The aim of that comparison is to show alternative solutions in the group of point-to-point devices for low-cost products like SEXTANT (RBSEXTANTG5HPnD). On the market there is not too much ready to use devices with medium antenna gain to create point-to-point connections. Devices like SEXTANT can be used also as the client device in places where SXT devices are too weak to achieve acceptable signal strenght.
The aim of that comparison is to show alternative solutions in the group of point-to-point devices for low-cost products like SEXTANT (RBSEXTANTG5HPnD). On the market there is not too much ready to use devices with medium antenna gain to create point-to-point connections. Devices like SEXTANT can be used also as the client device in places where SXT devices are too weak to achieve acceptable signal strenght.
RBSEXTANTG5HPnD (SEXTANT) is equipped with 18 dBi dual polarity PFTE teflon laminate antenna and RB911G-5HPnD. It’s integrated device ready to be installed, just plug the RJ45 PoE and start operating. In the box there is antenna with RB911G installed, power supply, RJ45 PoE adapter, plastic mounting system, steel mounting straps to attach antenna to a mast. The device is expected to create links up to 3-4km.
We are going to compare this device with the set equipped with WiBOX PA M5-20HV dual polarity PTFE laminate antenna (20 dBi) and RouterBoard RB911G-5HPnD.
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RBSEXTANTG5HPnD
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WiBOX PA M5-20HV/X + RB911G-5HPnD
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Tab 1. Advantages & disadvantages of RBSEXTANTG5HPnD and WiBOX PA M5-20HV/X.
Antenna & box parameters (antenna parameters given by the manufacturers):
|
Parameter |
SEXTANT |
WiBOX PA M5-20HV/X |
|
Gain |
18&18 dBi |
20&20 dBi |
|
Frequency range |
5,17 – 5,825 GHz |
5,1 – 5,9 GHz |
|
Polarization |
H&V dual polarity |
H&V dual polarity or X polarity |
|
Beamwidth H/V |
16,8°/22,8° |
16°/16° |
|
VSWR |
1,6:1 |
Max. 2:1 |
|
Connector |
2 x MMCX pigtail soldered to antenna PCB |
SMA + detachable pigtails (U.FL/MMCX/RP-SMA) |
|
Waterproofing |
No (splash-proof enclosure) |
Yes (IP67) |
|
DC ground |
No |
Yes |
|
Shielding |
No |
Yes (optionally) |
|
Antenna adjustment |
No |
Yes (60° H, 60°V) + a level gauge on the back |
|
Additional slots |
No |
Yes (4 additional slots) |
Tab. 2 Antenna system parameters.
On the table above we publish data given by the manufacturers, we share them here as the information are official for publish view.
Device parameters (RB911G-5HPnD):
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CPU |
Atheros AR9342 600MHz network processor |
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Memory |
32MB DDR SDRAM onboard memory |
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Data storage |
Onboard NAND memory chip |
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Ethernet |
One 10/100/1000 Mbit with Fast Ethernet with Auto MDI-X |
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Wireless |
5GHz 802.11a/n, 2x2 MIMO, 2x MMCX |
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Power |
Power over Ethernet: 10..28V DC (except power over datalines). No power jack. Up to 11W consumption. |
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Operation System |
MikroTik RouterOS, Level3 license |
Tab. 3 Data given by MikroTik.
Although the electronic device is the same, the antenna and box are different. In WiBOX system the antenna is more gained, the gain in working band is 20 dBi with VSWR
I. Mechanical Comparison
1) Dimensions
SEXTANT is a bit smaller than WiBOX medium enclosure.
Pic. 1 Comparison of WiBOX Medium and SEXTANT sizes.
2) Installation
Here SEXTANT is a bit better, because offers very quick installation, just slip plastic mounting bracket and mount it using steel mounting straps.
In WIBOX Medium there is a need to attach solid mounting system and mount it on a mast (U-bolts in standard) or a wall.
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Pic. 2 Installation of WiBOX Medium and SEXTANT systems.
