RB711G Quality Control, is that an Oxymoran?

Hardware MikroTik hardware general
1

We have 10 sets of RB711G-5HnD being used in a backhaul configuration. Out of the 20 Radios I’ve got 5 that won’t run at 400mhz. They crash and reboot at 250mhz. Then I’ve got 4 other radios that have weak chain 0 or chain 1 transmit or receives (Its random which has a bad what). Example, a radio might transmit and receive a -54 on chain 0 and transmit a -54 on chain 1, but receive a -77 on chain 1. In fact on one radio I am transmitting on chain 1 and receiving on chain 0. The radio reports its transmitting and receiving on chain 1 ?!?!?!?! It’s not the dishes or cables as other radios function fine on the same dish and cables.

So I send one of these bad transmitter radios in for repair, put a brand new unit in its place and the new unit wont run 400mhz. I deal with it for 6 months before I finally get the repaired radio back stating “replaced by factory”. I put it up at a different tower and it has the same problem with the transmit levels that it went in for repair for!! (Same radio maybe?)

We recently bought 4 pairs of Ubiquiti backhauls because of the 3.65 frequency (which Mikrotik is behind on) and they are performing really really well. With Mikrotik, 9 bad radios out of 20 and I’m sorry but I have to abandon wireless Mikrotik. The other nice thing about Ubiquiti is I don’t have to build the radio and it’s case every time I order one.

Maybe this is a routeroboard problem and not mikrotik (I don’t know if they are one in the same or not) but you guys are gonna have to make some changes to stay in business. I’ll keep buying this product for my routers as they seem to work ok but as a backhaul you leave a lot to be desired! I have another post where I need a good fiber solution and since the new Cloudcore router is getting such mixed reviews, I’m wondering if I need to rethink keeping you for routers. My journey to get OSPF working between 17 routers was not exactly a walk in the park.

PS to all tower climbers (Ubiquiti actually has you in mind when they design their mounting hardware - Best we’ve ever seen!)

Also, no Dude updates in how many years! (Had to throw in that in) Thanks for listening, I know nobody gives a crap anyways. :slight_smile:

2

I’ve stop buying that model for the same reasons. Not running at 400mhz and a weak chain. I’m still using mikrotik on ptp links because of higher speed.

3

Hi,

we have the same problem with bad receive sensitivity on chain 0. I have 5 RB711GA-5HnD sitting here with that problem. We have connected an antenna before powering the radio up, so that can not be the issue. Can also rule out issues with cables and antennas. a replacement board works perfect with same cable and antenna.

Regards
Jan

4

We have been using Mikrotiks now for many years and have probably around 500 out there (mainly wireless units but plenty of indoor routers too).

I tend to agree that the reliability of both the hardware and the software seems to be getting worse and worse.

Mikrotik I guess just do not care less anymore.

It is a shame as it used to be a great company making great products. Now they seem content to offload any old rubbish on us and they could not care less how unstable/unreliable RouterOS is.