[CUWiN-Dev] equipment purchase options

[Bob Ney]

I am not sure what price everyone is getting 3 foot jumpers for,
but I have a large pile of 48 inch N-male jumpers. They are made of
Andrew FSJ4-50 1/2" Heliax with outdoor rated N connectors. I use these
in my own installations, but I have far more of them than I will ever need.
I can let these go for $10.00 each plus shipping to anyone who would like
some.

-----Original Message-----
From: cu-wireless-dev-bounces at lists.cuwireless.net
[mailto:cu-wireless-dev-bounces at lists.cuwireless.net]On Behalf Of Jim
Thompson
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2005 3:22 PM
To: Sascha Meinrath
Cc: cu-wireless-dev at cuwireless.net; Jamie Thompson; Bill Hallett
Subject: Re: [CUWiN-Dev] equipment purchase options


On Thu, 31 Mar 2005, Daniel McLeod wrote:
Sascha Meinrath wrote:

>
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I am a member of non-specialist community group interested in
>> starting a network in Massachusetts.  I have compiled a list of
>> equipment for a node and am hoping to get feedback on whether or not
>> these are the best options.  I have included a link to each item and
>> specific questions are indicated by a "Q".
>>
>> Any suggestions would be much appreciated and apologies if this is
>> the wrong forum for such inquiry!
>>
>> Best, Daniel
>>
>> ****
>
>>
>> Draft Equipment Purchase List:
>>
>> 1.  Single Board Computer:  Soekris Engineering net4526-30 board
>>    More info: http://www.soekris.com/net4526.htm
>>
>> 2.  Wireless NIC:  CM9 802.11 a/b/g
>>    Info: http://metrix.net/metrix/products/radios/
>>
>> 3.  Enclosure: NEMA-4x
>>    Info: http://metrix.net/metrix/products/enclosures
>>    Q: What dimensions are needed:  2.3" x 6.3" x 6.3" OR 3.5" x 6.3"
>> x 6.3"
>
>
> Either one will work -- if you're planning to add a second radio
> (e.g., for WAP services), you may want the larger one.  You may also
> want to look into the WRAP-based systems -- several folks on this list
> have good things to say about them.

Some folks on the list even sell such things, and offer a 10% discount
to "community wireless" groups.
(CUWIN and Danie's group in Massachusetts both qualify.)

For instance, the 4526-30 ($152), Metrix CM9 ($75), Metrix enclosure
($46 with the backing plate) total
to $273.   Soekris prices the 4826-50 at $200.  The 4826-50 is the
equivalent of the WRAP (266MHz CPU).
Metrix sells the 4826-40 (233MHz CPU) for $177 (same price as Soekris).

You'll also need one or two pigtails (u.fl to something weather-proof
that mates to your RF cable or antenna).  Metrix sells these for $20.
We're at $293 for the parts from Metrix (4526-40 from Soekris).  Metrix
will kit all this together as a Metrix "Mark I" (with a Ethernet cable
gland, and a 4826 rather than a 4526, which is a step up) for $275, or
$250 if you're one of their "community partners".   Note that you'll
still need to supply POE (Metrix sells this for $30), so you're at $280
from Metrix for board, enclosure, pigtail POE injector, and radio card.

On the other hand, Netgate will sell you the CM9 for $70 (Community
wireless discount applies, so its $63)
http://www.netgate.com/product_info.php?products_id=126&osCsid=f9d38100863f1
051ef67c38096aedc8b

The u.fl to N connector pigtail for $14 (-$1.40, for $12.60), etc.

Or, we'll put it all together with a wrap board, outdoor case, 5.5dBi
antennas (yes 2), POE injector, power supply, 64MB CF card, etc.
Basically everything but the outdoor Ethernet cable, for $299.95.
http://www.netgate.com/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=158

On the kits (since we discount them against the raw parts), we offer
community wireless groups the "next tier" pricing, so q1-9 on this would
be $293.95, q10-49 would be $278.95, etc.

In other words, the head-to-head pricing is pretty neck-n-neck.   There
are differences

The net4826 (and 4526) have a soldered-on CF module.  This means you
have to PXE boot to get the OS on.
    Not a big deal (there are several 'recipies' on the net), but it may
be a consideration for you.
The WRAP boards all have a slide-out CF card.

