I'd like to see Star-OS with the Virtual AP feature, it the most important
to support today.
Mikrotik, has a lot of features, but its GUI is very confusing to
understand, and to difficult for a novice to just configure at a glance.
STAROS on the other hand, I could understand how to configure it after about
5 minutes of playing around.
However, the other big thing Mikrotik has today is being both the software
and hardware vendor able to bundle its product. Basically you buy the
hardware and the imbedded OS is FREE. How can you compete with free.
I'd argue that Star OS could based on the value of its simplicity.
1) Virtual-AP, is required. That will be nive when it arrives.
The other two things that I think would help, that Mikrotik can do, would
be...
2) Ability to handle large packets above 1500 bytes. (optional method of
passing VLAN, than currently supported method)
3) A speed test compatible with thirdparty speedtests. Right now Mikrotik
boasts NStreme, but requires it to be on client and AP. What if features
were added that added value for using STAR OS with any standard based
product. For example if Iperf, was standard on every STAR OS CPE and AP,
reliable performance tests could be performed from the cell site Linux
routers (or anywhere on the network) to each CPE/Subscriber, regardless of
what AP was used, or vice versa regardless of what CPE was used if testing
from customer to AP. It would allow a standard testing tool across any
point of a WISP network, direct to the device that needs testing to, to
locate bottle necks and week points, and respond to and confirm customer
complaints. Its not that I don't value StarOS's proprietary AP to CPE speed
test, its jsut that I want something that is consistent on my network to
rely on, regardless of what gear is used where. I'd easilly pay $40 for CPE
software, if it gave me that testing feature, over a FREE CPE OS, such as
Mikrotik. But what if Mikrotik offers it first? I ahve found that both
developers/manufacturers ahve not been open to that suggestion, as they tend
to want to right value add features, that, lock the purchaser into using
both the AP and CPE on an ongoing basis, apposed to giving them a reason to
use another product somewhere in the equation. But I disagree. Opening a
standardized product (wifi) up to a better more open standardization
product, is in line with the goal of the purcahsers that are purchasing it.
And as a result, they'd chosethat product. Being the one that gives them
choice, indirectly make them chose that product instead of the choice. Just
my 2 cents.
Tom DeReggi
RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc
IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Hendry" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "'WISPA General List'" <wireless@wispa.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 4:26 AM
Subject: RE: [WISPA] Experience with 802.11a 5Ghz PtMP deployments
Only compatibility issues with StarOS we have seen was with 2.4GHz and was
to do with long/short pre-amble however this issue has now been fixed. I
believe the next release of StarOS will also have the "Virtual AP" feature
so as long as you don't have to change too much too soon the software
should
be ready for you.
One thing I would like to see is a straight comparison between Mikrotik
using N-Streme and StarOS as part of N-Streme is it's ability to poll. Of
course if you use N-Streme then you are stuck with having Mikrotik as both
AP and client but as normally install StarOS at the client site anyway. I
have heard 2 different views on polling with some saying that it overcomes
hidden node but impacts throughput and others saying that hidden node
doesn't really exist in 802.11a networks and collisions are overcome
because
of the greater performance you can get without polling. I wish I had a
spare
AP with 100 test clients so I could compare but I guess I'll just have to
hope enough people share there experiences with both technologies ;)
Cheers,
P.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Tom DeReggi
Sent: 09 January 2006 23:37
To: WISPA General List
Subject: Re: [WISPA] Experience with 802.11a 5Ghz PtMP deployments
Matt,
The primary advise I'd add is, Test the various encryption compatibility
betwee nTranzeo and StarOs, before getting to many clients on-net.
We found some compatibilities some CPEs and Star OS at a couple of our
jobs.
It was a pain to experiement n a live network when we risked locking us
out
of the subscriber's CPE. I really like the StarOS Menu Interface, because
it is so easy and clear. However one of the big reasons we chose Mikrotik
for our standard for Wifi APs now is that the Mikrotik supported virtual
APs, allowing us to setup multiple encryptions configurations at the same
time, so it was easy to setup a test configuration and slowly move
customers
over without risking downtime for the subscribers.
Also, to get top modulation, don't hesitate to add plenty of margin on the
CPE antenna gain, good SNR is key to getting the high speeds of the higher
modulations.
The conversion should be a peice of cake for you because you are going
from
2.4G wifi to 5.8G wifi, and already aware of the Wifi limitation that are
shared between the two similar technologies.
Others have pointed out to me that disabling connection tracking on the
AP,
greatly increases throughput of the AP. We also found the WRAP board to be
a
hardware limitation to increasing cellsite speeds.
5.8G isn't going to survice nearly as well as 2.4G will on links that you
were pushing LOS and trying to power way through trees and foliage.
However, 5.8G has half the freznel zone height, so you don't have to be
quite as high above the tree line as 2.4G to squeze in a link.
Tom DeReggi
RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc
IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt Larsen - Lists" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <wireless@wispa.org>;
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 4:10 PM
Subject: [WISPA] Experience with 802.11a 5Ghz PtMP deployments
Hello all,
I am getting ready to start migrating my higher end customers from 2.4Ghz
to 5.8Ghz radios. I will be using Tranzeo CPEs and StarOS APs for this.
My question: Is there anyone out there who has done this and has quite a
few people on 5ghz (802.11a based)? I'm not talking about Canopy or
Trango, just 802.11a.
I'd like to know what kind of speeds are deliverable, number of clients
per access point, preferred pricing plans for bandwidth and any snafus
that have come up. I'm hoping to avoid snafus if possible by knowing as
much as I can before deploying.
Right now we have about ten people on our system between three access
points and plan on migrating another 50 over. The furthest person at 7
miles (using a 26db grid antenna), and I would like to cover a range of 4
to 8 miles per 5Ghz cell.
Any input is appreciated. I will make sure and submit the results of my
implementation project in another month or so.
Matt Larsen
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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