Hi,

We've recently bought 40 Sxt 2-HnD in order to expand our hotspot network. They are used for PtMP connections with end users with their devices - hotel guests mainly.

There are several problems with them:

1. Noise level inaccurate. On Freq. Scan everything is shown with -97 noise or lower. In fact, the noise is much higher, which is shown by the spectrum analyzer. Inability to correctly measure noise leads to all kinds of problems, including inaccurate signal to noise calculations, inability to choose channel, etc.

2. Inexplicably low CCQ. Signal -50 to -60, CCQ no higher than 40-50%. Clients with signals -70 do not receive anything higher than 10-20% CCQ.

In comparison, the Ubiquity Nanostation M2 AP's, of which we own 200+, achieve 70-80% CCQ on signals -75 to -80, in the same areas.

3. Signal to noise level pulsations. After setting periodic calibration to enabled, 10 sec., you could see that signal to noise level jumps with 30db constantly - from 38 to 9 for example.

As a result client are unable to connect to the antennas from 5 m. distance, or use the internet.

HT Guard - Long, periodic calibration enabled, TX power - 18, RTS-CTS enabled, ANI enabled, HW Retries - 7.

We've tried B/G only, with B data rates disabled, noticed slight improvement, still not able to work with it.

Also tried RTS-CTS disabled, ANI disabled, HW retries - 3, N only, limiting N rates - no results.

Firmware is 6.15

Search on my other post how configure 2.4GHz AP and read why is needed that settings...

And about SXT moldel: if you intend SXT Lite 2 or RBSXT2nDr2 it have only level 3 licence and is possible to make only one connection at same time...

The SXT have only 60° angle, where you place it to use as Access Point?

Search on my other post how configure 2.4GHz AP and read why is needed that settings...

rextended
if not difficult can you post here link ? Try to find with serach not find

synthetic:

http://forum.mikrotik.com/viewtopic.php ... 11#p418643

detailed:

http://forum.mikrotik.com/viewtopic.php ... 11#p418505
(edit: link fixed)

(on SXT remember to enable BOTH HT for rx/tx!!!)

rextended SNX !

Thank you for your advice, but it's a rather basic manual on configuring APs. It didn't help.

Our APs are with level 4 license, their clients are within the range and polarities.



Here you can see the problem - 58 signal to noise, 22% CCQ.

If all of those are indoors installations try to lower TX-power to something like 5-9dBm (all-rates-fixed for Ar9300)

They are not indoor installs. The APs are positioned outside, they are meant for hotel guests staying in their rooms, which have direct or near direct LOS through their windows. We have more than 200 M2 working this way without any problems, with 60K users connecting to our hotspot monthly.

Have you checked if it works good ?
Besides only looking at the ccq. The ccq in newer routeros versions is calculated like this :
If your max tx rate is 300mbit/s and the client is connected at 150mbit/s it will show 50% ccq. The ccq should show quality - packet loss, retransmits etc. But at the moment it includes calculation of the difference between max allowed rate in settings and the currently connected rate.

I've send supout.rif to Mikrotik and gave them access to several of those antennas. Not a word since - apparently they do not care for their customers.

The only help I found was in russian forums where you could find some real wifi masters, if you know the language. With their help I've been able to analyze and partially solve the problem - interference from antennas on the same roof.

Mikrotik noise and CCQ calculations are apparently flawed, noise is not working at all, which severely affects the ability of antenna to automatically choose modulations/speeds, or keep a connection stable.

My advice is to switch to Ubiqiti - they do not have so much GUI options, but work much more accurate and stable, even in high-noise environments. Not that they have great support either, but we'll have to choose the lesser evil

You are using SXT through a windows and you complains for bad CCQ... ehhh!

Use sector antennas, do not SXT, lower the TX-power, or ... brake the windows.
Make anything that makes the signal better. Remember that all equipement works as good as the worst element in it.