View Full Version : Help!!!! Which motherboard???????
I would like to find a motherboard at least with 3 mini-slots, but not sure by looking at the top brand sites which cards/boards are compatible with which. I like the option of 3 slots and being able to use different 2.4/5/900. I've been looking at microtik and ADI Engineering boards. Are the UBIQUITI 900mhz cards compatiable with Microtik boards? Has anyone has experience with multiple cards mainly using 900Mhz and know which motherboards would be more open>>> like will run DD-WRT and still be completely upgradeable using the least amount of power(solar panels may be necessary as this is a last mile/rural project.)
I would love any comments/suggestions. I'm just looking for something I can build off of for Wimax, etc later. Best range, NLOS, etc. I'm a windows networking proffesional, but haven't done much beyond. 2.4 wds on linksys wrt54 model routers. And can barely get around in linux. I'm just looking for non-propeitary hardware/software solution, to hook up 144 sq mile area 12 miles across small rural town with heavy foilage.
Can I get more than 3mb/s on a 900 system? I have some mountain peaks I'm trying to get access to and just looking for tower/antenna ideas. Don't like the huge tower scenerio, but can't figure out how the service equipment that just on a pole.
Also, if 36db is all the FCC allows for PtMP, if I use more than one radio card and one is set to 36 for a mesh and the other is using more power to do a ptp, am I'm in violation of FCC because there are in the same box. Seems like FCC says if CPE in part of Mesh network(I can't seem to define the word (part).
Thanks ahead of time for your response.
Also, if 36db is all the FCC allows for PtMP, if I use more than one radio card and one is set to 36 for a mesh and the other is using more power to do a ptp, am I'm in violation of FCC because there are in the same box. Seems like FCC says if CPE in part of Mesh network(I can't seem to define the word (part).
The FCC defines an emitter as any single device radio, regardless if there are three in a paper bag or two in a metal box. You can place a PtP and PtMP all in the same physical protective enclosure.
If the radio, regardless if its an access point or subscriber unit is intended to transmit to more than one location (multiple points), it is restricted to 36 dBm EIRP. So a meshed radio would be like an AP.
So does that mean that you can use more power on one radio card to a neighborhood radio card 900mhz/5ghz ptp and have a 2.4 card to service the area at 36dbm and a third card 900 ptp to another neighborhood???? All three in a single enclosure without breaking the FCC rules?????
Thanks.
There's nothing in the FCC rules about cramming multiple radios into one physical enclosure.
I'm not clear the the first part of your question.
MaximumISP
05-01-2008, 04:13 AM
Each card would be considered a separate device and
subject to separate eirp limits as per what their usage is
eirp is not total per enclosure
Has anyone heard anything on a dual or more mini-pci slots? Do they make any product that can hold more than one radio card???
physical
05-02-2008, 08:05 AM
I'm currently doing some work on an Avila GW2348-4
http://www.gateworks.com/products/avila/gw2348-4.php
Its got 4 mini-pci slots
There are also single and 2 slot configurations.
They use xscale processors... so you'd need to find an OS that supports it.
I'm currently working on a custom built (thats what I do)
They have a full SDK available and I've found them a pleasure to work with.
Maybe the community could comment on the quality of these... I just use what the engineer hands me, so I don't know too much about it
BrainSlayer
05-02-2008, 09:42 AM
dd-wrt does support the avila gateworks and if you want it cheaper the Compex WP188 (4 minipci, 533 mhz xscale) is supported by it too. but i like the quality of these gateworks products much more
I've seen those. Those may be the way I go. I was hoping Ubiquiti might be coming out with some. I noticed they had a one slotter where you could install you own card. I'm trying to stay out of compatibility issues with boards versus cards. I figure if they make the cards and boards, that chances are they should work together. Also found Microtik and ADI Engineering Pronghorn stuff, but confused as too what will work with what. Don't want to spend 200 300 or more to find out I've got to start over.
HEY BrainSlayer, are you the same BS over at DD-WRT????
Also recently found Radio Mobile to setup tower sites and study radio waves on your terrain. Just wondering IF anyone else had used this to design a large scale project, and how accurate they felt like their results. I've been able to save pics in it and load in google earth to help me get a sense of my coverage area.
If you've used it, please share your thoughts. If you haven't you should try it. It free just google it(Radio Mobile) I've been using it about a month. It allows pretnd radio towers. and you can see your link and relative strength at remote end.
BrainSlayer
05-02-2008, 01:35 PM
I've seen those. Those may be the way I go. I was hoping Ubiquiti might be coming out with some. I noticed they had a one slotter where you could install you own card. I'm trying to stay out of compatibility issues with boards versus cards. I figure if they make the cards and boards, that chances are they should work together. Also found Microtik and ADI Engineering Pronghorn stuff, but confused as too what will work with what. Don't want to spend 200 300 or more to find out I've got to start over.
HEY BrainSlayer, are you the same BS over at DD-WRT????
