Test results from first DWL-810+ deployment

[avara]

Sorry if this is the wrong forum, please move it if it is. I have deployed a test customer with the following equipment:

1. D-Link DWL-810+ ($62 from Buy.com)
2. 14dBi RooTenna ($49 from Fab-Corp)
3. Power over ethernet

The access point uses a 15dBm radio, connected to an 8dBi omni from Stella Doradus, an Irish company. Not using any amp: just a 20" pigtail straight into the omni.

The test client is connecting from a distance of 2-3 miles. Using StarUtil, his real world speed both ways was faster than 550kBytes/sec. There are a few trees in the way, but apart from that it is line of sight. While testing I could also connect to another access point, which is about 6 miles away, without any problems. I did not do any speed testing from that. I could pick it up without turning the antenna, even though it is going in a slightly different direction.

Ping results from the past ~1 hour:

--- 10.100.0.70 ping statistics ---
3227 packets transmitted, 3227 packets received, 0% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max = 1.576/1.814/20.928 ms

[bobbyc]

That looks real good. Can I ask a few questions though.
Is your 15mw AP a hermes chipset (orinoco/avaya)?
Is the 810+ a Texas Instruments Chipset?
Does the 810+ have RTS/Fragmentation settings in the web based config?
Does the association list on starOS show actual signal/noise levels from a TI chipset client?
Thanks,
Bob C

[avara]

Is your 15mw AP a hermes chipset (orinoco/avaya)?
Temporarily using a DWL-800AP+ as an access point. The specs say 15dBm (that's around 30mw). Should be replacing that on Monday or Tuesday. I believe it is a TI also. This is connected to a StarOS box at the ground, which is being used as a router/gateway and proxy server.

The other access point, which is at a distance of 6 miles, is by SmartBridges, with a Prism (2.5?) chipset. Its power output is set to 15dBm also.

Edit: If anyone has full specs on TI's chipset, I would be very interested.

Is the 810+ a Texas Instruments Chipset?
Yes. I opened the case to confirm (you can do that by removing the plastic nipples it stands on, to reveal screws).

Does the 810+ have RTS/Fragmentation settings in the web based config?
No it does not. However the DWL-900AP+ does, and only costs a few bucks extra (I think something like $68 instead of 62). It uses the same chipset as far as I am aware of, though I do not have one here.

Does the association list on starOS show actual signal/noise levels from a TI chipset client?
See first answer.

[szern]

The other access point, which is at a distance of 6 miles, is by SmartBridges, with a Prism (2.5?) chipset. Its power output is set to 15dBm also.
AFAIK, smartBridges products (airPointPro Outdoor/TOTAL) have a 'dial-a-power' setting which allows them to set tx power rating up to 17.5dBm (airPointPro Outdoor URL (http://www.smartbridges.com/new/products/appo.php) or airPointPro TOTAL URL (http://www.smartbridges.com/new/products/appt.php))
They also use ATMEL chipsets, not Intersil.

Hope this helps...

- Szern

[rbolduc]

I also have 2 DWL 810+'s deployed and the seem to work fine but there is no RTS settings that I can find anywhere.

Does the association list on starOS show actual signal/noise levels from a TI chipset client?

Nope !

[A/O DWL810+ ] ab:3f:44 - 0.154 29/ 0 -59/-102 -88/-102 11
[A/O Router ] 78:f0:9d - 0.54 26/ 0 -60/-102 -86/-102 11 0s

There is one weird item I have run across in my testing, If you use access control lists on your AP you have to put in the DWL810+ mac address and the mac address of the item it is connected to the DWL810+ before you can pass data. It is not like this with my WET11/Silver combos.

Reed