problem with PowerStation 2 Ext

[Bruno1]

Hi,
I intend to replace my NanoStation2 base station with the PowerStation2 Ext.
But after the installation i cannot connect to the closest clients because the TX power of the Power Station is very low.
I have changed the RF cable i am using to the shortest one ( 1m); but still not better signal at the client side.
I am using an Omnidirectional antenna; So i have selected the Antenna 1. Even diversity does not changed anything. I even try Antenna 2 so see if i was on the wrong antenna connection but nothing change.
Anyone has any idea of what can cause this?

Bruno

[WHT]

Are your Nanostations set for horizontal polarity? Is your omni vertical or HPOL?

[Bruno1]

Hi,
My Omini is on the vertical. So i put my nano to vertical pol.

[WHT]

Mike said a few PS units had the cables inside reversed. You could open up the PS and check that.

[Bruno1]

Hi,
I have opened it and i can see the 2 cable connected to the board.
I made sure it's well connected. After that i tried it again and the power still low.
Any idea about what else i can change.

Thanks

[Bruno1]

Can someone help me to solve this problem. I am told that PowerStation 2 is more powerfull than NanoStation 2.
I really have not seen that. I am waiting someone to prove it to me. Or I may have to call Ubiquity Technical Support.

[WHT]

PS2 = 17 dBi internal antenna
NS2 = 10 dBi internal antenna

[derdrack]

Hi Bruno1

I use the PS2 ext + Omni on a large urbanisation in Spain.
You don't mention your environment but I found that with only the one polarisation some clients struggled. I beleive I was receiving refelctions/distorted polorisation of the signals.

Putting my Nanos on to Adabtive helped in areas suffering poor signal.

Diversity on the PS, is diversity. IE for using 2 matching antenea. Could help in some conditions, when not using an omni. But does not change the poloristaion, like the Nano.

The other big issue I had was the need for a very good earth of the PS/Omni. I put this down to a build up of static. This was probaly generated by our airbourne dust/wind combination.
If u have ever been to the costas you probably noticed all our cars covered in red dust.

Last but not least: Any water ingress of the antenea conectors Kills TX. I used plumbers tape on the threads and went really tight.

Simple tips but hopefully may help you track down your issue.

Good luck

[Bruno1]

Hi,
This is my scenario:
I am using NS2 with 10dBi Omni directional Antenna at the base station as AP. I have about 4 clients configured as clients. The clients are without external antenna.
Now i want to change the NS2 with the PS2. So i have the PS2 connectorized ( which can use external antenna).
I played around with the antenna type (antenna1, antenna2 or diversity); i don't get the signal strength i got when the same clients are connected to the NS2.
If they could be RF issue, i believe it should affect the NS2.
This is weird, the same location and NS2 seems to perform better than PS2. I don't want to believe this.
Please help me again.
For your information i am using Dlink ANT24-1500 which 15dBi gain antenna. May be this is not compatible with the PS2.

Worried Bruno

[derdrack]

Hi Bruno:

Have to say the PS took some setting up.
I just checked my invoice and I am using a 12db antenea

How close are your close clients?

When I set up: The power and the characteristics of the antenea gave some strange results. I eventually realised that the PS/Omni combination was throwing the signal further than I realised and stations close to my AP saw a weaker signal.

Although the radio waves go 360 off the antenea, most omnis initial beam width is very small, maybe 14deg. This mushrooms out as it travels.

Your antenea should have come with a diagram of this effect?

Cheers Chris

[WHT]

Last but not least: Any water ingress of the antenea conectors Kills TX. I used plumbers tape on the threads and went really tight.Using tape was brought up two years ago on an amateur radio forum. It really isn't a good way to waterproof the threads. All it does is let you tighten down a threaded pipe fitting real tight, past the torque specs of a radio connector.

[derdrack]

Using tape was brought up two years ago on an amateur radio forum. It really isn't a good way to waterproof the threads. All it does is let you tighten down a threaded pipe fitting real tight, past the torque specs of a radio connector.

I respect your experience WHT but short of another suggestion I had no choice. You wouldn't beleive the thunder storms we have had here recently.

And my PS is still singing happily.

[Dave-D]

'short of another suggestion'?

The standard method of water-
proofing a Type-N joint is to
use an easily-obtained silicone
mastic tape over the entire
joint (connectors and cable).

This seals the cable jacket to
connector joint and the connector
slip-ring joint (neither of which is
water-tight). It also seals the
connector-to-connector screw
joint of course.

As WHT said, the main purpose
of teflon 'plumbers' tape is to
reduce friction and fill tiny gaps
to make a tight joint, in a fitting
designed to seal by its tapered
jam-fit. That's how pipes are made.

A Type-N connector has a square
(non-tapered) thread and isn't
designed to be wrenched tight. Dave

[derdrack]

Thanks Dave

We never say easily-obtained in Spain but I will track some down.

[Bruno1]

Hi Chris,
I am using Dlink ANT24-1500; 8 deg vert and 360 deg hori.
The closest clients are about 2 miles away from the AP.
I tried also to go further but i did not get any better result.
Any other tips i could get?

Worried Bruno

[derdrack]

Hi Bruno:

U really need one of the UBNT guys to advise further.
I obviously have a differnt senario to yourself.

Unfortunately so far the more experienced users have been more concerned with correcting me, than offering you some advise.

If u have solid connections Nano to Nano and the PS upgrade wont connect?
Does make u think there is a problem with the PS.

Unless: the upgrade assumable needs a slightly larger frenzel zone and there is an obstical that wasn't in your previous zone. Maybe a tall building that nw encroaches into your zone.

As I said earlier, my densliy populated urbanisation was definately causing reflections.

[WHT]

So you are saying that you had a working link with two Nano stations, but when you replaced one Nano with a PS2, its not working?

[Bruno1]

Hi Chris,
I am using the same antenna for the Nanostation and the PowerStation2. May be as you suggested the power is been throwing further than expected.
I turn outside down the antenna; may be this will enable to my customers.
Customer A is 1 mile from the base station
Customer B is 0.8 mile from the base station
Customer C is 0.7 mile from the base station

Worried Bruno