Ok, obviously we need to get to the bottom of this KN-50 problem. At my
company we have been forced to abandon the KN-50 all together and return
to our original $450.00 CPE equipment we used to run (KN-100). Just to
put you all in the loop (and Karlnet if I am incorrect in this please
let me know) the problem with the KN-50 lies in the firmware with the
radio card. PLEASE READ ON if you are using KN-50's with or without this
problem.
First here is a clear definition of the problem:
When we install any variant of the KN-50 with an Agere based radio LAN
card running a firmware version higher than 6.8.1 our throughput and
ping times become horrible. On average our mountain sites perform with
approximately 1000k worth of throughput and 10 to 60ms ping times to our
facility. Occasionally with pooling the ping times will spike to 100ms
then return to the average. With the KN-50 and newer firmware the ping
times are over 2000ms and only 1 out of every 5 actually get through.
Obviously throughput is also affected (below dial up speeds in most
cases). We can take the exact same installation and swap out the radio
LAN card with an Agere based chipset running 6.8.1 firmware and the
install performs perfectly. All we change is the firmware in the card.
We are not sure at which point the KN-50 firmware becomes unstable, all
we know is versions 6.8.1 and 6.6.1 do not exhibit the problem, versions
8.72.1 and 8.7.5 do. Another supporting fact is how the KN-50 and the
KN-100/200 handle LAN card firmware. The KN-50 will reflect in the
management software whatever version is flashed to the LAN card itself.
The KN-100/200 will always show the same version of firmware regardless
of which LAN card you insert. This leads me to believe that similar to
the Flash Rom units the KN-100/200 overwrites the firmware of the card
upon post with its own internal version, or simply uses its own firmware
on the KN-100/200 itself and in essence bypasses the internal firmware
of the Agere card. That is why the KN-100/200 does not exhibit this
problem. This again further supports the firmware as the origin of the
problem.
Members of my staff have spoken with Karlnet several times on this
issue; currently what has been communicated to us (and confirmed in
WISPNOTES) is the fact that Karlnet has been unable to recreate the
problem. They don't deny its existence since so many of us have reported
the problem but without the ability to recreate the problem there is not
way to create a solution.
I am asking for help at this point not just for us, but for everyone
that is exhibiting this problem. We cannot compete in this market
without price point on our CPE equipment and the KN-50 was constructed
for just that. We need the unit working reliably in order to continue
the Karlnet line in our current services. Here are some solutions along
with some troubleshooting steps we might be able to perform to help
Karlnet figure this thing out.
Possible Immediate Solution?
That would be the capability to downgrade the Agere based LAN card to an
older firmware version. Since the Silvers are no longer available with
external antenna connectors we are left with the Gold. Karlnet or ANYONE
out there, is there a way to downgrade this firmware to get us by to a
more permanent solution?
Further troubleshooting steps?
Lab with the problem
KARLNET, I will be happy to devote a staff member here to work with you
and give you remote access directly to my mountain sites and to a
workstation exhibiting the problem. (We would need to construct a lab to
one of our production mountain sites to recreate the problem, but I am
more than willing to assist in any way) You would have full SNMP access
to the mountain site and PC ANYWHERE access to the CPE installation.
That way you would at least have a lab where the problem is exhibited.
If that would help I would be more than willing!
Gathering information
Here is where the WISPNOTES participants can help, gather your
configuration, what equipment you are using on the mountain site, CPE
side, firmware versions, what you have and have not tried. Send them to
me and to Karlnet support, maybe through a process of elimination we may
be able to narrow the gap for Karlnet to recreate the problem.
ESPECIALLY THOSE OUT THERE NOT exhibiting this problem? What is working?
What is different in your configuration verses those that are not
working; please send me and Karlnet your configs!
I think Karlnet has a great product. When it works, it works extremely
well. All I want is the price point as well. With the new line of
products Karlnet has been producing they are listening to our requests
as consumers, and ISP's. The KN-50 is a great product if we can just get
past this problem. So please I am asking Karlnet and everyone out there
if there is anything I mentioned above that you can help with or
participate in please do so. The more we ban together our information
the better our test lab becomes to give Karlnet the edge to resolve this
issue.
Thank you.
Timothy Steele
MCSE
tsteele@e-isco.com
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