MikroTik

Having got through 2 notebooks in as many years, I have invested in a panasonic cf-28 toughbook. A decision that should have been made years ago!!!

The installation of an R52 was done in under 5 mins.

My AP's have MT proprietory "management frame protection" and some use 10Mhz channels.

Is there a suitable utility by MT to utilise ALL the atheros features including: 10mhz channels, "the uncommon country settings", and management frame settings.

thanks

Simon

No One, Really!!!

Don´t any of you drag your laptops up onto roofs or towers to re-align ptp links!

On the same subject, NOMIS, can we have an exploded view of the SNR and Signal Level in winbox of a registered station, that by a click or tap of the touch pad, will fill the screen of a notebook.

Like numbers that are 1" tall, so that even those of us with failing eyesight will be able to see the changes in bright sunlight, or whilst the laptop is perched on the roof tiles!!

I don't understand most of your questions. You are using Windows and you are asking for special driver to utilize MikroTik proprietary settings in Windows? No, that's not possible.

What numbers and SNR readings are you talking about? In Winbox? How about using the Windows Magnifier utility or something similar?

Normis, so that the PC's onboard r52 radio card can link up to the AP using some of the more exotic settings eg:
Channel width 10mhz, Management frame utilised,

Or should I consider using Linux on the laptop. I just want to be able to align ptp links by logging in to the AP with my laptop and adjusting the ptp antenna, without dragging up 100metres of ethernet cable, or by opening up enclosures to use cable connections.

Some times its easier to rest the laptop on the roof, climb the pole or chimney and look back down at the screen.

linux will also not work, if you use the "exotic" (proprietary) settings. you have to use console or ethernet to manage your AP. or attach an SXT router to your laptop, and connect from it. SXT is 89$ list price, cheaper for distributors. RB711 is 49$! Cheaper than that wireless card you installed

Not the best answer I was looking for.

1: I have already spent thousands of euros on MT equipment, and the Radio is an R52.

if I used an sxt or 711 etc, where would the power come from? more cable, power supplies and junk to lug onto the roof or up the tower/pole.

With the toughbook slung around my neck, I am free to climb and adjust the antennas.

With the newer atheros ar9000 series chips, it is able to form the basis of a spectrum analyser (of sorts), but that's not much good without ALL the channel spacings!!

What could be better than a driver for the card that turns the laptop into a "stand-alone" (poor mans analyser)

I thought you wanted ideas for a product!

We use a wireless ap inside the building and a laptop on the roof logged into the CPE via the wireless ap/bridge.

I don't understand most of your questions. You are using Windows and you are asking for special driver to utilize MikroTik proprietary settings in Windows? No, that's not possible.

So, by installing a MT card in my laptop I am left with less options to manage it than any other make card?

I mean, if I have the original Dell card, or a intel card in the laptop I can choose at least the country settings so all the channels allowed for such country I can work in become available to use with that laptop.
Now, by installing a rb52n card in my laptop I can't bloody use it because my indoor test AP (rb600) is set to channel 13!
This is a normally allowed channel in my country and none of my wireless devices have any problems to connect to it.
The only one that doesn't even 'see' it is this laptop.....

Ok, I can change the channel on the AP. But that's not the idea. It's like simon here started the tread with some time ago; is there no windows manager program for the MT radio cards?
I installed an 'old' R52-350 card first and the driver for that did at least come with some (minor) contral program.
But the atheros 9220 based R52n only has a driver, not even a atheros control program.... only the windows default wireless manager works with it. But as said, doesn't have any control of the 'exotic' funciontality of the card...

It would be nice not only to control the card the same way you can under ROS but than it would indeed be possible to 'look' in the card's settings and register etc. to see the same info we can see under ROS.

It's like simon said, we can carry a whole bunch of extra radio's, cables and adapters with us doing onsite jobs, it would be so nice if we could do it all from that single one laptop I'll carry with me anyway....

Maybe anybody else has found a work around for this?

Mikrotik doesn't make drivers for Windows. I don't think Atheros has opened the source for Windows drivers.

Linux can do most of what is asked, however it cannot connect to an AP running Nstreme or NV2. Atheros is one of the tools MT uses.

Complaining to MT about this is like complaining to your veterinarian that your dog doesn't run on electricity. It isn't there fault, their problem or really within their power to do anything about it unless they make their own Windows driver kernel. I'd rather they spent their time working on ROS than a driver for Windows from scratch.

edit: I've accessed other countries channels on my old laptop with an R52n in testing. I don't remember what driver set I was using.

@WirelessRudy
Did you try drivers from this site:
http://www.atheros.cz/atheros-wireless-drivers.php

Regards,

Yes, I did. Exactly from that site. But driver is only plain driver, no management console included.

Ore just stop using the proporitary settings at Your AP? Run 802.11 in 20mhz?