Can't get Hotspot working, help!!

[Davader]

Ok, I'm about to give up on Star.

Personally, the lack of a Manual, hell any rough draft manual that at least describes a basic step-by-step procedure (don't need pictures) on how to use the new features, is getting OLD!

Using the forums is great, but after struggling with trying to get just a hotspot to work is frustrating at best.

I'm using a netgear WG311 card in 802.11b mode in the Star-OS AP (latest beta). I want to test out the difference in the Netgear .g card vs the Orinoco .b card.

I also have an Orinoco ruby card in the AP.

I've setup every possible combination I can't think of (hotspot, radius, whitelist, ezclient, auto dhcp, dhcp, dhcp relay, mac address, username/password in radius and still no IP address is given to my laptop with a Orinoco ruby card.

What is the basic steps to get this working. Just need steps in a logical order, as in do this first, then, then, etc.

I'm using 5 Star-OS AP's currently with PPPoE, and everything works fine.

I'm testing the Hotspot feature on a brand new Star-OS AP box in the lab, and for the life of me, can't get it working.

Your humbled and exhausted client. Mike :oops:

[Davader]

Update.

I got the hotspot working from my Orinoco card in my laptop with the Orinoco card in the Star-OS AP.

I can't get the hotspot or anything else when I'm going from my Orinoco card in my laptop to the Netgear WG311 in the Star-OS AP (the WG311 card is set to 802.11b mode, not auto). So there's a bug!

I'm going to test the WG311 card in auto mode. Same result. Another bug.

NOTE: My Orinoco card shows up in the Associated list for the Netgear WG311 card, but the Laptop doesn't get an association (Orinoco card's "network connection" in the laptop, never gets a wireless connection). Thus NO IP is able to be passed.

So unless I missed something. I can't use an Orinoco "ruby" card to connect to the Netgear WG311 in a Star-OS AP.

[bobbyc]

hi,
what rate do you have the atheros card set to when in 802.11b mode? If anything other than auto, then my orinoco laptop client can't connect to my atheros AP as well.
Bob C

[CompuTron]

Update. I got the hotspot working from my Orinoco card in my laptop with the Orinoco card in the Star-OS AP.

You're going to post your "How-To" when you have it rock solid....right?!?

I'd read it.

[Davader]

Update:

Got a Dlink 900AP+ (in wireless client mode) to work with the Netgear WG311 card in the Star-OS AP (WG311 card is configured for 802.11g mode and SPEED (this is the critical part) is set to 11mb.

Speed is allot better using the 802.11g mode (set speed at 11mb) than when I used these 900AP+ units with an Orinoco "Ruby" or Hermes" in the Star-OS AP.

Also the Dlink 900AP+ units RE-ASSOCIATE automatically if the Star box is rebooted, etc!!!

The Clients using Orinoco "ruby or hermes" cards DON'T RE-ASSOCIATE with the Netgear WG311 cards (Atheros 5212 chipset). If you reboot the Star-OS AP. You have to reboot your laptop. Bummer!! I tried all of the different combinations on the Star-OS AP with these Netgear WG311 cards.

Now this is much different. Before, using a Dlink 900AP+ (with fw 2.61 or 3.06 depends on ARM7/9 processor) with Star-OS, if the Star box rebooted, then you had to power-cycle the Dlink units to get them to RE-ASSOCIATE. Now by using the Netgear WG311 cards in the Star box (set to 802.11g mode / 11mb ), the Dlink's will automatically comeback online after a Star-OS AP reboot, power failure, etc.

Also note: I'm using Smartbridges with the latest fw 1.08, and the Netgear WG311, Or Orinoco "Ruby/Hermes". The Smartbridges NOW FINALLY will RE-Associate AUTOMATICALLY with a Star-OS AP (After POWER FAILURES, REBOOTS,ETC).

With previous fw revisions on the Smartbridges, it was hit or miss if they would RE-ASSOCIATE.

I like Smartbidges. Cheap/Feature rich and your installs are quick. Now going to use them only.

:D

[szern]

Are you using smartBridges airBridge? or airPointPro in Client Bridge mode?
Which version of smartBridges airBridge/airPointPro are you using? the Outdoor version or the TOTAL version?

Thanks!

[georgew]

It's good to know there is a fix for the SmartBridge problem...

But I tell you, dollar for dollar, the extra money you spend to have a StarOS CPE is money well spent. Being able to log into a CPE, do TCP dumps to debug a problem, edit the firewall rules to fix something, and be able to tell the customer which computer on their network is causing a problem... this is worth a lot of money.

If a smartbridge is supplying connectivity to a network of machines, and suddenly starts having strange problems because of a virus attack, can you fix it without a truck roll?

A smartbridge runs $160 or so. Depending on how you do it, a StarOS router will run you $200 to $250. For the extra money, you get the ability to diagnose and resolve many common problems without a truck roll. With the average truck roll having a typical cost of $300, the first visit you avoid will pay the extra cost of the StarOS machine.

What's more, the StarOS machine can be configured a number of different ways. So if the customer wants a wireless AP in the house, you can do it... If the next neighborhood over can't get a signal, you can configure a relay in the CPE of a customer in an opportune location to cover the blind-spot.

So for $160 you can have a reasonably useful tool, or for $250 you can have a complete tool box full of tools.

I've got smartbridge customers, as well as customers on a variety of other equipment, and while some of it works ok, none of it gives me the level of telemetry and servicability that I have with StarOS.

