Considering BulletM5 PTP link - 12 miles. Is it ready?

[jacobsuter]

I've currently got a 11.9 mile clear LOS 802.11A/40mhz link, pac 28 dBi grid dishes on both ends, getting about 30Mbit TCP with Mikrotik w/ nstream on R52H's. I currently get a -66 dBm signal off this setup - technically it should be much better but I suspect my ufl pigtails are crap and I've been told the R52H isn't a very good card.

I have regular problems with the Routerboards ('kernel failure' reboots, 493AH's if you're wondering) we're currently using on this link and I'd very much like to improve the throughput, and he BulletM5 looks like a viable option. I've done some limited testing with the BulletM2, and am very impressed with the performance. I have a few questions:

1. Should I be able to expect 60-70mbit TCP throughput at 12 miles with similar settings (40 mhz)

2. Can I expect latency to stay reasonably low (sub-15ms) at say, 80% of link capacity (right now, the nstream link generally pings around 1.5ms unless I'm over 90% capacity then it creeps up to 40-55ms average)

3. Will it get more than 4-24 hours uptime before it randomly spazzes out and drops/spontaneous reboots/goes-on-a-reconnect-fit like my Mikrotik setup does? :D

I'm choosing the BulletM5 at this point due to not being able to budget in the $350 worth of replacement antennas at this point. If I can get a way to disable one of the MIMO chains on the RocketM5 I'd very much prefer to purchase them instead (I do intend to upgrade to a 2x2 setup for these links eventually)

Thanks!

[Dave-D]

Jacob, you can't disable a Rocket chain
now, but it seems to be in the works for
firmware 5.1--due in a few weeks.

I would plan to use the Rocket.

But you have a long high-speed link
(clearly high-value) and you can't
budget $350? That's pocket change,
compared to the cost of changing
and setting up any new equipment.

Is your time worth nothing? Dave

[Flo]

Hi,

I've currently got a 11.9 mile clear LOS 802.11A/40mhz link, pac 28 dBi grid dishes on both ends, getting about 30Mbit TCP with Mikrotik w/ nstream on R52H's. I currently get a -66 dBm signal off this setup - technically it should be much better but I suspect my ufl pigtails are crap and I've been told the R52H isn't a very good card.

I have regular problems with the Routerboards ('kernel failure' reboots, 493AH's if you're wondering) we're currently using on this link and I'd very much like to improve the throughput, and he BulletM5 looks like a viable option. I've done some limited testing with the BulletM2, and am very impressed with the performance. I have a few questions:

1. Should I be able to expect 60-70mbit TCP throughput at 12 miles with similar settings (40 mhz)
I guess: 30Mbit/s++ TCP throughput with 10+ parallel streams should be possible, if you're not transmitting in a noisy environment.


2. Can I expect latency to stay reasonably low (sub-15ms) at say, 80% of link capacity (right now, the nstream link generally pings around 1.5ms unless I'm over 90% capacity then it creeps up to 40-55ms average)
I guess: With AirMax off maybe up to 25% capacity, with AirMax on probably sub-30ms.


3. Will it get more than 4-24 hours uptime before it randomly spazzes out and drops/spontaneous reboots/goes-on-a-reconnect-fit like my Mikrotik setup does? :D
With fw v5.0.2 you should not expect such trouble if you just let the stuff running. :icon_razz:


I'm choosing the BulletM5 at this point due to not being able to budget in the $350 worth of replacement antennas at this point. If I can get a way to disable one of the MIMO chains on the RocketM5 I'd very much prefer to purchase them instead (I do intend to upgrade to a 2x2 setup for these links eventually)

Thanks!

Just pre-configure it with the correct data, mount it and report us,

-Florian

[Dave-D]

He doesn't want 30Mbps, Florian--
he wants 60-70Mbps. I suggest
he use Rockets and Rocket
dishes with full 2X2 MIMO. Dave

[jacobsuter]

Jacob, you can't disable a Rocket chain
now, but it seems to be in the works for
firmware 5.1--due in a few weeks.

I would plan to use the Rocket.

But you have a long high-speed link
(clearly high-value) and you can't
budget $350? That's pocket change,
compared to the cost of changing
and setting up any new equipment.

Is your time worth nothing? Dave

This is true, but if you ask my customers bandwidth should be free... *groan*

$550ish total investment for a couple dishes and two rocketM5s, the secondary problem is one tower in the link really has no business holding up a 2 ft solid dish. It's within specifications, but we have weather that occasionally isn't within specifications.

The other end isn't an issue.

I could buy the rocket, buy one dualpol dish, mount it on the 'other end' and use my 28 dbi grids cross-polarized on the weaker tower.

I'll go with that as my "plan" for now.

Now, completely different question: Where can one get their hands on any Nanostation M5's right now in the USA?

[agsweeney]

www.BizSysCon.com shows 72 NanoM5's in stock right now.

[jacobsuter]

www.BizSysCon.com shows 72 NanoM5's in stock right now.

I totally didn't know BSC sold Ubiquiti gear. I thought they just sold old stuff!

[kijoma]

Hi,

We have a large order going in with Mars antennas for their dual pol panel.. lower gain than the dish but the N type sockets are next to each other so ideal for the rocket if you attach the rocket to the back (I have asked Ubiquiti if they would sell the rocket bracket as a seperate item for this kind of thing too).

Will post some results of what we get with these.

The bullet M5 in 40 MHz mode should be happily comparable to the nstreme in speed and 5.02 firmware is solid here.. just make sure you hard set the Ack timing.

30 Mbps TCP the other poster was mentioning is easily got in 20MHz mode alone!

I would post the mars back panel pdf but the forum seems to have a very stingy limit on file sizes, 19.5k for PDF!