NetMetal ax / Antennas ?

RouterOS Wireless Networking
1

Hi everyone,

I recently purchased two NetMetal AX devices to replace my old wAP AC access points,
which were infested by ants and aging.

While testing them, a small warning label caught my attention:

“CAUTION! DO NOT POWER ON WITHOUT ANTENNA CONNECTED!”

This made me wonder:

“Did I buy access points without antennas?” :slight_smile:

The product page states:

“The device has an operating system preinstalled and licensed.
No separate purchase is necessary, and the product is ready to use.
The device includes free software updates for the life of the product or a minimum of 5 years from the date of purchase.”

One would assume the APs include antennas, especially since its stated:

“No separate purchase is necessary”

However, the QuickStart guide states:

“Connect an external antenna to the SMA connector…” + the label

While the cost of these external antennas isn’t prohibitive, the delay is frustrating.

What’s the purpose of the metal cover if antennas are mounted externally?

The brochure shows the AP with antennas but no cover.

In which scenario would you use the cover?
Only one that cross my mind is using small stub antennas, but then again, it’s a metal cover.

I guess I miss something here, any insights would be appreciated!

Thanks,
CK

2

Typically those devices are mounted externally, on poles.
Two antennas are also mounted higher on the pole and they are connected with a (short) coaxial cable that is inserted on the connectors and then makes a small loop downwards, sitting in the sort of grooves/gaps in the cover.

See:
http://forum.mikrotik.com/t/wap-coverage-picture-included/179859/1

In emergency or for configuration on the bench also “normal” straight antennas can be used, but obviously without cover, and that would IMHO be an issue for outside usage.

And on the other hand two straight antennas so close won’t likely be very efficient.

You would have (probably) been better served by Wap Ax (which is the “natural” successor to the wap AC):
https://mikrotik.com/product/wap_ax

3

Thanks for the reply!

I found now similar setup on YouTube, showing the external (sector) antennas connected via coax.

I did consider the wAP ax.

But since my old wAP ac’s did not survive live in the nature, the new ax will have the same fate because the housing is the same.
Maybe i should have used rubber rings for the network/PoE cable entries, the NetMetal has them included.
I am quite happy with the IP 66 rating of the NetMetal ax.

Anyway using external antennas via coax allows me to place them more efficient.

Which reasonable priced Wi-Fi 6 (combined 2.4/5 GHz) omnidirectional high-gain antennas (connected via coax) would you suggest?

4

For omnidirectional you probably want a single dual band antenna with two connectors.

Hard to suggest a make/model, being a simple dual band omni I don’t think that there is so much difference between one and the other, I would look for something like (examples only):
https://www.wlan-shop24.de/quwireless-quomni-7v-2-dualband-11ac-wifi6-wifi6e-2x2-mimo-omni-antenna-7dbi
https://www.524wifi.com/index.php/antennas-racks-cables/2-4-ghz-g-norm-antennas/524-wifi-6-6e-2400-2500-4900-7125-mhz-2-2-mimo-omnidirectional-dual-band-outdoor-antenna-4-6-dbi-2-rsma-connector-mounting-kit-524wifi-tof-2472-6bv.html

5

I just ordered 2 x QuOmni 7V-2 Wi-Fi 6E from WLAN-Shop24 in Germany, since it can be delivered to France.

Actually the antennas looks quite good, omnidirectional 2x2 6/7.5 dBi and can be used with Wi-Fi 7 later in live.

Thanks for the suggestion!