0x00000000 -> 0x00004000
[ 0.000000] Movable zone start PFN for each node
[ 0.000000] early_node_map[1] active PFN ranges
[ 0.000000] 0: 0x00000000 -> 0x00004000
[ 0.000000] On node 0 totalpages: 16384
[ 0.000000] free_area_init_node: node 0, pgdat 80284380, node_mem_map 81000000
[ 0.000000] Normal zone: 128 pages used for memmap
[ 0.000000] Normal zone: 0 pages reserved
[ 0.000000] Normal zone: 16256 pages, LIFO batch:3
[ 0.000000] Built 1 zonelists in Zone order, mobility grouping on. Total pages: 16256
[ 0.000000] Kernel command line: console=tty0 root=31:03 rootfstype=squashfs init=/init mtdparts=ath-nor0:256k(u-boot),64k(u-boot-env),1024k(kernel),6528k(rootfs),256k(cfg),64k(EEPROM) mem=64M panic=3 quiet
[ 0.000000] PID hash table entries: 256 (order: -2, 1024 bytes)
[ 0.000000] Dentry cache hash table entries: 8192 (order: 3, 32768 bytes)
[ 0.000000] Inode-cache hash table entries: 4096 (order: 2, 16384 bytes)
[ 0.000000] Primary instruction cache 64kB, VIPT, 4-way, linesize 32 bytes.
[ 0.000000] Primary data cache 32kB, 4-way, VIPT, cache aliases, linesize 32 bytes
[ 0.000000] Writing ErrCtl register=00000000
[ 0.000000] Readback ErrCtl register=00000000
[ 0.000000] Memory: 62064k/65536k available (2074k kernel code, 3404k reserved, 499k data, 136k init, 0k highmem)
[ 0.000000] Hierarchical RCU implementation.
[ 0.000000] NR_IRQS:128
[ 0.000000] plat_time_init: plat time init done
[ 0.000000] Console: colour dummy device 80x25
[ 0.000000] console [tty0] enabled
[ 0.000000] Calibrating delay loop... 266.24 BogoMIPS (lpj=133120)
[ 0.022000] Mount-cache hash table entries: 512
[ 0.024000] NET: Registered protocol family 16
[ 0.032000] bio: create slab <bio-0> at 0
[ 0.034000] Switching to clocksource MIPS
[ 0.036000] NET: Registered protocol family 2
[ 0.037000] IP route cache hash table entries: 1024 (order: 0, 4096 bytes)
[ 0.038000] TCP established hash table entries: 2048 (order: 2, 16384 bytes)
[ 0.038000] TCP bind hash table entries: 2048 (order: 1, 8192 bytes)
[ 0.038000] TCP: Hash tables configured (established 2048 bind 2048)
[ 0.038000] TCP reno registered
[ 0.039000] NET: Registered protocol family 1
[ 0.039000] ATH GPIOC major 0
[ 0.041000] squashfs: version 4.0 (2009/01/31) Phillip Lougher
[ 0.041000] msgmni has been set to 121
[ 0.041000] io scheduler noop registered (default)
[ 0.065000] Serial: 8250/16550 driver, 1 ports, IRQ sharing disabled
[ 0.066000] serial8250.0: ttyS0 at MMIO 0xb8020000 (irq = 19) is a 16550A
[ 0.068000] 6 cmdlinepart partitions found on MTD device ath-nor0
[ 0.068000] Creating 6 MTD partitions on "ath-nor0":
[ 0.068000] 0x000000000000-0x000000040000 : "u-boot"
[ 0.069000] 0x000000040000-0x000000050000 : "u-boot-env"
[ 0.070000] 0x000000050000-0x000000150000 : "kernel"
[ 0.071000] 0x000000150000-0x0000007b0000 : "rootfs"
[ 0.073000] mtd: partition "rootfs" set to be root filesystem
[ 0.073000] 0x0000007b0000-0x0000007f0000 : "cfg"
[ 0.074000] 0x0000007f0000-0x000000800000 : "EEPROM"
[ 0.075000] u32 classifier
[ 0.075000] Performance counters on
[ 0.075000] input device check on
[ 0.075000] Actions configured
[ 0.077000] TCP westwood registered
[ 0.077000] NET: Registered protocol family 10
[ 0.080000] NET: Registered protocol family 17
[ 0.080000] Bridge firewalling registered
[ 0.080000] 802.1Q VLAN Support v1.8 Ben Greear <greearb@candelatech.com>
[ 0.080000] All bugs added by David S. Miller <davem@redhat.com>
[ 0.080000] athwdt_init: Registering WDT success
[ 0.081000] ath_otp_init: Registering OTP success
[ 0.081000] ath_clksw_init: Registering Clock Switch Interface success
[ 0.088000] VFS: Mounted root (squashfs filesystem) readonly on device 31:3.
