Greetings:
AREDN-supported Ubiquity Rocket M5 radios are becoming harder and to find, making it harder and harder to use them in Ubiquity sectors, which are designed to hold and cover the node against the back of the antenna.
The current AREDN supported alternative is a MikoTik Basebox 5 connected to a mANT 19S sector. The problem here is that the Basebox cannot be attached to the antenna, and the SMA cables and connectors are exposed to the elements and get in the way of installation. This is a big problem when these nodes are installed and maintained in rainy environments on towers. Government agencies are also cautious when asked to buy equipment built and supported overseas.
The mANTBox 19s (https://mikrotik.com/product/RB921GS-5HPacD-19S) appears to be installer- and wet environment-friendly, but it does not appear on the supported platforms list.
Unless I am missing something, this means we are approaching a time when the only practical options for new AREDN 5Ghz installations are point-to-point nodes and relatively low-power "mini-sector" nodes (think a NanoStation M5). Powerful sectors which can be deployed on backbone nodes are becoming harder to find and harder to install (due to the reasons noted above), which makes it harder to convince tower owners and climbers to install the nodes. If you are trying to set up a regional AREDN network, that's a big problem.
Any solutions in the works to improve high-power, installer- and wet environment-friendly 5Ghz sector nodes? Support for the mANTBox 19s or someone else's sector?
Thanks,
Charles W1ZPB
AREDN-supported Ubiquity Rocket M5 radios are becoming harder and to find, making it harder and harder to use them in Ubiquity sectors, which are designed to hold and cover the node against the back of the antenna.
The current AREDN supported alternative is a MikoTik Basebox 5 connected to a mANT 19S sector. The problem here is that the Basebox cannot be attached to the antenna, and the SMA cables and connectors are exposed to the elements and get in the way of installation. This is a big problem when these nodes are installed and maintained in rainy environments on towers. Government agencies are also cautious when asked to buy equipment built and supported overseas.
The mANTBox 19s (https://mikrotik.com/product/RB921GS-5HPacD-19S) appears to be installer- and wet environment-friendly, but it does not appear on the supported platforms list.
Unless I am missing something, this means we are approaching a time when the only practical options for new AREDN 5Ghz installations are point-to-point nodes and relatively low-power "mini-sector" nodes (think a NanoStation M5). Powerful sectors which can be deployed on backbone nodes are becoming harder to find and harder to install (due to the reasons noted above), which makes it harder to convince tower owners and climbers to install the nodes. If you are trying to set up a regional AREDN network, that's a big problem.
Any solutions in the works to improve high-power, installer- and wet environment-friendly 5Ghz sector nodes? Support for the mANTBox 19s or someone else's sector?
Thanks,
Charles W1ZPB
73
Orv W6BI
73
Orv W6BI
PS - I've found that on a good link, running 802.11ac on both ends results in noticeably faster throughput.
That's great news! As noted, however, I'm having a hard time justifying nodes manufactured overseas to my agencies. Justifying those that are only supported by nightlies, rather than "Production" at https://www.arednmesh.org/content/supported-platform-matrix is a no-go. Is there a way to guess when they will make the "Production" page?
Also, a follow-up about the "Supported Platforms" page (both https://www.arednmesh.org/content/supported-platform-matrix and https://www.arednmesh.org/content/supported-platform-matrix). The names listed don't entirely match those on the manufacturer websites. For example, when it says: "Rocket AC Lite 5" do we mean one or both of these with the Atheros MIPS 74Kc processor?
- UISP airMAX Rocket 5AC Lite BaseStation SKU: R5AC-LITE-US
- UISP airMAX Rocket Prism 5AC Radio SKU:: RP-5AC-US
Likewise, does the "PowerBeam AC 5 500" mean the "UISP airMAX PowerBeam 5AC 500 mm Bridge" SKU: PBE-5AC-500-USI'm thinking including the manufacturer SKU (Ubiquity) or "Product Code" (MikoTik) would really help us make sure we buy the right model.
Thanks!
Charles
As far as those two Rockets, you'll notice that they have two separate part numbers: the RP is the prism device which isn't supported. The R5 ac lite is the device that's supported.
And yes, the PBE-5AC-500-US is the device that's supported by AREDN.
I've passed your observations over device naming along to the devs.
73
Orv W6BI
Thanks for passing my thoughts along and for clarifying. I've noticed a number of threads talking about "AC" devices (Rocket or other flavors), so when you have multiple devices that differ only by additional qualifiers (Lite vs. Prism) it can get confusing (and create false hopes). SKUs/part numbers/product codes remove all chance of confusion.
Best,
Charles W1ZPB
73
Orv W6BI