Forum members,
I posed a message in the Hardware group about trying to figure out getting a ZoneFlex device working. Seems not a soul read it, so I am going to the most active group here and pointing out that I posted it.
73,
Stuart, N3GWG
I posed a message in the Hardware group about trying to figure out getting a ZoneFlex device working. Seems not a soul read it, so I am going to the most active group here and pointing out that I posted it.
73,
Stuart, N3GWG
Chuck,
Of course it is not listed there, I know how to read! Did you perhaps look at the totality of my other post as suggested in the one you responded to? If so, you would realize how silly your response is. You probably did not read the part of my original posting (in the Hardware section) that stipulated I am looking to get AREDN running on a new router type.
In order to magnify convenience for you, I have set forth the link to my original posting. Do not be discouraged or scared to read it, I promise the posting will not bite you!
https://www.arednmesh.org/content/adaptation-zoneflex-zf7762-s
That said, the chipset in my ZoneFlex does conform to one used by OpenWRT and meets the frequency requisites you instantiate.
Now, that I have read the TOH, may I ask you to read the message that I referred to in the posting you replied to?
Thanks!
73,
Stuart, N3GWG
I encourage you to work with the openwrt.org developers in experimenting with hardware. I looked at the Commscope page and this Ruckus device doesn't come up on their product pages. I couldn't tell from your developers wiki link how much RAM it has, and the Amazon link shows the device is unavailable now but was from 2013. But, it looks like a cool, 12V outdoor dual frequency sector, and may be the chipset is compatible with OpenWRT.
In other posts in the AREDN forums, our AREDN developers have encouraged us to purchase devices with minimum 64 MB 802.11n MIMO devices, as they will be more "future proof" for upcoming builds. Some of the older devices are 32MB and SISO, which are still, but perhaps not as well. They tend to run out of RAM, and have slower throughput, and may not be able to support the latest OpenWRT builds in the future. We want devices to run the latest AREDN builds.
Don't get frustrated with our AREDN developers. They are supporting a huge number of devices, and they need to test each release on hardware samples.
So, availability of the devices for testing and general use is a concern. They look mostly at commercial, outdoor, PoE devices which can run on Part 97 channels.
One of my concerns is whether 802.11n devices will continue to be sold, as Ubiquiti, and Mikrotik move to 802.11ac devices. Whatever radios are supported, we need to be able to continue to have a retail supply available.
AC routers are the future of development, but I don't know how hard this will be. (I'm really hoping that Joe will get the Ubiquiti Lite Beam5AC Gen2 supported, because it is inexpensive, compact, and it runs under OpenWRT; the hurdle apparently, is getting it to run on Part 97 5GHz channels.)
From a practical standpoint of trying to build up an large, usable emergency mesh network, there is also the goal to aim for interoperability.
As a local AREDN network administrator (not a hardware developer) and user for our growing AREDNmesh network, but I want to be able to tell people which radios to buy and that we have had success in deploying them.
We recommend and deploy mostly outdoor 5 GHz devices from Ubiquiti and Mikrotik. The Mikrotik hAP AC lite is our favorite indoor 2.4 GHz device, and it was only added to AREDN in the last couple of years. Experience in our area shows our outdoor 2.4 GHz bands are flooded with QRM from home routers, so we have not been able to create a successful long range link with 2.4 GHz units.
Some newer AREDN devices seem to break the generally accepted rules, yet open up new possibilities.
The GL-iNet travel routers are a great example. While most are 2.4 GHz indoor SISO devices, they have the advantage of USB 5V power, large amounts of RAM (64-128 MB) and OpenWRT already installed at a very affordable price. We tried one strapped onto a drone and got a usable signal at 400 feet! I sure wish we could get a Gl-iNet 5 GHz model supported by AREDN.
Newly supported devices such as the Mikrotik RBLDF-5nD are showing good performance in our hands, and may help people deploy mesh using HOA approved satellite dishes. With a recycled dish, this device is the cheapest way to put up a beam.
Again, don't get discouraged, behind each new device is a hardware developer willing to bring it to our development team.
73, Brett KG7GDB
Salem, Oregon