[CUWiN-Dev] Re: Node Specifications ...

[Bill Comisky]

To quantify:

http://soekris.com/how_to_buy.htm
net4526-30: 133 Mhz CPU, 64 Mbyte SDRAM, 1 Ethernet, 1 Serial, 64 Mbyte CF 
Flash, 2 Mini-PCI sockets, PoE.
$136 in quantity of 20

WRAP2C: 266 MHz National Geode SC1100 CPU, 64MB SDRAM, 1 Ethernet, 2 
mini-PCI, PoE, serial?, [ no builtin flash ]
$107.50 in quantity of 20 (includes lot charge)

Very similar specs all around (I know nothing about the CPU differences). 
So assuming a 64MB flash card can be had for <$10, that's about $20 
savings per node for the WRAP2C over a net4526-30.

The die-cast outdoor boxes look cool, maybe some additional savings there 
if you can do without the LMR/other cable and connect the antenna directly 
to a bulkhead connector on the box as shown in pics of boxes here: 
http://www.mini-box.com/s.nl/c.ACCT127230/sc.8/category.19/.f

or

http://www.pcengines.ch/wrapbox.pdf

Bill

--
Bill Comisky
bcomisky at pobox.com


On Wed, 16 Mar 2005, Sascha Meinrath wrote:

> it probably doesn't make sense to introduce a new variable for the city 
> (which is only buying 10 nodes).  but i would definitely like to hear more 
> about what folks think about the WRAP.2C boards.  pricing is indeed a good 
> bit cheaper than soekris boards -- see:
>
> http://www.pcengines.ch/order1.php?c=4
>
> what do folks think about this option?  also, the WRAP box is also quite 
> impressive.  so the big question is, is there a reason why CUWiN's software 
> shouldn't work on this?
>
> with this system we're be hovering close to the sub-$200 mark for nodes.
>
> thoughts?
>
> --sascha
>
> On Wed, 16 Mar 2005, Patrick wrote:
>
>>  Regarding message: 5 (copied below) ... we think you might want to
>>  consider using WRAP.2C router boards (instead of SOEKRIS) together with
>>  the mini-box enclosure kits.
>> 
>>  We just got a batch of (10) WRAP.2C boards yesterday (purchased & shipped
>>  directly from PCEngines in Switzerland). We loaded the same software
>>  (linux) as we are using on the SOEKRIS 4826-50 boards and ... it works
>>  great ... no changes needed.
>> 
>>  The WRAP boards are a lot less expensive, and, the mini-box kit is about
>>  the same cost but way better than anything we've found. Check out the
>>  following review:
>>  http://socalfreenet.org/wrapbox
>> 
>>  You may want to consider different coax cable, too because the LMR400 is
>>  overly industrial grade in our opinion. As long as the cable run between
>>  the radio card and the antennas is short, you'll get about the same RF
>>  performance.
>> 
>>  -Patrick
>
> -- 
> Sascha Meinrath
> President                 *   Project Coordinator   *   Policy Analyst
> Acorn Worker Collective  ***  CU Wireless Network  ***  Free Press
> www.acorncollective.com   *   www.cuwireless.net    *   www.freepress.net
>
>
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