Standard Power & 2 New Hardware Ver for BE98 Pro

[jixiangyuan]

It seems that ASUS plans to add automatic frequency coordination (AFC) to the BE98 Pro to achieve standard power via a future firmware update.

There are also two new hardware versions, V2.5 and V2.7, with V2.7 adding a Barometric pressure sensor to the router, not sure what the purpose of this is.

Source: https://fccid.io/MSQ-RTBE6M00/Letter/C2PC-Letter-7445487

 

[Volt]

... with V2.7 adding a Barometric pressure sensor to the router, not sure what the purpose of this is.

Looks like a barometric sensor is used by AFC for elevation determination. For example, the Qualcomm site states the following: "Qualcomm AFC Geolocation Service offers a cloud-based barometric/pressure sensor calibration service and 3D buildings database-based elevation determination."

Who would have thought that the day would come when Wi-Fi routers would be equipped with barometers!

 

[Poseidon]

Just ordered the BE98 Pro from Best Buy. Arriving tomorrow.

Is there a way to get the latest v2.7 hardware version if an older one is shipped out instead? Can Best Buy locate routers with specific hardware versions?

 

[jixiangyuan]

Looks like a barometric sensor is used by AFC for elevation determination. For example, the Qualcomm site states the following: "Qualcomm AFC Geolocation Service offers a cloud-based barometric/pressure sensor calibration service and 3D buildings database-based elevation determination."

Who would have thought that the day would come when Wi-Fi routers would be equipped with barometers!

But I don’t think barometers are compulsory to achieve AFC, as ASUS (or at least one of their staff) promised to bring AFC to all their existing Wi-Fi 7 routers.

Also, I thought you only need planar coordination information to compare with the database to get AFC. I’m not sure how the elevation information is useful. Could you not get standard power at the same location but at different heights?

 

[jixiangyuan]

Just ordered the BE98 Pro from Best Buy. Arriving tomorrow.

Is there a way to get the latest v2.7 hardware version if an older one is shipped out instead? Can Best Buy locate routers with specific hardware versions?

Don’t think so. I don’t think V2.5 or V2.7 is on the market yet. You can find the hardware version on the outside of the box and on the label on the router. You might want to go to a store and buy it there.

 

[Poseidon]

BE98 Pro arrived today. Hardware version 2.0 (manufactured date of 2024). I assume this is the most current/latest version?

 

[SmileySince1993]

But I don’t think barometers are compulsory to achieve AFC, as ASUS (or at least one of their staff) promised to bring AFC to all their existing Wi-Fi 7 routers.

Also, I thought you only need planar coordination information to compare with the database to get AFC. I’m not sure how the elevation information is useful. Could you not get standard power at the same location but at different heights?

Maybe not compulsory to achieve AFC, but it might improve the result/accuracy, especially for buildings with several floors?

Anyhow, it appears that FCC has this as a requirement for some reason. (I have not read through the actual whitepaper from Bosch (yet), but I was intrigued by the info in this thread about barometric pressure sensor added to the GT-BE98 Pro router, and did a bit of research and stumbled over this link/documentation, see link below.)

From the link :

"Whether at home, in the office, or on the go, we rely on Wi-Fi to connect devices wirelessly in countless places. Wi-Fi 6E/7 has been adopted by many countries to reduce the growing demand for congestion, improve bandwidth and increase speed. Wi-Fi 6E/7 providers are required by FCC regulation FCC-20-51 to report to the AFCs the height above ground of Wi-Fi APs operating at the higher SP power level and in 6 GHz spectrum. For access point installers and system operators, a solution that provides an automated method for recording the vertical location of access points is needed to meet the FCC requirement in a cost-effective manner. One way to address this challenge is to use a barometric pressure-based solution that is able to provide the exact value of the height above the ground for each Wi-Fi AP. Learn more about how our sensing solutions BMP581 and BMP580 can be used for this use case and download the whitepaper presented by NextNav and Bosch Sensortec."

