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

[Bill Comisky]

I have nothing vested in soekris, if something else works as well and is 
cheaper, all the better.  I didn't realize the 4826-50 had the same 
processor... though I think the 4526 processor is perfectly adequate for 
what we're asking of it.  So compared to what I'm using now (4526) the 
price delta of $20 is still valid.  That is by no means neligible, and you 
get the bonus of a faster processor.

As for flash card prices the quantity pricing from pcengines seems to be 
about the market low:  64MB for $10.50, 128MB for $13.00 (though out of 
stock)

bill

--
Bill Comisky
bcomisky at pobox.com


On Wed, 16 Mar 2005, Patrick wrote:

> Don't kill the messenger, but ... our cost analysis is more like a $65
> savings per unit.
>
> We used an apples to apples comparison (i.e., SOEKRIS 4826-50 with
> identical CPU ... 266 MHz National Geode ... and memory 128 MB and single
> LAN port). In a lot of 10-19 the SOEKRIS price is $186. When we ordered
> directly from PCEngines, we specified WRAP.2C w/ 1 LAN and 128 MB SDRAM
> (even though our very tight linux kernel only requires 8 MB and it is a
> dual radio router with cross radio routing on board to interconnect the
> 11a backhaul links with the 11b/g AP links). In a lot of 10, the PCEngines
> price is $110.
>
> QED about $65 dollars in savings. (with a $10 CF memory).
>
> In addition, PCEngines has been more professional and helpful with support
> (translation ... they don't seem to jerk us around like SOEKRIS has done
> ... so far).
>
> -Patrick
>
>> 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
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> CU-Wireless-Dev mailing list
>>> CU-Wireless-Dev at lists.cuwireless.net
>>> http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/cu-wireless-dev
>>>
>>
>
>