Caleb,
Our test data shows that the "published" numbers may not be accurate on many
Prism cards on the market. I do not want to start an argument about this.
If you like them better, feel free to use them!
The problem is we do support prism cards- but many manufacturers make
changes in their particular versions that affect the cards. Also, many
problems COULD be correctable, but Intersil has not shown a great desire to
make the necessary firmware changes to allow this.
Karlnet has always stated "We reccomend using Agere radio cards"
Kevin
-----Original Message-----
From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
[mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Caleb Carroll
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 4:54 PM
To: Karlnet Mailing List
Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Thanks to Zcomax
Point 1> Specifically which Prism cards? Prism 2.0 / Prism 2.5 / Prism 3.0
?
Point 2> Generally the Prism cards have LOWER receive threshold which means
the exact opposite of what you are saying below.
Point 3> Seeing as how Karlnet states that they "support" Prism 2.0 & 2.5
cards; Is Karlnet ever going to fix the numerous problems associated with
trying to use these cards?
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
On 2003-Apr-03 at 4:23 PM Kevin Knuth wrote:
>I am not going to try to start an argument on the list about Prism card
>issues, but Karlnet tests support the following: Intersil based cards have
>5db less receive sensitivity than the Agere cards. So, they need higher
>output to be heard to begin with. Karlnet DOES NOT recommend mixing your
>system with Agere and Intersil cards.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
>[mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Ben Polson
>Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 1:22 PM
>To: Karlnet Mailing List
>Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Thanks to Zcomax
>
>
>Cool Brian. You wouldn't happen to have any documentation or digital
>images
>of the solder points that need to be removed and any gotchas to watch out
>for when doing this, would you?
>
>-Ben.
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
>> [mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Brian H. Oak
>> Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 10:21 AM
>> To: Karlnet Mailing List
>> Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Thanks to Zcomax
>>
>>
>> We purchase the standard internal dipole antenna ORiNOCO cards for
>> cheap (<$40 for Silver), and just remove the internal antennas. We
>> have found that this cuts WAY back on the noise and interference on
>> our bases and satellites, especially where more than one radio card is
>> in the same enclosure.
>>
>> Admittedly, we are already busy with tools and soldering irons,
>> assembling our outdoor radio packages. If you are not comfortable
>> getting your hands dirty and desoldering the antenna joints, this is
>> probably not the solution for you. It works pretty nicely for us,
>> though.
>>
>> We have tried to use the high power (200mW) Prism cards, but have
>> found them to be a poor replacement for a normal 32mW ORiNOCO card
>> paired with a high quality amplifier; I prefer the RF Linx
>> (http://www.rflinx.com) amps. I believe the problem with the high
>> power cards to be the lack of amplification on the Rx side. The RF
>> Linx amps do a great job of boosting the desired Rx signals and
>> increasing our SNR. Even though the Tx power on the Prism cards is
>> great, they don't do much of anything to help the situation on the Rx
>> side.
>>
>> As usual, all of this is just my own anecdotal experience. YMMV, but
>> it's what we've found works.
>>
>> -Brian
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
>> [mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Ben Polson
>> Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 06:48
>> To: Karlnet Mailing List
>> Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Thanks to Zcomax
>>
>>
>> Thank you very much Kevin.
>>
>> -Ben.
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
>> > [mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Kevin Knuth
>> > Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 4:06 AM
>> > To: Karlnet Mailing List
>> > Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Thanks to Zcomax
>> >
>> >
>> > Sure,
>> >
>> > The OEM version of the card DOES NOT have the little black
>> > plastic piece on
>> > it. What you will find are 2 antenna ports. It is important you
>> use the
>> > correct port! The card can recieve signal from 2 antennas, BUT-
>> > AND THIS IS
>> > IMPORTANT- it only transmits on one! This allows for diversity
>> > antennas to
>> > be used for recieving data.
>> >
>> > There are really 2 major sources of RF interference from radio
>> cards- the
>> > mini-antenna inside the plastic cap, and the IF that the cards use
>> > internally. The IF is not much of an issue if there is just a
>> little
>> > seperation between cards. The mini-antenna problem is solved if
>> > you use OEM
>> > versions of the cards.
>> >
>> > Only place I know of that has the cards is YDI. Not sure if you all
>> have
>> > accounts there, but back in my WISP days Matt Facas was my account
>> rep and
>> > he is still there.
>> >
>> > Tell them you want the card WITHOUT the black plastic
>> > thing....they'll know
>> > what you are talking about!
>> >
>> > Kevin
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
>> > [mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Ben Polson
>> > Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 12:05 AM
>> > To: Karlnet Mailing List
>> > Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Thanks to Zcomax
>> >
>> >
>> > Kevin,
>> >
>> > Can you share a little more information on this with the list
>> please? I,
>> > for one, would like to know where I might be able to get a few
>> > for testing,
>> > etc. Thanks!
>> >
>> > -Ben.
