MikroTik RouterBoards: Quick Reference Guide

Jul 212012
 

RB2011iL-RM series:  The letter “i” in the SKU is for “injector”, meaning that LAN port #10 has PoE output function:  It can power other PoE capable devices with the same voltage as applied to the unit.

  • Less power adapters and cables to worry about!
  • Maximum load on the port is 580mA

The following letters after the “base part number” (i.e., RB411 is an example of a “base part number”) mean the following:

H = Faster CPU: Atheros 7161 processor (upgrade from standard)

A = Upgraded memory: More memory than the standard device.

  • Note about H and A, above:  In any case in which you are using a RouterBoard for both WiFi and routing, it is worth buying the RouterBoards with upgraded memory (A in SKU) and/or faster CPU (H in sku)

U = USB A-female port

R = B/G wireless capability is built-in to the RouterBoard

n = Wireless-N capability is built-in to the RouterBoard

G = Gigabit Ethernet port

The second and third numbers in the “base part number” of the 400-series and 700-series items mean the following:

  • The second number is the number of Ethernet ports
  • The third number is the number of MiniPCI card slots.
  • Example: RB433 has 3 ethernet ports & 3 miniPCI card slots

MikroTik’s products provide customers with a range of options from purchasing a complete solution, assembled by MikroTik, to purchasing software licenses and parts that enable the customer to assemble routers and wireless components locally. The user can make a dedicated router based on PC parts and standard interfaces, or purchase a MikroTik Router with MikroTik RouterOS already installed.

22-MILE LINK with true TCP @ 100Mbps
One of our customers set up a 22 mile link with Mikrotik RB411AHs with R52HN radios connected to dual polarity Ubiquiti 30DdBi dish antennas. The link has true TCP throughput over 100Mbps. The link it replaced with similar single polarity dish antennas had about 10 Mbps. (Feb 2011)

Custom/Turnkey Assembly of MikroTik Components:   Data Alliance provides turnkey assembly / manufacturing, such as installing RouterBoards’ compatible compoents and mounting in enclosures and antenna-enclosures.

 Posted by at 3:28 pm MikroTik Tagged with:  Comments Off on MikroTik RouterBoards: Quick Reference Guide

Comparison of RB/750GL, RB/750, RB/450G & RB/450

Jul 212012
 

RB750-series models cost about $25 less than the RB450-series models

The “G” versions cost about $25 more than the non-G versions

RB750G reached end-of-life in 2011 and was replaced by RB750GL.

RB450G & RB450 have Level5 license and RB750GL has Level4

Graphical configuration interface options: All RouterBoards can be configured using Winbox interface (GUI) and web GUI

RB750G & RB750GL come in a plastic case while RB450G & RB450’s case is sold separately and is steel

Power Supplies

  • All four models have built-in Power over Ethernet, on Ethernet port1
  • RB750G & RB750 also include an AC/DC power supply adapter
  • RB450G & RB450 do not include an AC/DC power supply adapter (sold separately)

RB450G & RB450 have the following & RB750G & RB750 do not have these features:

  • More RAM
  • Serial port
  • Voltage monitor
  • MicroSD card slot

 

RB450G adds the following features to RB450 features:  

          Gigabit speed capability 256Mb of RAM Faster CPU microSD card slot for file storage

 

RB750GL adds the following features to RB750 features:

         Gigabit capable ports SDRAM onboard memory is 64MB rather than 32MB

RB750GL is the upgrade from RB750, which is at end-of-life in 2011

 

PPoE client / DSL client: All four models can be used as a PPoE client: Solve limitations/restrictions of DSL modems, simplify, & save IPs

“ Reduce number of public IP addresses required by 1 or 2.

“ Assign your 1 public/static IP to this router rather than your DSL router

“ Enable RDP access behind DSL modems that block RDP (Terminal Services / RDC), such as Qwest ActionTek (PK5000 & others)

“Put your ActionTek DSL modem into Transparent Bridging mode, and the MikroTik RouterBoard can take over all routing & firewall functions from the DSL modem. This greatly simplifies your network topology – you won’t have to configure your DSL router or having any troubleshooting problems with it.

 Posted by at 3:25 pm MikroTik Tagged with: ,  Comments Off on Comparison of RB/750GL, RB/750, RB/450G & RB/450

MikroTik RouterOS & Graphical Configuration Tool

Jul 212012
 

RouterBoards have two graphical user interface options:

WinBox.exe:

Sophisticated GUI with which you can completely configure all interfaces and settings: Router, firewall, LAN, PPPoE, etc.

