We are going to be implementing a couple small 900 POPs by years end and Im product hunting. We are looking between Alvarions new 900 VL, which is my preference because im an Alvarion man.
Im trying to find out specs on canopy gear, and then I want to know the truth.
As I understand it, there is no 900 lite, just 900 standard, DES or AES encryption, Connectorized and integrated, optional interference mitigation filter. 3.3mb signaling rate 3mb aggregate throughput, paid for MAC based software upgradable to 7 mb Canopy advantage. Am I correct in this?
Actual SM throughput is what? Not the moto spec, the truth. How much bandwidth is the AP capable of passing, ie if I have 100 SMs on the AP at 3 mb, Im pretty confident it wont be passing 300mbs on a 100mbs ethernet link. Whats a real AP/SM ratio?
What is a good antenna for both the AP and SM?
What ranges can I realistically expect?
Are there reflectors for 900 gear like the 2.4?
The MAC based software upgrade, can I transfer it when a unit is decomissioned? If so how many times and at what cost?
DES or AES, realistically, what is the 145 dollar advantage?
Software, is it as FUBAR as the canopy releases for 2.4, and does it use the same software for the entire canopy platform? (are all ne releases beta is the question)
Anybody who has tried out the alvarion VL gear, please pipe in on the advantages other than cost to go with canopy.
Any help here would be nice, Im having a hard time finding the data I need and the bosses want me to report back with the data for the decision.
Thanks
Inline
As I understand it, there is no 900 lite, just 900 standard, DES or AES encryption, Connectorized and integrated, optional interference mitigation filter. 3.3mb signaling rate 3mb aggregate throughput, paid for MAC based software upgradable to 7 mb Canopy advantage. Am I correct in this?
Don’t know anything about 7Mbps upgrade on 900. All 900 is already Advantage.
Actual SM throughput is what? Not the moto spec, the truth. How much bandwidth is the AP capable of passing, ie if I have 100 SMs on the AP at 3 mb, Im pretty confident it wont be passing 300mbs on a 100mbs ethernet link. Whats a real AP/SM ratio?
40 to 70 seems to be the max depending on noise levels, and speed offerings.
What is a good antenna for both the AP and SM?
MTI wireless Edge 13dBi 120 degree H-POL Sector on the AP with Yagi’s on the SM.
What ranges can I realistically expect?
Depends on noise floor. We see 15 miles fairly regularly.
Are there reflectors for 900 gear like the 2.4?
The integrated units have a 12dB panel antenna - there is no reflector. Typically I recommend going with connectorized SM’s as it gives you options on antennas. Wireless Beehive just released the 900 super Stinger - a 13dB slip on panel antenna. I have not tested it. M@ makes good Yagi antennas and 13 and 17dBi antennas will give you good performance. If you are real close, an 8dBi panel is a good option. Antenna selection is not specific to Canopy.
The MAC based software upgrade, can I transfer it when a unit is decomissioned? If so how many times and at what cost?
No such animal that I am aware of.
DES or AES, realistically, what is the 145 dollar advantage?
AES is usually for government and will be specifically requested. DES is fine.
Just to add a bit…
thatoneguysteve wrote: 3.3mb signaling rate 3mb aggregate throughput, paid for MAC based software upgradable to 7 mb Canopy advantage. Am I correct in this?
Actual SM throughput is what? Not the moto spec, the truth. How much bandwidth is the AP capable of passing, ie if I have 100 SMs on the AP at 3 mb, Im pretty confident it wont be passing 300mbs on a 100mbs ethernet link. Whats a real AP/SM ratio?
The 900 MHz Canopy stuff only has one “line” like Jerry said, but it has two operating rates depending on signal quality. 2X rate has something like 4.3 Mbps aggregate throughput. We run a 75% downlink ratio and see 3.3 Mbps/1 Mbps on link capacity tests regularly (which tests the RF link between the AP and the SM).
Load-wise it really depends on what service you’re selling - we try to keep our APs under 40 SMs, less if there are a lot of 1X clients. We also rate limit our 1X clients further so that they cannot use as much time on the AP. But, if you want to sell, say, 256 Kbps, the APs can handle about 100 SMs if you rate limit them properly and crank some settings.
thatoneguysteve wrote: Are there reflectors for 900 gear like the 2.4?
Nope, the wave is too big.
thatoneguysteve wrote: The MAC based software upgrade, can I transfer it when a unit is decomissioned? If so how many times and at what cost?
This actually doesn’t apply to the 900 MHz line as there’s just one model, however Motorola has these “floating licenses” that can be used to unlock any radio at any time and are tied to you instead of that SM.
thatoneguysteve wrote: DES or AES, realistically, what is the 145 dollar advantage?
Aside from the military requirements Jerry mentioned, none, really. Canopy uses a proprietary modulation and there are no known sniffers for it other than Motorola’s own gear. It’s pretty rare that “security through obscurity” is actually viable.
thatoneguysteve wrote: Software, is it as FUBAR as the canopy releases for 2.4, and does it use the same software for the entire canopy platform? (are all ne releases beta is the question)
This forum will tell you well
I lurked here for a while before trying 8.2.7, after reading good news I upgraded my whole network and things are running just swimmingly.
i would stay away from alvarion 900
we have a few older sites that have the breeze access 900…and its horrible. the equipment is a PITA, you have to install the radio inside , run lmr400 to a yagi or panel outside ,with a maximum of 50 ft. then run cat5 to the computer, you cant set a channel, the power supplies die ALL the time. It just doesnt hold a candle to canopy for ease of use and reliability.
This isnt Breeze acces 900 its VL platform 900, I havent found anyone whose used it yet.
As far as the Canopy goes though Im being told by the little documentation I can find and the vendors that there is 3mb upgradeable to 7 lite standard and advantage. This is why Im concerned about the moto gear, no clear definition of product.
All 900 is Advantage - always has been. There is no Lite.
At 1X 3Mbps aggregate
At 2X 6Mbps aggregate (theoretical - I’ve never seen it)
Real world you will see ~2-3Mbps down and up to ~1Mbps+ up in 2X/2X, perhaps better. We don’t get 2X/2X links due to noise floor and distances.
Based on the folks I know running very large WISP networks, if there were a better product for the 900 band, we’d be using it.
One thing that has not been mentioned.
GPS sync will allow a much denser deployment and thus more over all bandwidth then the VL solution unless they have developed a similar solution.
How would GPS help in a single POP deployment?
thatoneguysteve wrote: How would GPS help in a single POP deployment?
GPS ensures all your Canopy modules are transmitting and receiving at the same time so you don't have units stepping all over one another for air time. If you have one AP transmitting at the same time as another AP is trying to receive data from an SM, you're going to have self-interference issues.
The result: much denser deployment - you can have up to 6 APs in one cluster, giving you much more aggregate bandwidth per POP.
These are going to likely be stand alone single AP Omni POPs not likely within range of one another.
If we were to add mutlpipe APs at the POP could we just use the timing cable and have one AP generate sync pulse?
With 900’s within 15 miles of each other, you want GPS. The cost-effective solution is to use PacketFlux Sync Pipe Parasitic.