SkyPilot using NS5

[kragsdale]

Just got an email from SkyPilot telling me about their new SkyConnector Mini and SkyConnector Pro. What do you know, they are NS and PS 5s!

MSRP (singles) are $299/$599, so you pay a premium for the firmware. Could this explain why they've been hard to get lately?

Kevin

[MaximumISP]

Now that is interesting seems others are creating their own proprietary motorola killers using the ubiquiti gear lol!

I downloaded the canopy product compairison brochure for a read
interesting ...They are stricktly sms so of course it requires their Aps still

[Contelsia]

Hello everybody,

I received an email from Skypilot showing its new product, the Mini Skypilot Connector, and is like a Nano Station 5.

Do you know if I could put the firmware of a Connector Mini to aNano Station for use with Skypilot?

A greeting.

[randy]

Firmware to upgrade NS5/PS5/Loco5/Bullet5 to SkyPilot SyncMesh is available now: http://www.skypilot.com/newsevents/pr/pr_2008_12_10.php

Each device needs a $99 key.

[laser3]

yep they had them up on their site for about 2 months now. Sputnik are doing the samething with the Nano's & the Powers Station, just goes to show how Robust these things really are.....not all we need is some good open soucre Plug & play mesh firmware, self configuring & self healing that won't cost an arm and a leg....is UBNT listening :wink:

[WHT]

"Ya dun't say" <-- Texian for Latin "Nolo commentarius"

[jaf]

Firmware to upgrade NS5/PS5/Loco5/Bullet5 to SkyPilot SyncMesh is available now: http://www.skypilot.com/newsevents/pr/pr_2008_12_10.php

Each device needs a $99 key.

A few questions:

1. Does this means that we need to upgrade all our radio's (including the AP's) with the firmware so that it will work together or do we need to use their SkyGateway or SkyExtender?

2. Has anybody trial this in a Point-to-multipoint scenario? What is your comment/feedback?

3. Why can't UBNT come up with a solution to do Synchronous TDD transmission control like the SkyPilot SyncMesh for those that want it (price it differently if need be).

4. Or, is there anyone who is willing to work on this as an alternative firmware on an OSS path? Would like to hear from parties willing to work on it.

But, fantastic..... KUDOS to UBNT.... it shows that their hardware ROCKS!
I love the UBNT interface. SIMPLE. Hate to use another firmware.....hint... hint...

:wink:

[rconaway]

1. Does this means that we need to upgrade all our radio's (including the AP's) with the firmware so that it will work together or do we need to use their SkyGateway or SkyExtender?

You have to use the SkyPilot Gateway at minimum on the node. Extenders are optional. You must be pointed to one of these radios.

2. Has anybody trial this in a Point-to-multipoint scenario? What is your comment/feedback?

Haven't tested it yet but I don't see it working any different than their current SkyConnector Product. We have several of those functioning now.

3. Why can't UBNT come up with a solution to do Synchronous TDD transmission control like the SkyPilot SyncMesh for those that want it (price it differently if need be).

SkyPilot has gone through something like 70 million dollars in funding. That buys a lot of software development capabilities.

4. Or, is there anyone who is willing to work on this as an alternative firmware on an OSS path? Would like to hear from parties willing to work on it.

I am not sure that the processors in the NS5 or the HP series could support the full mesh from SkyPilot. However, I'm only guessing based on my experience with the product. Maybe someone more familiar with the processors on the Gateways/Extenders could respond.

Keep in mind that this fimware takes a performance hit on throughput. Max throughput between an Extender and Gateway is about 13Mbps with a 54Mbps modulation rate. I don't know if that's processor overhead or not. I do know that hitting a Gateway/Extender with an excessive amount of UDP traffic can slow the processor down on the connection speed. I think that with this mesh firmware that the maximum you will ever see is about 16Mbps.

This is one area where the maturity of the firmware and the development dollars behind it definitely shows. If you were a WISP and needed a stable wireless network with an LOS of less than 5 miles and 50 clients or so set up randomly in a 360 degree pattern and 13Mbps was sufficient, I would throw a SkyPilot Gateway up in a heartbeart. Total cost about $12K and no firmware issues. Totally stable and full AES security.

Can it be done cheaper. Sure it can. Hardware costs with a full Ubiquiti setup would run $6000 or so but there would be more labor for support over time. That's where you have to make your decision.

I would say that if a Bullet5HP would run in Extender mode, then my choices would be a lot harder. I would run a Gateway in a heartbeat if I could relay through the Bullet5HP in Extender mode. That puts my cost at $200 per radio/antenna with the Gateway running $4K or so and a totally stable, far-reaching infrastructure.

[jaf]

Hi rconway,

1) How much is the cost of the Skypilot Gateway?

2) Max throughput between Gateway and Extender is 13mbps. What about MeshClient to Gateway or Extender?

thanks

[rconaway]

1) SkyGateway's retail around $4800, wholesale about $3300. However, there may be a lot of them on the used market since the collapse of MetroFi. I bought some equipment from them at severly reduced pricing.

2) Max bandwidth at a Gateway is about 13Mbps but I suspect there is possibly a little more left in there. Extender to Gateway is 13Mbps. However, max bandwidth for a client or another Extender talking to the Extender talking to the Gateway is about 4-5Mbps. The mesh takes a 50% hit or more every hop. If you don't need all the antennas turned on, which is a huge feature upgrade with firmware 1.5 something, then you get close to 50% hit instead of more with each hop if you turn off more antennas.

The biggest feature of SkyPilot is the omni-directional long range. I have radios running 10 miles and I see links even further. The hardware/firmware is entirely stable. I have whole networks that I haven't touched in 2 years other than firmware upgrades.