[ 0.089000] Freeing unused kernel memory: 136k freed
[ 0.103000] Please be patient, while AirOS loads ...
[ 0.994000] Algorithmics/MIPS FPU Emulator v1.5
[ 1.298000] ubnthal: module license 'Proprietary' taints kernel.
[ 1.298000] Disabling lock debugging due to kernel taint
[ 1.338000] ath-gpio 2.0 initialised
[ 1.339000] ubnthal initialised
[ 5.655000] ATHR_GMAC: Length per segment 1536
[ 5.655000] ATHR_GMAC: skb_overhead 64, shinfo: 344
[ 5.655000] ATHR_GMAC: RX sizes - 2k_fit: 1610, reserve: 0
[ 5.656000] ATHR_GMAC: fifo cfg 3 01f00140
[ 5.656000] AR8032 Detected
[ 5.656000] ATHR_GMAC: Mac address for unit 0:bfff0000
[ 5.656000] ATHR_GMAC: 44:d9:e7:5b:cc:3f
[ 6.211000] MAC0 MDC is 3 at line 2893
[ 6.212000] mac:0 Registering S27....
[ 6.212000] Configuring GPIO4 GPIO Function.
[ 6.212000] Setting GPIO4 to INPUT.
[ 6.212000] Setting GPIO15 to INPUT.
[ 6.212000] Setting GPIO17 to INPUT.
[ 6.212000] ATHR_GMAC: Max segments per packet : 1
[ 6.212000] ATHR_GMAC: Max tx descriptor count : 128
[ 6.212000] ATHR_GMAC: Max rx descriptor count : 252
[ 6.212000] ATHR_GMAC: Mac capability flags : 4380
[ 6.212000] ATHR_GMAC: Mac address for unit 1:bfff0006
[ 6.212000] ATHR_GMAC: 46:d9:e7:5b:cc:3f
[ 6.768000] mac:1 Registering S27....
[ 6.768000] ATHR_GMAC: Max segments per packet : 1
[ 6.768000] ATHR_GMAC: Max tx descriptor count : 128
[ 6.768000] ATHR_GMAC: Max rx descriptor count : 252
[ 6.768000] ATHR_GMAC: Mac capability flags : 4B80
[ 6.949000] PPP generic driver version 2.4.2
[ 7.054000] PPP MPPE Compression module registered
[ 7.083000] NET: Registered protocol family 24
[ 7.237000] URD Init
[ 8.068000] ath_hal: 0.9.17.1 (AR9380, DEBUG, REGOPS_FUNC, 11D)
[ 8.645000] ath_rate_atheros: Copyright (c) 2001-2005 Atheros Communications, Inc, All Rights Reserved
[ 9.741000] ath_dev: Copyright (c) 2001-2007 Atheros Communications, Inc, All Rights Reserved
[ 10.709000] ath_ahb: 9.2.0_U11.14 (Atheros/multi-bss)
[ 10.710000] __ath_attach: Set global_scn[0]
[ 10.710000] ACBKMinfree = 48
[ 10.710000] ACBEMinfree = 32
[ 10.710000] ACVIMinfree = 16
[ 10.710000] ACVOMinfree = 0
[ 10.710000] CABMinfree = 48
[ 10.710000] UAPSDMinfree = 0
[ 10.718000] Bootstrap clock 40MHz
[ 10.721000] ar9300Attach: This Mac Chip Rev 0x300.2 PCI devid 0x31
[ 10.721000] Wasp Enterprise mode: 0x00000000
[ 10.721000] ar9300RadioAttach: Need analog access recipe!!
