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DuxLink P2P System

The DuxLink 2.4GHz point to point system is based on a pair of Mikrotik RB/CRD Crossroads routers.  If you have your own pair of RB/CRD, or if you have accidentally damaged your DuxLink configuation, then this article is for you!

BEFORE YOU START: Warning - running any wireless transmitter without a properly fitted antenna can damage the radio amplifier! Always connect a suitable antenna before powering up your routers.

What you need:

  • A pair of RB/CRD Crossrads routers
  • A pair of suitable antennae (e.g. AC/SWI)
  • An ethernet cable
  • A suitable power supply (e.g. 18vPP)
  • A copy of the Mikrotik Winbox configuration tool (available here)
  • A copy of the DuxLink configuration scripts: DuxLinkA and DuxLinkB (Right click each link and choose save as)

Configuration Design:

As youmay already be aware, the Mikrotik RouterOS platform loaded onto the Crossroads device is one of the most powerful router system available in the world today. Consequently, there are a variety of different configuration choices available, such as implementing a routing node on one or both ends of the point to point link, or bridging one or both ends to the local network.

This configuration guide establishes the wireless link as a plain point to point bridge with no IP layer functionality at all. The following diagram demonstrates a typical example of this application:

In this scenario, the broadband router at site A assigns IP addresses to devices on both sides of the wireless link. Computers and other equipment at Site B communicate with devices at Site A as if they were connected to the same physical network.

Configuration Features:

In order to maximise the throughput performance and reliability of the link, the following features are used:

  • 2.4GHz G: operates 802.11g mode for up to 54Mbps air rate.
  • Nstreme protocol enabled: proprietry Mikrotik extensions improving rbostness and speeds over long distances
  • CSMA/CA disabled: traditional protocols are not required in Nstreme mode
  • WPA encryption enabled: for secured data communications

With this configuration, we have acheived sustained 32Mbps real data throughput end to end in a production environment.

Configuration Guide:

Step 1: Reset configuration to factory default

  1. Attach the antenna to the MAIN ANT socket, and power on the device
  2. Connect the ethernet port to your computer or to the switch that your computer is connected to
  3. Run the Winbox Configuration tool
  4. Click the button labelled \'...\' to the left of the Connect button
  5. Select the Crossroads device when it appears in the list. NOTE be sure to click on the MAC ADDRESS and not the IP address at this stage
  6. When the Winbox console opens, click on theNew Terminal menu item.
  7. When the terminal window opens, enter:
    8. /system reset
  8. Answer \'yes\' to the prompt, and allow the device to reboot

Step 2: Apply the configuration script

  1. Attach the antenna to the MAIN ANT socket, and power on the device
  2. Connect the ethernet port to your computer or to the switch that your computer is connected to
  3. Run the Winbox Configuration tool
  4. Click the button labelled \'...\' to the left of the Connect button
  5. Select the Crossroads device when it appears in the list. NOTE be sure to click on the MAC ADDRESS and not the IP address at this stage
    6. note: the password will now be blank
  6. When the Winbox console opens, click on theNew Terminal menu item.
  7. Open the configuration script file (DuxLinkA.txt or DuxLinkB.txt) in any text editor (e.g. notepad) and choose edit->select all, and then edit->copy
  8. Back in Winbox, right click inside the new Terminal window, and choose paste
  9. Check through the script result for any errors reported, and resolve if needed

When complete, the device will be ready to test and deploy.  Note that the configuration script sets the admin password to "duxtel"

Next, repeat the process using to set up the other end of the DuxLink.

Any questions, comments or feedback are more than welcome - here - or you can add feedback by writing a review of this article using the link below.

Need help with your Mikrotik Configuration projects? As an authorised Mikrotik Consultant, we are available to assist on short term or contract basis. Contact us for more info.