Nate Duehr wrote: > If you go with WET-11's get a number of extras. My experience with > them in static/lightning conditions (not direct strikes - just active > thunderstorm condx) was poor. Popped a number of them internally, > some replaced under warranty, others out of warranty. Even > un-plugging/plugging one into its own wall-wort power supply blew one > of the early models here. They're definitely "consumer grade" > made-in-China crap, especially compared with the equipment quality > most of us use on our repeater systems. By the time you buy a few > spares and spend a summer replacing them (luckily my adventure with > them never got that far!), you'll wish you bought something designed > to be outdoors in the elements on a tower.
I have a number of these in service (like about 20). Some have been in service for 4 years, or more. A lot of the problems with the earlier WET's was due to the firmware. I use 1.5.8 in my V1 units and have no lock-up problems. Lock-ups were the biggest issue I have seen, not simply 'blowing-up'. > I think if you're planning on more than a season or two of service out > of it, I'd spent a few (a lot?) more bucks and go with something from > Tranzeo or Trango Wireless. At $40 a piece, you can replace them many many times before it becomes cost inefficient. That being said, running good firmware, using good installation practices, and lightning protection, I have had years of service out of them. No I wouldn't use them to replace my Trango back-haul, but those devices (at least the AP's ) cost over $1000 each, while subscriber clients are $300 to $600 each. I don't believe the original poster needed (or wanted) 5, 9's of reliability.
