RB Groove Configuration
About the Groove and SXT Products
The Groove is made by Microtik. It has many more features than the Ubiquity bullet which is at end of life for the G only version. The groove can be a direct replacement for the bullets in our current wireless environment and will facilitate our transition to 802.11n and 802.11an (5Ghz)band. See discussion section at the end of this wiki.
The SXT products are directional and only available in either 2.4Ghz or 5.8Ghz bands but not both.
SXT G-2HnD is a 2.4Ghz 60 degree device.
SXT G-5HnD is a 5.8Ghz 60 degree device.
Sources & Component notes
RB/GrooveA-52HPn (Omnidirectional AP)
- 2.4 or 5.8Ghz Operation
- Level 4 RouterOS license (Required for AP mode)
http://www.balticnetworks.com/mikrotik-groovea-52hpn-2-4ghz-or-5-875ghz-access-point.html
Also will require:
- Dual Band (4.5dBi@2.4GHz, 7dBi@5.8GHz) omni Antenna
http://www.balticnetworks.com/maxxwave-2-4-5ghz-7dbi-indoor-outdoor-antenna-n-female-connector.html
- POE adaptor (one supplied will not work well outdoors) here is an example.
http://www.titanwirelessonline.com/MikroMAX-24V-PoE-with-LED-p/pe-24vs-max.htm
- Tape to seal Antenna coupling
RB/SXTG-2HnD (Directional AP)
- 2.4GHz only (10dBi, 60 degrees directional, supports 802.11n)
http://www.balticnetworks.com/mikrotik-rb-sxt-gigabit-10dbi-2-4ghz-dual-polarity-cpe.html
- MT-NANO SXT 2 -RF Elements NanoBracket
http://www.balticnetworks.com/rf-elements-nanobracketr-sxt-2-0-for-mikrotik-rb-sxt.html
- POE adaptor (one supplied will not work well outdoors) here is an example.
http://www.titanwirelessonline.com/MikroMAX-24V-PoE-with-LED-p/pe-24vs-max.htm
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Initial Configuration Setup
Set up Groove Router for initial configuration
Document the "E and W;" MAC addresses from the back of the unit. To be logged in Admin Center under the customer location.
The E is the Ethernet MAC address; the W is the Wireless MAC address
In the Control Center under Settings>Router Settings the W MAC address will show up in as the connected WiFi device that is transferring the events from the cameras
Connect to power (use either supplied AC Adapt or POE injector)
Connect cat 5 cable from Groove to PoE; then from PoE to the Idrive Wireless NIC in the computer
- Change settings for wireless NIC on your computer to:
- -192.168.88.10
- -255.255.255.0
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Connect using Winbox
Download and install Winbox Configuration tool for RouterOS.
Run Winbox.exe or double click the icon on the desktop
- Enter the Default "Connect To" IP Address: 192.168.88.1
- Login: admin
- password: blank
- Click "Connect"
Upon initial log in the "RouterOS Default Configuration" pop-up window will appear. Choose "OK". We are not concerned about the default settings because they will be overwritten with the idrive default configuration file.
Create a backup of the default configuration just in case
Files >Backup
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Upgrade OS and Firmware
Obtain the latest versions (V6.x) from the MicroTik [|download] site
Click on the correct link for the hardware architecture (mipsbe for RB Groove)
Click on "All Packages" and click Save
Extract all of the files from zip package
Copy the files from your computer to the Router Board by dragging and dropping all of the files into the files list in the WinBox window
Update the firmware System> Routerboard : Upgrade
Restart the router and log back into the router and confirm that WinBox shows the new version of RouterOS and Firmware, at present the current version is 3.17 (September 4, 2014)
Note: you may have to perform the upgrade a second time verifying that current version and the Upgrade Version are both the highest value. If it does not match the highest value on both, then go to System>reboot then sign back in and verify highest value in both locations for the Routerboard.
Load the default Idrive configuration to setup the device as an Access Point
This is an Auto configuration file that loads when the system is reset!
1. Download the appropriate file for that device from the Admin Center
- RB Groove file idr_conf_073014
- SXT 2.4GHz file tbd
- SXT 5.8GHzGHz file tbd
2. Uncompress the zipped file
3. Select Files in Winbox and drag the idr_conf_073014.rsc file to the files holder on the RB Groove
- With the updated Routerboard now at 6.18 or higher
- Open Winbox and reconnect to Groove (should still be 192.168.88.1, no password)
- Select System>Reset Configuration
- Check the box “no default configuration” in “Run After Reboot” select the config file name “idr_config_073014.rsc”
- Click the button "Reset Configuration"
After the system restarts
- Log in and check system at 192.168.0.1
- System Identity = MicroTik-dual (for Groove)
- Go to System>Password and set the password to "idrive#"
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Dual Band antenna identification in the field
As of 7/30/14 all MicroTik Grooves will be shipped with a dual band antenna to facilitate X2 transition. To find out if a unit has the dual band antenna look at the "Identity" by logging into the Groove. Skip this step for the directional SXT series devices.