Consider this.... say you are successful and end up with 5000 customers. How often will you visit each customer? How many trained and experienced network tech's will be required to maintain the mesh?

When you are small, it is easy to underestimate the cost of repairs. Being able to identify the cause of a network problem, and to execute a repair without a truck roll is almost priceless.

The only StarOS repair truck rolls I have had were caused by zcomax card failures, nothing caused by StarOS. The only other reason I may have to do StarOS truck rolls in the future is to upgrade a few CPE's to router. Of course I will eventually have another reason for a truck roll, but so far StarOS has exceeded reasonable expectations at truck roll prevention.

The next time a customer's child comes home from college with 3 viruses on his laptop, causing some of your natting routers to fail, will you be able to identify the exact machine that caused the problem and fix it quickly, or will much of your network be hidden behind CPE's lacking in diagnostic and repair capabilities?

The only thing missing from my StarOS swiss army knife is the telnet client... once I have that, I'll have every tool I need to diagnose and fix a network problem without a customer visit.

As a StarOS reseller, that means I can even repair my WISP customer's networks from thousands of miles away.

this is the same sort of functionality I have on my T1 network. when I first started working with T1's, diagnostics was a difficult thing to perform without special tools. Once I had smart devices at every point in the network, I can diagnose every problem before ordering the repair. This saves countless hours, and truck rolls.

If you have a small network, having to visit each customer every few months to fix something is no big deal. But you need to factor that cost into your maintenance budget and see when it starts making more sense to use StarOS CPE's. Think about it early, as you won't have saved *any* money if you find yourself replacing the SmartBridge equipment in a year because you are tired of having blind spots in the network.

SmartBridge equipment is good stuff... but I'm not so sure it is what a WISP should be using.

[Davader]

A smartbridge runs $160 or so. Depending on how you do it, a StarOS router will run you $200 to $250.



George,

Explain how I can use Star-OS as a client in a small form factor that can be mounted at the antenna for $200 (19dbi antenna and a DSS mount included).

If I'm correct the new WRAP board and Star-os license is going to cost $210 itself in qty buys of 10 from tony/lonnie. Then you need to add the Mini-PCI card, a connector cable, a DC power supply (unless the WRAP includes this), antenna, a case to put the WRAP board in, and a DSS Mount (or maybe use the Trango type mounts). That cost is over $350. Even more if you try to do 5.x band as the cheapest antenna is $140 for a 21dbi panel.

Belive me I'd rather use Star-OS as the client and run in the 5.x band, but cost/subscriber is very high. Competing against the Bells/Charter makes that unfeasable unless I can keep the CPE cost around 200, because in this day and age the customer doesn't want to spend anything on setup/rental. They then call the Bells/Charter types and guess what YOU LOSE!

Don't have deep pockets of cash. Nor should a WISP operate by borrowing heavily, just to supply the CPE. Next thing you know the new wis-bang "cheaper" device is out and your loyal customer base just jumped to the new guy. There goes your business and your in debt with obsolete equipment nobody wants. How many guys are left with 2mb FHSS gear that used to cost an arm and a leg, just hmmm, five years ago.

Again I'd like to use Star-OS, as would I'm sure, everyone else. So Lonnie/Tony, show us a turnkey type system for the CPE we can buy from you guys (5.x band), and beat Trango on their $410/100 qty price by $100 less and you'd get all my business, right NOW.

[georgew]

The only small form factor boards I can get today are around $105. It's not a wrap board.... but if you have to cut corners, you can still have StarOS.

Unless you buy the outdoor airbridge with antenna, you have to buy the antenna and package the bridge to put it near the antenna.

For $160 you don't get an outdoor enclosure or antenna in the smartbridge.

But I'm not going to give away all of my secrets. The $200 to $250 was round numbers, and I didn't give details such as pole mounted radio with antenna etc... and I /have/ built StarOS routers for $126 including all needed parts and licenses. No it's not a wrap board with senao card, but my cost on an outdoor pole mounted unit with senao radio was around $200.

Now I'm not going to sell the radio at that price, but in the anything to save a buck department, my point was that a lowball starOS machine at $250 was a better deal than a $160 airbridge.

But I'll admit I have to work to get the low price... and it is not the perfect solution.

But let's look at the wrap board, $300 in round figures. But it compares to the more expensive outdoor airbridge, because of the operating temp spec. Put it in a $10 box and add a $25 panel antenna and a $3 wall-wart and you are within $100 of the airbridge product.

[olebno]

Hi!

You can also use the RooTenna from Pac Wireless with a wrap board or an Smartbridge indoor inside it??

Best Regards
Oleb

[John Huszar]

George

You said: The only small form factor boards I can get today are around $105. It's not a wrap board.... but if you have to cut corners, you can still have StarOS.


Can you be more specific? We are just getting into the WISP business, and unless you are in the Portland OR area we are not going to be competitors with you. I am wracking my brains to figure out how to build a CPE using STAR for at or below $200..

The WRAP 1/1 boards are still 2 months away, as is the Client version that Lonnie is talking about for the WRAP boards. So at this point the Router/Atheros version is it as far as software ($75 from Fament), or possibly just the Router version ($55). The Rootenna is about $50. So thats $100-125 without a motherboard, radio, pigtail, CF, POE, and antenna mount.

Any pointers would be appreciated.