What’s the correct way to have a gprs link to our routerboards ?
Via usb using a Mini-PCI 4-port USB in a Routerboard (or RB600 or 133 or 333 for example)
and in the usb port a gprs/umts device ? (a good way to control the net if the link drops)
Is it necessary that Mikrotik has drivers inside ?
Via Minipci express , via minipci bluetooth, or other way ?
What’s the best way to control an rb600 on the top of the mountain if link drops ?
Umts, gprs, for example, but how do I connect a device the Routerboard ?
There are some expensive gprs gateways and routers but I need a cheap way, of course.
currently you can either get a USB supporting RouterBOARD (like the RB230), wait for a new one with USB (sometime this year). We haven’t tested any miniPCI->USB adapters, so I don’t know if that will work, but my guess is no.
Routerboards do not have USB drivers and therefore won’t see the device properly. They are standard NEC usb ports but since there isn’t usb in routerboard hardware it won’t work. I asked Uldis and he mentioned there wasn’t 5v onboard, but that’s easy to get around. If USB could be built into the rb packages that would be nice.
5v can be added using external cable, that’s not a big problem … most modems run off 5v or 12v anyhow so additional power needs to be run anyways. Also, 5v is not required on that card if you use a external powered USB device.
Yes, I’ve read all this before, but I’d like to know when, in order to plan my strategy.
If RBs with USB support are due out within a month I can probably wait, if they don’t surface until midsummer 2009 I’ll probably have to work my way around with another solution.
(Yes, i know “this year” is 2008, but release dates tend to slide a litte… )
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