Opengear alternatives that support 5g?

Sun Apr 28 16:54:54 UTC 2024

We use GL.inet and set up WireGuard VPNs back to our distributed VPN
servers. Our console servers support dual uplink, so we just connect port 1
to the GL.inet LAN and port 2 to our management switch.

Currently, we're still using their LTE model, and it costs ~100 USD per
site, but their 5G models are expensive and cost around $500.

On Sun, Apr 28, 2024 at 6:33 PM Mark Tinka <mark at tinka.africa> wrote:

>
>
> On 4/27/24 17:49, Mel Beckman wrote:
> > Quite often I’m looking for OOBM at antenna sites or in remote DCs where
> there is no Plan B carrier. Cellular has always been the goto choice for
> this, but we keep getting pushed out of contracts by technology upgrades.
> 2g, then 3g, and  next 4g LTE are being deprecated.
> >
> > The main reason for network shutdowns is that the carriers have limited
> spectrum available for expansion. To deliver faster, more cost effective
> data service to customers, carriers must re-use existing spectrum licenses
> with newer, more efficient cellular technology. Old 2G/3G infrastructure
> makes way for new networks, and older cellular devices must be retired. 4g
> may have a decade left before complete absence, but its footprint is
> already shrinking where 5G is available.
> >
> > I’ve seen this first hand with 4g cellular alarm circuits: suddenly they
> get less reliable or fail completely, and the reason always turns out to be
> degraded RSSI due to 5G deployment.
> >
> > So 5G is imperative for cellular OOBM, hence the hunt for COTS drop-in
> replacements that won’t break the bank. Upgrading, for example, 100 antenna
> sites is also a major truck roll cost, so we want to get it right the first
> time.  Physical space and power limitations usually rule out 1U rackmount
> refurb Cisco terminal servers, which is why we need 0U gear. Yes, I can
> cobble together a raspberry pi and some hats and cables and dingles and
> dangles and make a science fair solution. But I need something that is
> commercially supported, won’t have me scratching my head later about what
> version of the Ubuntu is going to work, and won’t randomly fry its
> electronics during a power surge.
> >
> > It’s looking like that solution is firmly priced at ~$500 today.
>
> Fair enough - if the bulk of your OoB use-case is remote (cell) sites,
> your typical options won't work or will be limited.
>
> Oddly, in our parts, we find remote, non-city locations, tend to keep
> their 3G/4G status, or don't even get considered for 5G at all. But I
> guess this will vary by market the world over, so I could see a remote
> site in Norway, for example, having 5G vs. a remote site in, say, Egypt,
> doing the same.
>
> I think what you probably want to consider for the long-term is
> decoupling the device from the network media. If you can attach a MiFi
> router via a USB port to a cheap device (like Mikrotik), this would help
> keep costs down as mobile operators deprecate GSM data technologies in
> the future. I like Mikrotik because in addition to being cheap and
> feature-rich for basic network access, the firmware is regularly
> upgradeable unlike typical consumer-style CPE's.
>
> Mark.
>
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