Download here (Windows version). There is also a Linux version. It’s very light on your PC because it calls software from within the RouterBoard.

Defaults: IP address of the router on ether2 (LAN interface): 192.168.88.1 UserID: admin Password: admin

Click “Connect” and the interface immediately pops up with a long menu of config options on the left side.

Documentation (full): How to use WinBox

PPPoE client (DSL client-router) configuration. Qwest customers can reduce number of public IP addresses required by 1 or 2

Web interface:

Web interface mode has very limited configuration options – very basic configuration.

Defaults: IP address of the router on ether2 (LAN interface): 192.168.88.1 UserID: admin Password: (blank)

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Macintosh compatibility & support – wireless / WiFi USB adapters & cards

Jul 212012
 

The best WiFi USB adapter for Macintosh is  Alfa AWUS036NHR

The best site to find drivers for Macintosh for wireless /WiFi USB adapters and cards is madwifi.org.

We do our best to support Mac users by posting relevant information to our Wiki Macintosh category:   Whenever we gain some new information regarding Mac compatibility with a certain USB adapter or chipset, we post that information in our Wiki Mac support section

Much of the information on these pages is relevant to Mac users:

  Set-up & troubleshooting of wireless USB adapters & cards

  Network setup / settings

Mac OS 10.6.7 compatibility with Alfa WiFi adapters:  AWUS036H and AWUS036EW are not compatible with Mac OS 10.6.7 (the same applies to any WiFi USB adapter with RealTek RT8187L chipset). COMPATIBLE Alfa WiFi adapters:  We have verified that AWUS036NH, AWUS051NH, and AWUS036NEH are compatible with Mac OS 10.6.7.

The reasons that we make no guarantee of Mac compatibility with most of the wireless USB adapters that we offer, is because:

 There are many Mac OS’s and versions of those OS’s, and compatibility with certain drivers often varies by version number:  We cannot make blanket assurances of compatibility with certain Mac OS’s.

 Therefore, in the past we have found many difficulties in trying to sort out the compatibility nuances among the various Mac OS’s, versions, and the drivers and chipsets.

 Our staff all have Windows backgrounds and so we do not have sufficient Mac technical experience to make certain distinctions regarding compatibility matters.

 Many wireless cards & USB adapters come with mini-CD which does not work in Macintosh

 In conclusion:  We found that we have to leave it to the Mac-using customer (who probably knows more about Mac technical nuances than we do) to do their own research.  There is a lot of Mac compatibility information on madwifi.org.

Our Macintosh category of wireless USB clients and cards includes a few that are Macintosh compatible:  Please read the compatibility notes on the page of the adapter/card before purchasing.

 Posted by at 1:34 pm Mac compatibility Tagged with:  Comments Off on Macintosh compatibility & support – wireless / WiFi USB adapters & cards

dBi dB, dBm dB(mW): Defined & explained

Jul 212012
 

dBi  dB(isotropic):  The forward gain of an antenna compared with the hypothetical isotropic antenna, which uniformly distributes energy in all directions. Linear polarization of the EM field is assumed unless noted otherwise.

dBm  dB(mW): Power relative to 1 milliwatt. When used in audio work the milliwatt is referenced to a 600 ohm load, with the resultant voltage being 0.775 volts. When used in the 2-way radio field, the dB is referenced to a 50 ohm load, with the resultant voltage being 0.224 volts. There are times when spec sheets may show the voltage & power level e.g. -120 dBm = 0.224 microvolts.

“dBm” is used to compare against watts.  There is no direct correlation between watts and dBi.  dbm is logarithmic and mw is linear.

The term “dB” is not a reference but is rather a method and a measurement standard.  dB must be used against a standard, hence “dBm” is used to compare against watts…

 Posted by at 12:40 pm Frequency Bands: LTE, GSM, WiMax & WiFi 802.11 standards Tagged with: , ,  Comments Off on dBi dB, dBm dB(mW): Defined & explained

Alfa AWUS036NH performance over years

Jul 202012
 

Comment from customer:

As a side note I purchased an ALFA AWUS036NH a couple of years ago from your folks and I still use it on my laptop today. I am amazed at how far it will pull in networks and connect to them. Great little unit. Thanks for your time and attention.    -Mike Hall / Ontario Canada

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