Metrix pre-loads "pebble linux" on the Soekris board for you.   Netgate
pre-loads m0n0wall (recent version that will run the Atheros cards.)

Metrix supplies type 'N' antenna connectors, Netgate supplies RP-N.
We'll be changing to 'N' over time.

The netgate product has 2 antenna connectors, which means you can run
diversity.   If you only want to run
one antenna, however, you'll have to cap one of these.

If you're deploying in an environment with a non-trivial amount of
multipath, having receive *and* transmit diversity on both ends may be
worth more than the extra 5dBi of (receive and transmit) antenna gain.
Its hard to make a judgement call while knowing *nothing* about your
deployment environment.   Still, if switched diversity supplies the same
(or better) performance, you won't need the 8dBi antenna(s), or the
LMR-400 jumper(s).

Metrix doesn't supply antennas (and frankly, given your shopping list,
you won't be using the ones we supply).   The extra 2.5dBi of antenna
gain may matter to you, and it may not.  See above.

The Netgate outdoor case is cast aluminum and doesn't require a "backing
plate" to mount the WRAP board.  The Metrix case is injection-molded
plastic, and isn't purpose-built, so it does need a backing plate.
Technically either solutions is fine, unless time and inventory are
considerations.

Netgate delivers a 266MHz CPU, Metrix delivers a 233MHz CPU.   12.5%
more clockspeed may or may not make a difference in your application.

If you want to add a second radio, the same unit is available with
either 2 CM9s or a CM9 and a 200mW 2511MP
for $399 (CW still buys at the next tier, so its $391.95 to you.)   When
you add a second radio to the Metrix kits, you get a "Mark II".   Here
Metrix also bundles 50' of outdoor Cat5, the POE module, second radio
and second pigtail and prices it at $500, or $450 to community wireless
groups.

If you buy the 50' outdoor Cat5 cable from Metrix for  $30, and add it
to the dual-radio Netgate kits, you're still $30 ahead (and you've got 2
5.5dBi/7.2dBi (2.4GHz/5.7GHz) antennas already, which may discount the
requirement for the 8dBi fiberglass omni you've quoted (below), saving
you a bit more cash.

>> 4.  Antenna: HGV-2409U
>>    Info: http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/hg2409u.php
>
Not very different from
http://www.netgate.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_33&products_id=66

Hyperlink priced this at $49.95, our (CW) price is $43.

>> 5.  Antenna Cable: LMR-400
>>    Info:
>> http://www.wiredzone.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=30973787&source=froogle
>>    Q: How many feet are needed per node?
>
>
> A 3-foot jumper should be plenty.


The link Daniel gave is priced at $102.40.   The netgate equivalent is
http://www.netgate.com/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=131
which we price at $65.

A 4' version is
http://www.netgate.com/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=88
priced at $17

>
>> 6.  Mount: Radio Shack Chimney Mount (cat no 15-839)
>>    Info:
>> http://www.radioshack.com/search.asp?find=chimney+mount&hp=search&SRC=1
>
Can't help ya.

>> 7.  Grounding: Gas-discharge Lightning Arrestor RFLSP3-350-BFF
>>    Info:
>>
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:3uJQ1smbAyMJ:www.rflinx.com/Cables-Conn
ectors-LAR/Lightning_Arrestors_Main.htm+gas+discharge++lightning+arrestor&hl
=en&ie=UTF-8
>>
>
We don't have a better price, but the same unit is:
http://www.netgate.com/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=49

>> 8.  Outdoor Cable: CAT5E Patch Cord Molded W/Boot & Bubble
>>    Info:
>>
http://www.cyberxlink.com/shop/product_info.php/cPath/33_42_130/products_id/
505
>>
>>    Q: How Many Ft./Node are needed?
>
>
> We use a 75' run as our standard -- it's long enough to get most
> places we need.
>
>> 9.  PoE Injector: Model PS4820-POE
>>   Info: http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/ps4820-poe.php
>
several listed on
http://www.netgate.com/index.php?cPath=24

but the correct one is included in the "PowerG8 WRAP-CM9"

Sorry this is so commercial.  I've tried to be completely fair in the
comparison, pointing out options, even from other vendors where they
have an advantage.

jim


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