Of course. there is just one BS around the world and yes its me the good old German DD-WRT Developer. i hope that ubnt is releasing a own multiple card board too in future. but the first step will definitly the LSX. i got one prototype shipped and already prepared dd-wrt for it. the performance is great so far. i added now also support for the frequency mappings of XR7,9,3,4 cards (and SR9) for all boards.
Radio Mobile
Been using it about six years now.
Its very effective...IF you know how to use it. Its not intuitive on how it works and the results can be misleading if you don't correctly use it.
Imagine bumping into you here. I seen your site on the Ubiquiti product support. I'm in there with ya man. I've been using dd on some linksys just tinkering I guess. And it works great. I've been wanting to get enough knowledge together to do this rural project. Unless they show me a more than one port board, I'll be buying one of the gate boxes at your store. Hey do you push external enclosures, ants, etc over there, or can you recommend some to me. Or send privately if needed. I will definitely be giving you some of my money this year. I prefer to buy from here in the states to save shipping, but I'd like to buy most of it together without giving both arms. Not cheap but decent bang for buck. Did you say the 900 is supported or soon coming? You always seem busy over at your site. I know your testing writing testing etc. So I hate to bug you with questions about what it's going to take to put this together. So maybe some of the gate boxes for my access points/ptp and the ubi stuff for cpe? I noticed some free downloads for the ubi stuff. I want your professional releases when they are ready. If you need I tester. Let me know. So maybe LSX is around the corner? Highly interested in LSX with one of the 900 card support. I'm fired up on what your doing man. Keep up the great work.
BrainSlayer
05-03-2008, 03:05 AM
we do support the xr9/sr9 since the beginning, just the frequency mapping was implemented this week. but with manual selection it was already working before. for gateworks you may contact gateworks directly. they are offering indoor and outdoor enclosures and they do preinstall and preactivate our firmware as well. microcom.us does sell it as well as far as i know.
i expect the final release in the next days or maybe today. i just need todo some final tests. tomorrow i will fly to san francisco to start a small vacation and i will take some time to visit the ubiquiti hq as well.
hubernite
05-06-2008, 04:16 PM
It is disappointing that there doesn't seem to be an SBC family that offers a low-cost single mini pci and a higher cost 4 mini pci version that uses the same processor and have enough juice to run the highest powered ubiquiti radios.
Having to deal with only one firmware image (preferably Linux) would be nice. Even the Compex WP54 has a different cpu than Compex WP188!
rarbolay
05-23-2008, 05:42 AM
Surprised that no one has mentioned routerboard products for his application. I currenly use RB532s and RB311s, they are multiple PCI card boards. I also have an RB600 that will be deploying soon. I have used rb52s,sr5s xr5s, sr9s and xr9s on those boards with no problems.
I've been able to save pics in it and load in google earth to help me get a sense of my coverage area.
In my area of Texas, Google Earth pictures are several years old judging by it not showing known new construction. Virtual Earth is more up to date.
You can view VE images with same functionality as GE at http://maps.live.com and do a side by side comparison at http://www.jonasson.org/maps
gmeden
05-29-2008, 04:12 AM
I've used several boards, soekris (4826,4526) w/pebble,voyage, and metrix pyramid OS's, (debian linux variants). Pronghorn w/Ikarus OS, gateworks w/dd-wrt, mikrotik w/routerOS. Most all have performed pretty well with the exception of the Pronghorn/Ikarus combo, that OS has issues with routing and unexpected erratic drops in xmit power output (I've seen it drop 10dB for no reason). The gateworks boards are very compact and, so far, have performed quite well ( I also have the 4 card model). I've heard it said that it's not advisable to mix cards on the same board but I've done it on the soekris and mikrotik boards and not had any problems. The soekris boards are a little more expensive than most but you have more flexibility using open source software. In summation, if I were to start all over again knowing what I know now, I'd have to say Mikrotik, it's got features in the software that are the most comprehensive of any I've used with a nice gui to control parameters ( I haven't used maybe 10% of its capabilities). Hats off to BS, yours is an admirable and quality distro!
BrainSlayer
06-10-2008, 04:28 PM
I've used several boards, soekris (4826,4526) w/pebble,voyage, and metrix pyramid OS's, (debian linux variants). Pronghorn w/Ikarus OS, gateworks w/dd-wrt, mikrotik w/routerOS. Most all have performed pretty well with the exception of the Pronghorn/Ikarus combo, that OS has issues with routing and unexpected erratic drops in xmit power output (I've seen it drop 10dB for no reason). The gateworks boards are very compact and, so far, have performed quite well ( I also have the 4 card model). I've heard it said that it's not advisable to mix cards on the same board but I've done it on the soekris and mikrotik boards and not had any problems. The soekris boards are a little more expensive than most but you have more flexibility using open source software. In summation, if I were to start all over again knowing what I know now, I'd have to say Mikrotik, it's got features in the software that are the most comprehensive of any I've used with a nice gui to control parameters ( I haven't used maybe 10% of its capabilities). Hats off to BS, yours is an admirable and quality distro!
thank you and it will get even better in future
EmziR
08-05-2009, 03:44 AM
Hi!
smells slightly bad
