we completed a nstreme2 configuration last week. 4 mile link, -53/-60, 42SNR, -90 noise floor. boards are rb333. cards are r52h. using 29dbi solid dishes. Freqs are 5210/5610 HPOL/VPOL. At first, test looked good… on UDP. But try as we might, even with turbo enabled, we cannot sustain more than 15mbit full duplex on TCP bandwidth test from computer to computer. This isn’t nearly enough for our needs. we need closer to 40 full duplex.
We are disappointed, and feel maybe we made the wrong selection in hardware (but NOT in Mikrotik).
These links are on towers, so “just use a PC” won’t work for us, unless someone has done this reliably before, and can make some recs (we are game for most anything). So, with money as no object, what is your practical recommendation to backhaul a DS3 from tower to tower using MT and their product line of routerboards?
Thanks
There’s something wrong with your Installation. I’ve installed a RB500 to RB600 connection
using Mars Panels/R52 and got 15Mbit/s TCP full duplex from RB to RB. Nstream, no turbo,
Within 1W EiRP 10km. I think this is limited by the RB500 running at 100% CPU. Signal is
-70/-75.
So with turbo and dual Nstream your 40MBit should be reachable. Designing such a
link I would use 2 RB600. There are 2x2 Sockets for Cards on it so you can separate the
2 cards a bit better than on RB333. Separate Antennas as far as possible.
May be your problem is interference or your Antennas are not as good? We like
the Mars panels. I would start checking each link separate and see if it performs
and then both to see wether it’s self-interference. I think here was a thread on
filters you can reduce interference between channels.
Check/Bandwithtest your Ethernet connections. I’ve seen customers with poor
speed due to a problem with the cable run to the RB.
individually, the links show a CCQ of 100%. In fact, we get near the same performance on a single link as we do both when nstreme is running. I will grab some snapshots today. I do HOPE it is a problem with configuration, as the hardware seems to be good. All cables tested, 2ft solid dishes, etc.
hi guys, been working with settings today, not really sure what certain parameters should be. But anyways, my current numbers for signal strength are:
site 1: -60, -62
Site 2: -58, -60
This is at 48Mbps on the cards, as having the data rate of 54 produced erratic pings and speeds.
regarding the noise floor. I only know how to get readings when I break the Nstreme, and set up individual links. The results:
Freq 1, noise floor fluctuates from -94 to -103
Freq 2, noise floor more constant at -95 to -97
Is there a way to monitor this variable while in Nstreme2?
In any case, testing and retesting, we get 12-17 mbps on send, and 9-13mps on recieve when running BOTH on TCP. UDP shows up a 27-30mbps on send, and 19-24mbps on recieve. We saw a few spikes up to 40. This was on BOTH on UDP.
Is this typical? Is this the best it will be? I just want to be able to have a real backbone link. one that can handle the 45 mbit fiber feed to our primary tower with approx 500 customers.
OH, I forgot to mention. We are using ROS 3.4 and, not knowing for sure what numbers to use, set the framing policy to exact and 4000
a -90 noise floor is not a problem for a -60 link - there is 30db difference. If MT had a problem with -90 noise floor then it would be useless.
I don't have an answer to your posted question but I look forward to hearing the answer. I think you can safely ignore the "noise floor needs to be -100" answer. If I speak incorrectly on this then by all means someone let me know so it can be discussed further.
anyway, he says the links perform good individually so again the noise floor should not be changing with dual nstream configured.
Just saw your new post,
I'd test both freqs on your receive test and see which one performs best then use the other freq on the send side, that way you can choose the freq and direction your antenna is looking based on the interference each sees. I also have a feeling your framer policy on exact fit and 4000 it not the best choice from what I have read in the forums. Id try either framer off or best fit with default size values.
What I am really after here is full duplex, low latency, and stability for the youtubers and gamers. This is going to be a busy link. I will try to simplify the settings again, and see what that produces. I never mess with the power, and on nstreme2, there are no default rates, you simply select the rates you want with a click. We’ll see how the no framing policy looks tonight.
Oh, and we are bridging.
Tjohnson, are you getting those speeds on BOTH on the speed test, or only one direction?
From these replies, it seems most people think the hardware should be good enough?
If you are looking for stability and low latency, consider the Trango 45mbps backhaul or the Alvarion B100. Either one should be up and working in a day, no messing around for a week.
i’m affraid, this is a mikrotik forum, jp…
if you have some suggestion - please welcome.
Now to primary post:
I suppose there is some huge interference… Changing channels may help, isn’t it?
We have similar problem as listed above, but 1. distance 33 miles, 2. bandwidth through. 40Mbps are done.
At first I scowled at your suggestion, but in looking more open-mindedly, you may have a valid point. Being a business person, fussing and fussing with a product is just a bad idea. I looked at the Trango 45mbps and they are on sale this week only, helf price. Crazy. But of course, this item does not offer full duplex, and that is something we REALLy want. I was hoping for better results, but like most things in our field, we have to figure it out on our own.
Another reason I am stuck on Mikrotik is field replacement. if we have a link go down, slap a $200 replacement board up, restore configs, and you’re back in business. This fits my business model nicely. Not to mention I am extremely stubborn, and I believe we can do better with this, we just need a few more suggestions from the more experienced and knowledgable.
I just finished putting up a 14 mile link with 2’ Dish Antenna’s & RB600’s each with a single XR5 card (no nstreme dual). Max throughput is around 30mbit tcp one way. I think you will find it very hard to get 40mbit full duplex out of the 333’s. You should be able to achieve at least 27mbit full duplex, possibly 30mbit, but 40 will be out of reach with that hardware.
danletkemen, did you have any quirks with the setup you described above? I was considering about the exact same hardware for a similar link. How do you feel about it?
Getting 30mbps one-way on that link is normal, assuming only a 20mhz channel. What if you change to a 40mhz (turbo) channel size? I have an x86 link that has a -60 signal on each side, and if I go to 40mhz channels, I can get 50Mbps one direction. If he uses two cards, with RB600’s, I would think 40Mbps full-duplex would be possible, but just barely.
It was a Celeron 1.5ghz based rack mount system with SR5 cards and LMR cable to the antennas. My point was more that with 20mhz of spectrum, you are going to run out of spectrum before you run out of CPU with the RB600 units. I don’t believe there is any difference between the RB333 and RB600 for doing just wireless links… unless you start adding firewalling, bandwidth, QoS, etc.
Even with my 40mhz channel testing, my CPU’s were only at 35% while moving 57+Mbps.
I am getting really excited to put together a RB600 and an Ubiquity SR71-5 with Dual polarity PTP dishes. Wish April would hurry up and get here for Ubiquity to release the card.
Here’s to hoping MT is on top of this. Especially since they were sporting a 802.11n MIMO card at MUM in FL last year.
