Short-range product recommendations

RouterOS Wireless Networking
1

Hi all! I’ve been a happy user of Mikrotik routers for a while - but I’ve never used Mikrotik wireless. Just didn’t need it. Now…but the deep range of products available leaves me confused - I’m not sure where to start.

I have a customer that will need to support some wireless cameras. I don’t know make/model yet - nor even network spec - but I’m going to assume 802.11n on 2.4g is my baseline. If the ideal Mikrotik also offers dual-band and/or 802.11ac then that’s a bonus - not a requirement.

My first requirement is stability. I shouldn’t have to worry about that since we’re talking Mikrotik.
The second requirement is high temperature tolerance (this is for Las Vegas, Nevada). The products I’ve looked at are all rated to 70C so I should be good.
The third requirement is to “play nice” with the existing premise equipment - which is a blend of existing consumer AP’s (I’ve identified D-Link and Apple) connected to a switch, all having the same SSID. I didn’t design it - I’m just trying to work with it. I believe the “controller” is a Sonicwall firewall/router.

The intended installation will be atop a 6’ pole. The camera locations will be within 100’, and within a 90 degree field of view from the AP.

At the moment, the products I am considering include:
“Groove” RBGrooveA-52HPn with omni antenna (possibly an aftermarket antenna as I’ve heard negative comments regarding the included model)
“Metal” RBMetal2SHPn (again, possibly with a different antenna)
Using Groove/Metal would also allow me to place the radio inside a fan-cooled enclosure (I’m paranoid about equipment burning out) but I’m hoping the 70C temperature rating is real.

If it turns out that 5GHz is the requirement then:
“NetBox” RB911G-5HPacD-NB
“mANTBox” RB921GS-5HPacD-15S
“NetMETAL” RB922UAGS-5HPacD-NM

I thought the SXT series would be overkill. Anyway - can anyone give me some guidance here? I just want an install-and-forget AP solution, and as my intro indicates the networking demands are going to be minimal.

2

The third requirement is to “play nice” with the existing premise equipment - which is a blend of existing consumer AP’s (I’ve identified D-Link and Apple) connected to a switch, all having the same SSID. I didn’t design it - I’m just trying to work with it. I believe the “controller” is a Sonicwall firewall/router.

If cameras operate on 2.4GHz, this is something to be identified thoroughly. There are only 3 non overlapping channels in 2.4GHz. You should do a spectrum scan and see if there’s anough space for a new device on a non used channel. If there’s no free channel, it won’t be possible to “play nice” with existing equipment, and a rearrangement will be needed.

What are the wireless specs of the cameras? Are they dual chain?

The intended installation will be atop a 6’ pole. The camera locations will be within 100’, and within a 90 degree field of view from the AP.

Provided there’s a free channel:

I you could position the AP or cameras to fall into 60 degree range, my first choice would be https://routerboard.com/RBSXTG-2HnD. Dual chain, integrated 60º sector antenna (no pigtails!!!), and an outstanding tested ambient range (-30 to +80º Celsius).

If that’s not possible, A Groove plus a 90º 1x1 N connector sector antenna would an economic choice, again without pigtails.

If cost is no object, then a Basebox2 + dual chain 90º sector antenna will be the best performing combo; however, there will be pigtails.

Metal 2SHPN + omni antenna is possibly the worst choice for this application, this radio is designed to be used with really directional antennas for long PTP links.

In any case, I’d use a taller pole.

Stay away from omni antennas.

3

First of all, thanks for the response!

As far as available spectrum & existing - they’ve got at least 7 AP’s in that house, and I see at least two of them in the area in question. As I said before, they’re all consumer-type AP’s with the same SSID for pseudo-mesh operation.

I just got some more flexibility - I’ll be able to supply the cameras and the wireless. So instead of integrated wi-fi cheap cams I can use quality products for both. So…5GHz is certainly an option now.

Based on your reply - should I consider the SXT5 or SXT5AC?

4

If you’re going for 5Ghz, then https://routerboard.com/RBSXTG-5HPacD-SA and https://routerboard.com/RB921GS-5HPacD-15S will be great options for the AP.

5

Thanks again. I was wondering about the mANTbox…

Is the primary difference between these, other than the obvious physical, the antenna shape and therefore the coverage area? So the mANTbox gives me an integrated wide-angle sector antenna, the SXT a more focused antenna, and the others give me the ability to choose an antenna?

6

yes. mANTbox is 120º sector, SXT SA 90º. Both are conceived for different applications; mANTBox sports an SFP module so you’ll be able to use fiber runs.

There may be also differences in beamshape, specially in elevation plane; cannot find any Elevation pattern in the SXT SA brochure, so can just speculate, but from experience, both are designed to provide coverage for nearby devices.

There’s a https://routerboard.com/RBSXTKit package, it includes on SXT SA5, and 5 SXT CPEs. It could be a really good option + regular ethernet cameras; you’ll have to do the math. Not sure if the same kit in AC version is offered.

The benefit is you’ll be able to manage all your wireless infrastructure with all the flexibility and featureset RouterOS provides. Regular SXT are directional, which will be a serious advantage vs a camera with a rubberduck omni antenna, not to mention its wireless management features.

Additionally you’ll have wider options regarding camera selection and could focus on optics/image/infrared features without being bound to their wireless portion.