[ 10.746000] Restoring Cal data from Flash
[ 10.746000] Using Cal data from Flash 0xbfff1000
[ 10.746000] ath_hal: Ubiquiti Osprey (0777:e865)
[ 10.761000] ath_get_caps[5590] rx chainmask mismatch actual 1 sc_chainmak 0
[ 10.761000] ath_get_caps[5565] tx chainmask mismatch actual 1 sc_chainmak 0
[ 10.775000] IRQ 2/wifi0: IRQF_DISABLED is not guaranteed on shared IRQs
[ 10.788000] wifi0: Atheros 9340: mem=0xb8100000, irq=2
[ 11.428000] ubnt_poll: Initializing polling module...
[ 11.428000] ubnt_poll: Initializing packet classifier...
[ 11.428000] ubnt_poll: OS timer frequency 1000 Hz
[ 11.499000] rssi-leds 1.2 loaded
[ 11.572000] ubnt_poll: Attaching hooks...
[ 11.576000] Restricted to station mode only
[ 11.576000] wlan_vap_create : enter. devhandle=0x83b882c0, opmode=IEEE80211_M_STA, flags=0x3
[ 11.576000] ubnt_poll: TX CTRL configured with 0/18/200/0/6/0/0
[ 11.576000] ubnt_poll: Initializing STA ranging engine
[ 11.576000] VAP attach: burst beacon mode.
[ 11.577000] wlan_vap_create : exit. devhandle=0x83b882c0, opmode=IEEE80211_M_STA, flags=0x3.
[ 11.673000] ubnt_poll_set_noack_rate: was set auto_rate 1 mcs_index 0
[ 11.955000] Ebtables v2.0 registered
[ 12.462000] device eth0 entered promiscuous mode
[ 12.467000] device ath0 entered promiscuous mode
[ 12.473000] device eth1 entered promiscuous mode
[ 12.499000] athr_gmac_ring_alloc Allocated 2048 at 0x832ed800
[ 12.499000] athr_gmac_ring_alloc Allocated 4032 at 0x832ec000
[ 12.799000] athr_gmac_mii_setup 0
[ 12.799000] WASP ----> AR8032 PHY
[ 12.799000] MAC0 MDC is 3 at line 637
[ 12.799000] Setting Drop CRC Errors, Pause Frames and Length Error frames
[ 12.799000] Setting FIFO_CFG_5 to 0x7efff
[ 12.799000] Setting PHY...
[ 12.799000] Forced AR8032 PHY hardware reset on PHY setup.
[ 15.817000] ATH_MAC_TIMER: MAC 0 PHY 0x01 - LINK NOW UP [link=UP speed=100Mbps duplex=full duplex carrier=0]
[ 15.828000] ubnt_poll: Setting timing params to min:1000 max:3000 offset:3000 tx_time: 3000 init: 5
[ 15.828000] ubnt_poll: Setting aggregation params to non-txop:0 tx-op:0 scheduling:0
[ 15.828000] ubnt_poll: Setting TXOP Window parameters to size:25 timeout-perc:5
[ 15.828000] ubnt_poll: Module started in STA mode
[ 18.844000] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): ath0: link is not ready
[ 18.854000] br0: port 1(eth0) entering learning state
[ 19.854000] br0: port 1(eth0) entering forwarding state
[ 23.948000] athr_gmac_ring_alloc Allocated 2048 at 0x8283b000
[ 23.948000] athr_gmac_ring_alloc Allocated 4032 at 0x832b4000
[ 24.259000] athr_gmac_mii_setup 1
[ 24.259000] WASP ----> S27 PHY MDIO
[ 24.259000] MAC1 MDC is 3 at line 722
[ 24.259000] Setting Drop CRC Errors, Pause Frames and Length Error frames
[ 24.259000] ATHRS27: resetting s27
[ 24.371000] ATHRS27: s27 reset done
[ 24.381000] Setting PHY...
[ 25.505000] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): eth1: link is not ready
I did save the partition information prior to doing anything with the node. I've got that zip file if you want me to send it.
To re-iterate the above posts. Single antenna/polarity (non-MIMO) devices will under perform, often 50% thoughput, compared to the MIMO dual polarity devices. If you go in with a group buy, we have found the Nanobridge M5s (1' MIMO dishes) for $64 per unit with box of 5 in the past. We see 50+Mbps links to Sector panels out to ~15 miles with tne NB 5G25.
Joe AE6XE