DigI:TI1.2
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Digital Inclusion (DigI) | |||||||
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T1.2 Pilot installation Kjeller
Task Title | Pilot installation Kjeller |
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WP | DigI:WP-I1 |
Lead partner | Basic Internet Foundation |
Leader | |
Contributors | BasicInternet |
edit this task |
Objective
This task will establish the Pilot installation in Africa
- solar-cell driven Wifi access point
- link to "tower" containing local content
- installation report
Category:Task |
Deliverables in T1.2 Pilot installation Kjeller
Expected outcome
Year 1:
- Pilot installation (M06)
- Suggestion for installation (M08)
Pilot installation at Kjeller
The pilot installation at Kjeller is the integration test for WP-T1 Specs Tanzania and WP-C1 Specs Congo. Example of the Health Spot information is given at http://digi.futurecompetence.net/
Infrastructure
The pilot at Kjeller involves the equipment at the health spot and the communication equipment at the tower.
Health spot installations
- 2 Solar panels (53 x 35 cm each, max 6W (350 mA max), Biltema 31631= 2 x 389 NOK)
- 1 controller (Biltema 31635 - 189 NOK)
- 1 Battery 12V 18AH (Biltema 80413 - 499 NOK)
- Cables and connectors (Clas Ohlson 36-3902- 69 NOK)
- USB connector (Clas Ohlson 38-7050 349 NOK )
- (not used: PoE injector, ~90 NOK)
- Receive antenna with local beam (Witelcom)
The total costs are 1900 NOK, roughly 210 € (+Witelcom receive antenna + construction work)
- Light: (LED-spotlight? 36-5024 199 kr) - or Campinglampe 24955 89,90 kr)
- needed: splitter for 2 solar panels
Tower installation
- Mikrotik box (RB960 or others) -
- function: connect to village server, divide traffic between free/local, InfoInternet and Voucher traffic
- alternatively: install RB on village server, and perform "soft routing"
- testing: power consumption
- 90deg sector antenna
- backend connectivity
- Village server
- as USB dongle(?)
- as ownstanding server (?)
Communication equipment
- 90 deg sector antenna (Witelcom)
- Mikrotik router board RG 1100Ah (ca 400 €) - alternative? - need to consider power consumption and the robustness. Other Mikrotik devices?
- Alternative: RB960-PGS-PB, max 90W (but about 25% performance of RG 1100 AH)
Selection of Mikrotik devices
Comparing the RB1100AHx2 and the RB960PGS-PB (by Iñaki May2017). Aspects to consider
- power consumption
- the amount of traffic/users we want to cover on a specific area and
- costs, considering CAPEX and OPEX.
- I'm not considering whether the equipment needs to be indoor or outdoor.
When considering the amount of traffic/users, RB1100AHx2 model is the winner.
- First, because of the license level, which in this case is 6 (the highest one) compared to license level 4 in case of RB960PGS-PB. In the following page there is a table comparing different license numbers: https://wiki.mikrotik.com/index.php?title=Manual:License#License_Levels
- Second, because of the hardware capacity. RB1100AHx2 model is able to handle between 2 to 4 times more traffic than the RB960PGS-PB.
- If we are thinking on a installation where the idea is to place a server with content such as videos... then I would go for a RB1100AHx2, otherwise the RB960PGS-PB is a good option.
- Regarding the power consumption and outdoor enclosure the RB960PGS-PB (max 9W) model is more convenient than RB1100AHx2 (max. does not specify but have to be quite high due to the fans).
- If the main driver is the energy consumption and/or cost, then definitely RB960PGS-PB model is the winner.
Server for both routing and content
see discussion on DigI_talk:TI1.2
Experiences from pilot installation
- The power consumption from the wireless link is roughly 200-250 mA
- Each solar panels deliver in cloudy conditions roughly 110 mA
- Thus, two panels delivering 220 mA (in cloudy conditions, even light rain) is sufficient for operation
- Antenna pointing was not a problem, but we had a challenge in configurability
Witelcom connectivity
- SW allowing for DHCP relaying (switch off local DHCP provision)
- (failure (20May2017): reset into old SSID mode)
- default administrator - can't change admin username
For more information, download the Video on Solar Cells for Communications
Alternativ suppliers
Solar Panel
- http://www.solcellespesialisten.no - IBC SoloSol 100 CS 100W
Battery regulator:
- https://www.kjell.com/no/produkter/elektro-og-verktoy/stromforsyning/solceller/solcelleregulator-p44011
- http://www.clasohlson.com/no/Batteriregulator-for-solpanel/Pr366201000