System>Identity
"Micro Tik-dual" > Dual band
"Micro Tik" > 2.4GHz antenna
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**STOP HERE** below are manual configurations; not necessary after rsc file is loaded
About RouterOS Configurations
The router board OS can support the traditional Idrive access point configuration:
- SSID Bwifi
- IP address and Network Mask
- 802.11g only
The Router OS also can support more advance features that are coming with the Idrive X2 and Merge products:
- 2.4 or 5.8GHz bands
- Encryption
- multiple SSIDs that will allow encrypted and non encrypted channels
Make sure you are selecting the correct default configuration file for the correct environment.
Set Timezone for customer location
Set the timezone. The Date and time will be set by NTP (Network Time Protocol) when connected to the internet
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Advanced Configuration (no config file)
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Interfaces configuration
bridge-local makes the ether1 and wlan1 interfaces work as one
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WLAN configuration for 2.4GHz (X1P environments)
Return on "Interface List" double-click "wlan1", select "Wireless" tab and complete the fields as in picture.
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Bridges configuration
Select "Bridge" from the left menu and add new bridge. Configure the two bridges as shown.
for "bridge_tunnel" Make sure the "ARP" is disabled and enter the MAC Address: 00:00:5E:80:01:01 then select "STP" tab and check "Protocol Mode: rstp".
select "Ports" tab and add interfaces to the proper bridge as shown
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Addresses configuration
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Routes configuration
Add/Modify the route
route <192.168.0.0/16> - routes 192.168.x.x (events) traffic through the tunnel to the base station.
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NTP configuration
Network Time Protocol - keeps the time syncronized
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Set Password
Set the password to idrive#
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Troubleshooting / Monitoring
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Wifi tools / channel selection
View transfer activity
View other Wifi in the area
Note: Channel 1, 6 and 11 are now referred to by their frequency as follows:
Channel 1 = 2.412 - RB Groove Channel reference is 0
Channel 6 = 2.437 - RB Groove Channel reference is 5
Channel 11= 2.462 - RB Groove Channel reference is 10
View the amount of traffic on each channel
System Health
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Configuration file creation
1)Log into the device with Putty. IP Address/Telnet
2)export file=idr_conf_date
3)drag a copy of the config from files to your desktop
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Discussion here about migration plan to encryption & 802.11n.
Modules
VNT9271B6050 Specifications
the one we currently plan on using
1T1R only
No support for 5Ghz
Operating Temp 0C - 55C (32F - 131F)
Humidity 10% - 90% non-condensing
802.11 n single band modules
Ralink RT3572 (2T2R)Florin has a driver for this chip
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/802-11a-b-g-n-USB_135218952.html
RALINK RT5572 Florin has a driver for this chip
Ogenray
EWM-W129P (2T2R)
http://www.advantech.com/products/EWM-W129P/mod_DC9EE11C-7FFA-4311-8F37-184934465E02.aspx
Dual Band Possibilities?
EWM-W149P01E - Ralink RT5572 2T2R
http://www.advantech.com/products/EWM-W149P/mod_0A352CDE-CDEB-4F99-8146-C543E8140AC1.aspx
WUBR-506N - Sparklan - End of Life per Sparklan - Obsolete! look into WUBR-507N
Please refer to below quotation for WUBR-508N(M4W),
Sample price: USD30 each/ under 100pcs
USD21 @101~499pcs
USD18.5 @500~999pcs
USD17 @1K per shipping lot
5.8Ghz only Possibilities?
Migration Plan to 802.11n
Existing installations
-configure the Grove in the same way as the bullets (G-only etc)
Mixed installation (X1, X1P, X1P with new Wifi, X2)
Basically adding an entire second wifi network with no overlap for existing customers adding X2 to their fleets
- keep existing 802.11g APs and add separate 802.11n APs
- Groove in 802.11n Only
- 5ghz band to eliminate conflict with 802.11g 2.4ghz devices - VNT9271 does not support 5Ghz
- also change SSID away from bwifi, can added second SSID to support encryption migration
- Encryption
802.11a/n only locations
Good primer on 802.11n
http://www.wildpackets.com/resources/compendium/wireless_lan/802_11n
Groove is the best choice. Cameras will not support MIMO so max xfer rate will be 150Mbits/sec
-can support multiple SSID, Dual Band
- MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output)-VNT9271 does not support - X2 will not support this.
- 5Ghz Band (less clutter)-VNT9271 does not support
- 40mhz channel width (Channel Bonding)
- encryption
- Change bwifi
- more stuff
- more stuff