Link to Bosch whitepaper description : https://www.bosch-sensortec.com/white-paper-vertical-location-service.html

That said : I don´t know anything about what kind of sensor that Asus will but into their products, it might be from another vendor than Bosch!

Wbr Smiley

 

[RMerlin]

That said : I don´t know anything about what kind of sensor that Asus will but into their products, it might be from another vendor than Bosch!

ICP-20100, if plans haven't changed.

 

[jerry6]

easier to locate your router and send in the drones

 

[jixiangyuan]

easier to locate your router and send in the drones

WiFi 8: Every router comes with a tactical nuclear weapon inside the router

 

[Crimliar]

easier to locate your router and send in the drones

I have neighbours with SKY Broadband and their "minis". The idea of targeting these things is just so appealing!

 

[Blacklistedcard]

The barometers will be the first thing to fail on these routers. I have a ton of them sitting on my lab desk dead or readings that are not accurate.
I have two weather stations and air quality sensors.

I don't think it's a good idea. Unless they want you to throw out or upgrade your router all the time.

 

[jixiangyuan]

The barometers will be the first thing to fail on these routers. I have a ton of them sitting on my lab desk dead or readings that are not accurate.
I have two weather stations and air quality sensors.

I don't think it's a good idea. Unless they want you to throw out or upgrade your router all the time.

I agree it's not a good idea, but are they that fragile? Apple has included barometers in iPhones since 2014. But you don't hear people complaining that their barometers are broken (alright there aren't that many of use cases of barometers on iPhones anyway)

 

[sfx2000]

ICP-20100, if plans haven't changed.

Recent device I designed had stringent perf spec requirements...

Precision MHz Super-TCXOs | SiTime

SiTime MEMS precision oscillators deliver the most stable timing under environmental stressors – airflow, rapid temperature change, shock, vibration, poor power supply, and EMI – in a small, robust package. These devices can be programmed to any combination of frequency, stability, voltage, and...

www.sitime.com

MEMS devices are actually mechanical things running at a silicon layer...

They're really freaking cool - MEMS devices at a macro level can be anything from timing to microphones..

Opps, did I say microphone and marketing?

 

[sfx2000]

pple has included barometers in iPhones since 2014. But you don't hear people complaining that their barometers are broken (alright there aren't that many of use cases of barometers on iPhones anyway)

What's kind of fun - iPhones of a certain era - the main TCXO was a MEMS device, and they had an issue with helium intrusion...

Why a Helium Leak Disabled Every iPhone in a Medical Facility

The bizarre incident happened during the installation of an MRI machine and was a surprise to everyone except Apple.

www.vice.com

 

[jixiangyuan]

What's kind of fun - iPhones of a certain era - the main TCXO was a MEMS device, and they had an issue with helium intrusion...

Why a Helium Leak Disabled Every iPhone in a Medical Facility

The bizarre incident happened during the installation of an MRI machine and was a surprise to everyone except Apple.

www.vice.com

Nice job Tim Cook!

 

[sfx2000]

Nice job Tim Cook!

What's funny is that the traditional TCXO would have been more cost efficient at the time...

The SiTime MEMS devices was actually better performing over the long run compared to traditional silicon TCXO's...

Who would have thought that helium getting inside the package would crash the device... we're talking atomic level stuff here...

 

[portets]

Opps, did I say microphone and marketing?

Oof now you got me wondering can a barometer in a router he sensitive enough to record audio

 

[madhatter01]

I wonder if Asus will do the right thing and make a usb Barometric pressure sensor and send it out to current customers. I know we dont need this for AFC, but it still should help. Hopefully Asus will allow customers to request it and mail out the sensor for existing hardware. Of course this is the same company that cant release firmware for their top of the line router.

 

[Blacklistedcard]

The problem is you don't know which version you are buying. Is there anyway to tell?