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RE: [Karlnet] Clarification on KN-50 FW Issues

To: <bradlists@mnns.com>,"Karlnet Mailing List" <karlnet@WISPNotes.com>
Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Clarification on KN-50 FW Issues
From: "Support" <Support@karlnet.com>
Reply-to: Karlnet Mailing List <karlnet@WISPNotes.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 18:38:42 -0500
List-post: <mailto:karlnet@WISPNotes.com>
Brad, thanks for the feedback. I will share this with the KarlNet Staff, and
management.

Reg Mallory
Technical Services Manager
KarlNet,Inc

KN=response from Reg Mallory

-----Original Message-----
From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
[mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Brad Gass
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 5:58 PM
To: Karlnet Mailing List
Subject: [Karlnet] Clarification on KN-50 FW Issues


OK, attempting to get things squared away in my head here.

Anyone (Karlnet) - please feel free to confirm/discuss/debunk the points
below, I'm trying my best to get this straight in my head before
purchasing any equipment here.

1) There exists at least two "Karlnet Lite" hardware platforms - the
Karlnet designed and produced KN-50, and another platform similar to it.
Both use the Ubicom CPU however.

KN-Yes, this is correct.

2) There (possibly) exists two basic versions of the "Karlnet Lite"
software load - one supports Prism radios, one supports Hermes/Hermes
II/Ruby radios.

KN-No this is not correct.KarlNet TurboCell Ethernet Bridge versions for the
KN-50 supports Hermes I OR Hermes II only.Many customers utilize these
builds with Prism radios with great success.

3) The problems being reported with the KN-50 relate to the use of
Hermes/Hermes II/Ruby based radios (Orinoco/Agere/Others) and the firmware
loaded on the card itself.  Due to flash space issues on the KN-50, no
tertiary firmware is uploaded to the card on initialization (unlike other
TC software products/loads).

KN-the problems have been isolated to the Hermes I version of the KN-50.

4) There exists a newer revision of the firmware for the KN-50's that
addresses the packet loss issue, and is being shipped with new units.

KN-this is not correct...the current shipping product has Hermes II support
only. Customers with original unit (HermesI), are waiting for the updated
bin file that corrects issue related to Hermes I and high re-trans and
dropped packets. This will be available for download on License-it site.
THIS SITE IS NOT OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME. When the updated bin file has
been tested
and issue related to Hermes I radio and original KN-50 are corrected the
site will GO LIVE.

5) Prism radios do not properly "remotely" report signal quality / stats
with any TC software product or Prism FW load.

KN-This is correct, it is a rare find if the Intersil/Prism radio reports
correctly.

6) Any issues with running WEP on the KN-50's that "work"?

KN-Currently WEP 64 is operational

Even at the risk of appearing like a doofus and continuing to beat a dead
horse, I'd really like to pin this down.  Karlnet has been strangely quiet
on this issue, and I'm trying to zero-in on the technical issues here so I
can avoid them altogether, and/or help others out with the info as well.

A couple questions (some general) I have are:

1) Will Karlnet release software updates to the KN-50?  <OBSERVATION> It
seems really odd to me that Karlnet expends an *incredible* amount of time
and effort protecting their code, and seemingly (on the surface anyway) a
lot less time getting some real basic problems resolved that affect the
overall saleability of the product, hence reducing income.  Seems oddly
counter-intuitive and counter-productive.  I know protecting the software
is important, but you couldn't have possibly anticipated zero issues with
a new product.  New products need firmware updates.  Firmware updates need
to be user installable.  Surely this was discussed before product launch?
We've been hearing about upcoming upgrades for KN-50's for awhile now - is
that going to be a reality soon, as in days or weeks? </OBSERVATION>

KN-please see #4 above

2) Will the TC software ever be able to properly report, or extract/coax
Prism radios into reporting wireless quality stats?  This is less of an
issue, but it seems to be a longstanding one that just keeps getting
brushed aside.

KN-This item is not being ignored. Our goal is to have our stats function
with Prism radios.

3) Is the KN-50 compatible with Prism radios as-is?  Or is it crafted for
Hermes/Hermes II/Ruby radios only?

KN-please see #2 above

Anything I missed here?  Karlnet - comments?

Like I said before, I love the Karlnet gear I have now, and want to deploy
more - real soon actually.  But, I refuse to deploy anything that has
publically known bugs without real-life effective workarounds or deploy a
solution that will cause me nothing but headaches with promises of future
firmware upgrades that will "fix" it - and they never come.  Been there,
done that (anyone ever used Ariel dial gear?  I sincerely hope not.)

And, in the upcoming deployment, cost dictates that for it to be Karlnet
based, it's got to be a KN-50 (or similar) based solution.  Otherwise, I
will have to consider other options.


Brad


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