Diagrams for permissable SmartLink hardware configurations

Paul Bradbeer

I've seen lots of text about SSDR V2.0.17 and SmartLink but I don't think I've seen many diagrams.  I'm not very strong on the whole network infrastructure side of things (but willing to learn) and I'm struggling to understand what the permissible hardware set-ups and connections are.  I think a set of network/connection diagrams showing all the possible permutations of connections (wifi and Ethernet) would be of great help to at least some of us.... 

Paul M0CVX

Rick WN2C

I would second this. Looking at another thread, I am under the impression that even tho my radio is connected via cable to a PC and that PC wifi to internet, I can remotely operate over this type of connection setting up a 'bridge' using my laptop for remote operating.

Al Reeves

I totally Agree!!!  Please FSR ASAP

Ria

This is probably a good idea to have.

I would suggest though for optimal remote operation that your Flex 6000 series transceiver be connected to the LAN side of your router either directly or via a switch. 

Ria

Gerald-K5SDR

Here is my diagram from home.  I use an Asus AC68u router.  The radio and my rack mounted PC each connect directly to the router.  I can use my iPad in the house on my home LAN and away from home over LTE or on location WiFi.  The router had uPnP enabled by default and it just worked.  That is my under desk 12U rack with the FLEX-6700.

Ken Hansen

Flex and pc tied directly to router

Ken Hansen

PC wireless, Flex wireless by adding 'Gaming Adapter' to flex, puts RJ-45 port on wireless network

Ken Hansen

Flex wired to PC Ethernet port, pc wired to router on second Ethernet port (requires PC to have2 NICs), requires INternet Connection sharing to be turned on, binding two ports together

Ken Hansen

Flex wired to pc Ethernet port, pc on wireless network, requires INternet Connection Sharing be turned on to bind LAN port to wireless

Ken Hansen

Yours is nicer than mine...

Ken Hansen

Note, I have not considered Maestro in the above diagrams, as it creates too many permutations... with PC, without PC, wired, wireless...

Paul Bradbeer

Thank you for the series of diagrams, Ken. I appreciate that, and I think it will help not just me but many others.  I guess my point (and the reason for starting the thread) is that, for me, a package of diagrams like this is what I'd hope for from FRS along with the various user guides, rlease notes etc....a bit like the diagrams in 'normal' radio manuals that show the connections for ancillary equipment  ;-)

Paul Bradbeer

But your diagrams have more permutations, Ken  :-)

Ken Hansen

Best I could do in line at TSA w/ iPhone.

K3SF

My current configuration in anticipation for 6600M delivery

The fios router has uPnP and its wifi is turned off and the two Airport Extremes (AE) are in bridge mode with WiFi turned on. The one AE is in radio room in west wing of the house serviced with 100ft Cat6E and the other AE in east wing with 25Ft Cat6E.

Dan -- KC4GO

What no prototype 6800

Rick WN2C

Ken, are you saying that you can put a wireless 'gaming adapter on the flex? Say a 6300 and then connect to it remotely by a laptop?

EMIL-DL8JJ

Here my setup...

cheers, Emil, de DL8JJ

Mike va3mw

Here is mine.  Pretty simple.

Neil D Friedman N3DF

Will SmartLink work if my radio is connected to my lan by ethernet cable but my (local) PC remains connected by wifi?  Thanks for any help.

NX6D Dave

That's probably the best configuration.

Tim - W4TME

If your wifi IP network is the same as your wired IP network, which is usually the case with consumer grade wifi router/firewalls, then the answer is yes.

It is the configuration I recommend.

Ria

This is mine. 
Highlights:
Guest zone
WPA-RADIUS (highly secure wifi)
core switch with VLANs and PoE
Failover to 4G LTE if main WAN goes down.

LOts of stuff omitted... but this is the gist of it. Essentially the flex, maestro and PC are on the same LAN via a gig switch. Wifi access points for iPhone and iPad, also on same LAN (via VLAN).

Kevin

Ria... can you explain the failover to 4G? My only Internet connection is 4G via AT&T Unite Pro. No go for SmartLink. I had a helpdesk ticket but no solution. I'm really hoping someone in the community has a fix.

The issue I see is that the radio does not register as a UPnP device. I tried manual port forwarding and still nothing.

I think what is killing me is that the WAN interface has an RFC-1918 address which means there must be a NAT going on in the AT&T network. Does your 4G wan interface have a public or private IP?

I'm screaming with frustration here and I'm trying my best to keep a good attitude about this but I have to admit, I'm getting tired of one failure after another. I really need something to work right and hope you have a solution I missed.

73,
Kev K4VD

Ria

I haven't tested with the 4G failover. Maybe I should. It's just a 4G USB hotspot.
You are correct in that there is NAT at the carrier level (all wireless carriers do this). I don't know if UPNP will traverse it. My guess is no.

Kevin

There's $200 shot. Appreciate you looking into it.

Paul Bradbeer

Thank you, Ria (and the other individual's who have posted diagrams).  Going back to my original post though, my idea was that it would help lots of people (and reduce forum traffic?) if FRS produced a diagram set to go along with Release Notes/FAQ etc.  I know a favoured saying is 'the software is the radio' but it still needs hardware connected (Ethernet, wifi etc) to make it work.  I just feel that the info package would be strengthened by the addition of connection/network diagrams - especially for those of us for whom networks aren't second nature  ;-)   Regards  Paul  M0CVX

Ernest

Here is from the Flex insider volume December 2012.
"A word from our CEO"

Physically Connecting the FLEX-6000 to the LAN

The simplest broadband Internet connected LAN configuration is where the broadband modem/router that has only one connection to the Internet, referred to as the wide area network (WAN) port and one LAN Ethernet port directly connected to a single PC.  Refer to the diagram below.

  

 

In this configuration, there are not any available or "open" Ethernet ports to connect the FLEX-6000 or other network devices to the LAN, so additional port capacity must be added by inserting an Ethernet Switch in between the broadband modem / router and the PC.

 

Once an Ethernet switch has been installed in the network as shown below, the FLEX-6000 Signature Series SDR can be physically connected to the LAN via one of the available open Ethernet switch ports.  Refer to the diagram below.  

 

 

 

 

There are a few considerations to take into account when selecting an Ethernet switch to expand your LAN's port capacity.  The FLEX-6000 Signature Series SDRs come equipped with a gigabit (1000 Mbps) 1000BASE-T Ethernet port that can operate at lower speeds such as 100 Mbps.  To accommodate the different Ethernet device speeds, Ethernet switches are available in multiple speed varieties; ranging from 10 Mbps to 10,000 Mbps so it is recommended to use an Ethernet switch that is capable of operating at different port speeds for greatest flexibility.

Albert PA0A

Kevin,

The same problem here, LTE 4G via TELE2 is my primary, trying for 2 days already to get it working, no luck until now.

73, Albert 

Ken Hansen

Yes. The wireless gaming adapter makes the Flex a peer with the laptop in the same network.