3) Mounting system
SEXTANT has smart plastic mounting bracket which needs to be sliped into the holder on the back side of system, then needs to be attached to the mast (only) by metal strips.
WiBOX Medium has solid fiber glass WiMount mounting system resistant for strong wind and corrosion. The WiMount needs to be attached by four screws to the antenna back side, then attached on a mast by U-Bolts or attached to a wall.
SEXTANT can be installed quicker than WiBOX Medium, but the low-cost mounting system is much weaker than WiMount.
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Mast mounting parts |
Main parts of mounting |
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|
 |
Pic. 3 Comparison of mounting systems in WiBOX Medium and SEXTANT.
Pic. 4 Photo of both complete mountings.
4) Enclosure
We have compared the enclosured according to few targets like quality, usability, possibility of upgrading, etc.
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Installation compartment
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- possibility to change antenna and radio board with limited sizes |
- 25 x 25x 5 cm space avalable to install any radio stuff |
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Access to PCB slots |
- easy access to RJ45 |
- need to detach the front shield to get the board inside |
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Upgrade possibility |
- some unspecified 2 holes for connectors, interior not prepared to install bigger boards with more than one radio |
- 4 additional holes, big installation compartment, easy to adapt for new additional systems |
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Aligning |
- left/right only |
- left/right on U-bolts, left/right (+/- 30 deg) and up/down (+/- 30 deg), deg scale available
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Details |
- LED indicator - RJ 45 access hole |
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Tab. 4 Comparison of important mechanical performances.
II. Antenna comparison
1. WiBOX PA M5-20HV
It’s dual polarity panel antenna, made using PTFE laminate and FR4 laminate, which ensures good performances in very wide frequency spectrum. The antenna has a gain of 20 dBi (manufacturer declares max gain of 20,5 dBi), operates in the operation band of 5,1 – 5,9 GHz.
PLOTS:
a) PORT 1
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 |
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PORT 1/Polarization 1 |
PORT 1/Polarization 2 |
Pic 5. Radiation patterns of WiBOX PA M5-20HV – PORT 1
b) PORT 2
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 |
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PORT 2/Polarization 1 |
PORT 2/Polarization 2 |
Pic 6. Radiation patterns of WiBOX PA M5-20HV – PORT 2
2. SEXTANT
SEXTANT is dual polarity panel antenna with a gain of 18 dBi (the manufacturer declares 17,51 dBi as max gain). It’s made of the combination PTFE laminate and FR4 as in WiBOX PA M5-20HV antenna. The operation band is 5,17 – 5,825 GHz.
PLOTS:
a) PORT 1
 |
 |
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PORT 1/Polarization 1 |
PORT 1/Polarization 2 |
Pic 7. Radiation patterns of SEXTANT – PORT 1
b) PORT 2
 |
 |
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PORT 2/Polarization 1 |
PORT 2/Polarization 2 |
Pic 8. Radiation patterns of SEXTANT – PORT 2
3. ANTENNA PARAMETER COMPARISON
|
Parameter |
WiBOX PA M5-20HV/X |
SEXTANT |
|
Gain |
20&20 dBi |
18&18 dBi |
|
Frequency range |
5,1 – 5,9 GHz |
5,17 – 5,825 GHz |
|
Polarization |
H&V dual polarity or X polarity |
H&V dual polarity |
|
Beamwidth H/V |
16°/16° |
16,8°/22,8° |
|
VSWR |
Max. 2:1 |
1,6:1 |
|
Connector |
SMA + detachable pigtails (U.FL/MMCX/RP-SMA) |
2 x MMCX pigtail soldered to antenna PCB |
|
Port-to-Port Isolation |
>32 dB in whole band |
35 dB |
|
DC ground |
Yes |
No |
Tab. 5 Comparison of electrical antenna parameters.
III. SOLUTION CONTENTS
1. WiBOX PA M5-20HV/X + RB911G-5HPnD
WiBOX PA M5-20HV/X system comes with:
2. RBSEXTANTG5HPnD
RBSEXTANTG5HPnD comes with:
