A friend of mine just bought a new home and tasked me to connect it with the internet.
He’s going to have two isp’s:
wan1=xDSL connection
wan2=5G
we found a place in his house where we stick our hands out of a window holding an iphone and pulling 1,6Gbps speedtest on 5G network.
Our goal now is to somehow install external antennas over this window, and connect it on a Chateau 5G ax.Then pass that LTE traffic to 2.5G switch to reach all wifi 6 ap (2).
Create 2 networks so users can choose between fast and ultra fast connections.
So the questions are: Is this scenario doable?
Which mikrotik router and antennas will I need to get this job done?
Is MikroTik able to connect to all 5G networks? Are there any limitations?
Notes:Rack to window distance ~ 1,5m (3.28ft)
I’m using mtik routers for the last 2 years, configuring basic setups.
I don’t have any experience on 5G networks.
I think that some mods may be needed, check this : https://confusedbird.com/thread-119.html
The first posts are about the older Chateau model, but at a certain point also newer models, including the Ax are talked about.
As @jaclaz suggests, if you want to extend the Chateau antennas. Or you can check out the new LTE equipment in this section, and opt for an external LTE receiver. Regarding the use of the two connections (wan/lte), you must do it on the internal router. I suppose Bounding will serve that purpose.
And regarding Wi-Fi networks, personally, I prefer the same SSD on all bands, each device will decide the best connection.
Thank you both for your replies.
Modifying the router is out of question.
I was expecting to find some ready to use equipment.
So we may just use it indoors as is, or find a better solution.
Suitable devices do exist, I have seen both ZTE and Nokia ones, window or near window mount, example: https://www.nokia.com/networks/fixed-networks/fastmile/5g-receiver-5g14-b/
but I believe they are not easily (if possible at all) found on the market, as they are usually deployed by ISP’s as part of FWA contracts.
There are some offerings from Huawei and Zixel, I believe.
Otherwise there is this D-Link one, DWP-1010, but like all the others, no idea how good they are.
Mikrotik catalog seems to be missing a full 5G outdoor CPE of this kind.
Here are some examples of affordable 5G/NR routers for outdoor use with PoE power: Zyxel FWA710, D-Link DWP-1010, Huawei 5G CPE WIN and Huawei CPE Pro 2.
I will try to document this installation.
We are almost ready to order a 5G outdoor equipment.
So i made a diagram,with details.
Given those speedtest results, pulling between 1.5Gbps and 2.2 Gbps
I need to make sure that both physical links and router itself are capable of handling these speeds.
I’m thinking of RB5009UG+S+IN.
Looks great. You could try BONDING with the 2 Wan. There is good documentation about it, you add the Wans in Slaves and in mode you have many options. You just have to experiment
That zyxel unit looks good, has an ethernet port out to connect to an RB5009 for example.
Important to check the local unit supplied in your country has the frequencies you need covered!!
5G NR interface
3GPP Release 15 standard-compliant
Supports both NSA and SA modes
Supports frequencies: n1/n3/n5/n7/n8/n20/n28/n41/n77/n78/n38/n40
DL 4×4 MIMO: n1/n3/n7/n38/n40/n41/n77/n78
One GbE RJ-45 PoE LAN port
LEDs:
Power status
Internet status
WiFi status
3FF format Micro SIM card slots (redundant)
One WiFi on/off button
One reset to default button
Zyxel-7102NR already arrived. [1x2.5Gbps eth port, claims 4.6Gbps down / 650 Mbps up If i remember correctly.]
ETA/rest of items collection: 03 August 2024
Routerr μTiK - RB5009 [1x2.5Gbps port , 1xSFP+ port]
Switch TP-link SG3210XHP-M2 [POE 8x 2.5Gbps ports, 2xSFP+ ports]
Access point Ubiquiti U7 pro max [1x2.5Gbps port, Tri-Band wifi7 + 6Ghz band]
Don’t know if Provider’s 5G frequencies match exactly those of Zyxel’s.Google says downlink n28,n20 uplink n8,n3,n1,n7 spectrum-tracker.com gives more. Not sure but looks compatible.
Will read manuals and test equipment next week, and will report back with some photos.
BTW I need to find 2 sfp+ and 1m fiber in order to connect switch with router before items arrive. Any idea what to ask for?
Hello again,
All equipment has arrived. FIRST TESTiphone 15 pro=1Gbps | zyxel NR 7102=350 Mbps.
I installed NR7102 on a temporary pole, and connected it successfully on mikrotik’s 2.5 inface.
After that i connected a 1m fiber patch cable with sfp+ on both ends from μΤιΚ to switch and port link says 10G.
Access point already configured through its controller for wifi6e mode. (That thing goes really hot).
dhcp-client on ether1 gets ip from 5g router,and i NAT on sfp interface (lan).
CELLULAR INFO
Mode
IP Passthrough Mode
Status
Up
IP Address
10.xxx.xxx.x
Primary DNS server
8.8.8.8,8.8.4.4
Access Technology
NR-NSA EN-DC
Signal Strength
-82
First test on auto was a disappointment, will try to play around with cell properties and channels and hope for better results.
I may relocate this antenna to town’s center for testing purposes.
Any ideas are more than welcomed!
Put your iPhone in Field Test Mode using 3001#12345# and compare the IDs (PLMN/NCI ie NCGI, etc) to those on the NR7102 to make sure your antenna is pointed at the right tower. Start by connecting your computer directly to the NR7102 when running the performance tests.
╔═══════╦═══════╦═══════╦══════════╗
║ NR ║ BANDS ║ LTE ║ BANDS ║
╠═══════╬═══════╬═══════╬══════════╣
║ gNB a ║ 1,28 ║ eNB c ║ 1,3,7,20 ║
║ gNB b ║ 78 ║ ║ ║
╚═══════╩═══════╩═══════╩══════════╝
So far, we test NR7102 on a temporary pole and not its final position.
Iphone goes into field test mode and locks on bands 1,28 and all 4 LTE bands.
Im not quiet sure but i think band 78 also appeared. Even behind walls we get between 0,8~1.6Gbps
All RFCN and cell identifiers match those on zyxel. We aim at same tower at 390m (1279ft) distance.
Zyxel usually locks on NR band 78 and gives information about 3xSCC LTE #1LTE_BC3, #2LTE_BC7, #3LTE_BC3
on realignment LTE SCC values change, but maximum speed is 500Mbps.
I test it with my laptop directly connected on zyxel’s interface.
Zyxel’s permanent installation (and proper alignment) is scheduled for the first days of September.
Then i will check again differences between those 2 equipments and maybe manually select LTE/NR bands.
After that, i may have to contact zyxel’s support.
At the moment we really concider purchasing a Mikrotik 5G indoor equipment and start over hoping for better results.
We really need to break the gigabit barrier.
Any thoughts are more than welcome.