>> >
>> > > -----Original Message-----
>> > > From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
>> > > [mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Kevin Knuth
>> > > Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 7:14 PM
>> > > To: Karlnet Mailing List
>> > > Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Thanks to Zcomax
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > FYI-
>> > >
>> > > You can purchase OEM versions of the Agere card without the
>> > black plastic
>> > > antenna. This reduces interference!
>> > >
>> > > Kevin
>> > >
>> > > -----Original Message-----
>> > > From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
>> > > [mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Caleb Carroll
>> > > Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 9:28 PM
>> > > To: Karlnet Mailing List
>> > > Subject: Re: [Karlnet] Thanks to Zcomax
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Yes, the built in antenna on Orinoco cards receives alot of local
>> signal
>> > > from other sources (interference). I'm doing the same thing
>> > > myself with the
>> > > Prism 2.5 cards in some of our Base Stations. The noise floor
>> > > reads -101dBm
>> > > when using the TurboCell Client Manager link test but I don't
>> > > quite believe
>> > > the reading. If it were a true indication of noise at the base
>> > station I
>> > > would expect to see some diurnal variation in the noise floor but
>> > > I don't -
>> > > the reading is always -101dBm. I think the only way to figure
>> > out if this
>> > > is reading is really an indication of anything is to place a
>> 2.4GHz
>> > > telephone next to the Base Station and select a channel on the
>> > phone that
>> > > will cause interference.
>> > >
>> > > Just out of curiosity, what bit rate are you receiving messages
>> > > at when you
>> > > look at the Client Manager link test under "This Station" ? When
>> > > using the
>> > > Prism 2.5 cards, I've noticed that the bit rate is always "locked"
>> at
>> > > 2Mbit/s.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > *********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
>> > >
>> > > On 2003-Apr-02 at 11:26 AM Wisp Notes wrote:
>> > >
>> > > >You are right Chris. They are not entirely junk. 98% of our
>> network is
>> > > >using those cards. The biggest problem is each of those cards has
>> an
>> > > >internal antenna and recieves a LOT of noise especially on the AP
>> side.
>> > > >Thats where the major improvement came from, not the extra
>> > power. I know
>> > > >there is an Orinoco card that has no internal antenna but $150
>> doesn'y
>> > > >justify it. Besides, the Zcomax cards are solid, the pigtails
>> > > aren't prone
>> > > >to falling out, the internal antenna comes right off, and the
>> price is
>> > > >right. I'm done using Orinoco in any access point. Dropping the
>> noise
>> > > >floor from -73db to -101db was enough to convince me of that.
>> > Our quality
>> > > >and range increased drastically because of a better signal, not
>> > > a stronger
>> > > >one. I apologize if I ripped on the Orinoco too much, I'm just
>> really
>> > > >excited about the results these new cards have produced.
>> > > >
>> > > >Sincerely,
>> > > >
>> > > >Paul
>> > > >Source One Internet
>> > > >
>> > > >*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
>> > > >
>> > > >On 4/1/2003 at 11:58 AM Chris Conn wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > >>Wisp Notes wrote:
>> > > >>> Just wanted to pop in here and say thanks to Tony Morella.
>> > We talked
>> > > >>with him last week about some things with Karlnet we needed
>> > to fix. We
>> > > >>bought the Zcomax cards and installed them as he directed.
>> > Installation
>> > > >>was smooth and you would not belive the difference it made!
>> > > 25db to 30db
>> > > >>drop in the noise floor on the AP which makes that much more
>> useable
>> > > >>signal for all the connections. Everybody on the link has
>> > 30db of signal
>> > > >>and everybody is GREEN! Score 1 point for Demartec and
>> > Zcomax. Minus 1
>> > > >>Point for Orinoco/Agere/Lucent for the junk wireless cards they
>> make.
>> > > >>>
>> > > >>> Thanks Again,
>> > > >>>
>> > > >>> Paul
>> > > >>> SourceOne Internet
>> > > >>
>> > > >>Hello,
>> > > >>
>> > > >>I would not say that Orionoco is "junk wireless cards" because
>> brute
>> > > >force
>> > > >>power is not always the answer. However, I am an advocate of
>> > Demarctech
>> > > >>cards
>> > > >>that Tony Morella does sell for particular applications, and
>> > I have many
>> > > >>deployed in the field, either in RG-1000s, AP1000s and
>> > Flashroms. Some
>> > > >>are
>> > > >>bases, some are satellites, but overall they perform well.
>> There are
>> > > >some
>> > > >>issues with the Karlnet's support of these cards in their
>> software,
>> > > >>however it
>> > > >>is related to any Intersil card, not just the Demarctech ones.
>> I have
>> > > >>voiced
>> > > >>these concerns to Karlnet and I know for a fact that progress is
>> being
>> > > >>made to
>> > > >>address these issues. The problems are not severe and are not
>> in the
>> > > >>scope of
>> > > >>this discussion. I would recommend these cards to anyone where
>> the
>> > > >>application
>> > > >>suits a need for a slight power margin.
>> > > >>
>> > > >>My 0.02$,
>> > > >>
>> > > >>Chris
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Karlnet@WISPNotes.com
>> http://lists.wispnotes.com/mailman/listinfo/karlnet
>>
>
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