The best choice of Router Board and Mini PCI card

RouterOS Wireless Networking
1

Hi all,

I’m interesting in test my first router board to do an outdoor AP for my customers.
I’m using Mikrotik since 2005, but all my APs are running in convention i386 PC machines inside of a hermetical box.
I’m in doubt about the Router boards RB112 and RB133. (These are the options that I’ve to buy in Brazil).
For the mini PCI cards I’ll need to do the AP in 802.11b/g and I’ve the follow options: R52, R52H, SR2 and SENAO NMP 8602, what’s the best choice?

Thanks in advance,

Fabrício Fadel Kammer
Conchalnet
Conchal/SP
Brazil

2

Similarly at first I used PC chassis and had some very variable results with different Wireless cards. I have recently implemented two RB 532s, one has two wireless cards which provides a backhaul Pt2Pt and AP, the second RB532 is currently only configured as the other end of the backhaul, but may also become an AP in time. I have also just implemented an RB133C at another location.

My experience with Wireless cards is that the Wistron CM9 is a good basic card and seems to work well on short to medium distances. I’m a bit disappointed with the R52, my experience is that it’s only really any good on short links. The Senao 8602 works well in RB hardware, but I had serious problems with it on a PC Chassis. I don’t think SR2s are sold in the UK and I haven’t tried the R52H yet, I hope to soon.

All RB hardware that I have used so far has proved simple to implement, the RB133s are really only designed to be client end or low capacity AP/backhaul, the RB532s being a little more powerful can be used for APs or Pt2Pt links.

The RB112 appears to be obsolete, at least there’s no price on the website so I guess it’s no longer sold. So if it’s still available in Brazil this is old stock, personally I would steer clear of something that’s no longer in production, there must be a reason for it no longer being sold.

You can easily try out the RB133s, but for production use you might want to order RB532s direct from MikroTik or another distributor outside Brazil. Watch out though there is a surcharge for ordering direct from MikroTik if your order is less than US$1,000.