[RIPE Atlas Ambassadors] power supplies

See inline

On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 2:18 PM, Nick Hilliard <nick at netability.ie> wrote:

> Geert Jan de Groot wrote:
> > Perhaps we can ask RIPE whether or not to include the supplies
> > when a set of ambassador-probes is prepared
>
> What plug fitting, though?
>
> > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets


If you look at this list:
http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/ which is a more
practical resource, you will see that many sockets are compatible with plug
type C. in fact, only the following plugs needs to be provided: A, C, D, G,
I, M.

perhaps in your country it's not a problem, but you really need to take a
world view if you want to have world-view coverage of probes. more on that
below.


> USB type A is probably the most portable micro-power supply format in
> existence and locally compatible adapters are easily available in almost
> all countries in the world.  Requesting that the RIPE NCC provide PSUs
> is turning a minor quibble on the part of Atlas users into a major
> stocking and expense headache for the RIPE NCC.
>
>
I disagree - considering the already large expense and stocking of probes,
adding PSUs when bought in bulk should not be a major increase and will
help get more coverage in some remote places that need it. this in return
may well be worth some increase of system abuse. at the very least this
should be strongly considered in countries which suffer from a sub-par
probe-to-eyeball ratio.


> Also, most switches, routers and home CPEs have USB type A sockets in
> them, which are ideal for powering probes.  Personally I've never
> connected up a probe on its own dedicated power supply.
>
>
This is exactly where the problem starts - you inferring from your own
personal experiences and casting it unto others. so let me entertain you
about this: I live in a modern OECD country but there is a duopoly on
internet infrastructure (split from ISPs), and 3 major consumer ISPs. The
selection of routers or STB-router combos you will find at homes tends be
relatively uniform. as it happens the cable company routers either lack the
USB ports or have them unpowered. I would wager this situation can be even
worse in other countries where there is an even tighter hold on the market
- so if ambassadors ask for it, I would at the very least listen to their
concerns and not dismiss them.

here's a good (and related) read:
http://sietch-tabr.tumblr.com/post/126738515322/installing-atlas-probe-in-mongolia
can you guess the number of active probes in mongolia right now? 4
disconnected and 1 abandoned probe.


> Nick
>
> _______________________________________________
> RIPE-Atlas-Ambassadors mailing list
> RIPE-Atlas-Ambassadors at ripe.net
> https://www.ripe.net/mailman/listinfo/ripe-atlas-ambassadors
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: </ripe/mail/archives/ripe-atlas-ambassadors/attachments/20151225/e37016cf/attachment.html>