Answers |
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| Product Information |
| Are your computers just regular PCs? |
| Our fit-PC2s are energy-efficient desktop computers, designed to run Windows or Linux, and we sell these with monitors, keyboards, mice and speakers. And they're perfect for all office, retail or classroom applications. |
| However, most of our other computers are not regular PCs. Although they are PC compatible, they generally don't have anywhere to plug in a screen or a keyboard, and they're not designed to run Windows. So you wouldn't normally use them to write documents or browse the Internet. |
| On the other hand, if you (or someone) want to build a firewall, a router, a wireless access point or a server, then the rest of our hardware is perfect for the job. And although a cheap router or wireless access point may cost less, our hardware is incredibly more flexible and powerful because it can run Unix or Linux or BSD, etc which means that you (or someone) can program it to do almost anything. And it's less expensive, more attractive and heaps smaller, quieter and more reliable than a regular beige-box PC. |
| To learn a bit more about our computers, have a look at our small form factor computers page. |
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| Do you sell Mini ITX or Micro ATX? |
We don't sell any Micro ATX form factor boards, but we do have one Mini ITX single board computer (SBC), the ALIX 1 .
The rest of our SBCs are even smaller than Mini ITX, have no moving parts, are extremely reliable and create minimal noise and heat. |
| Worth a look? Check out our range in the catalogue. |
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| Do you sell any PC/104 gear? |
| No, the computers we sell are not PC/104 form factor. |
| Although our single board computers are not stackable, most come with the option of adding expansion cards via miniPCI and/or PCI, and can support compact flash and/or 2.5" hard drives. Multiport LAN cards are also available. |
| Our boards are all small and very robust making them suitable for use in an industrial environment. |
| Worth a look? Check out our range in the catalogue. |
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| Do you sell any 900MHz gear? |
| No, we don't. |
In Australia, 900MHz equipment must:
- operate in the frequency range 916 to 928MHz (inclusive), and
- not be able to operate outside this allowed frequency range
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| Unfortunately much of the 900MHz equipment that is available overseas - including the Ubiquiti SR9 - operates in the frequency range 900 to 928MHz, which means that we are not legally able to sell it. |
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| Do you sell any other Soekris gear? |
| We currently offer the net5501, the LAN 1621 (2-port) and LAN 1741 (4-port) multiport ethernet cards from Soekris Engineering. |
| We're happy to quote on price and availability on anything from their range. Minimum order quantities and lead times will apply. Please contact us for more information. |
| net4501, net4526 & net4826 |
| We don't currently stock the net4501, net4526 or net4826 boards. |
| However, if you're looking for 1 ethernet port and 2 miniPCI slots, you might find that the ALIX 3 board from PC Engines is a good alternative. |
| With a faster processor and more memory than the net4526, plus a Compact Flash slot and a lower price tag, the ALIX 3 might just be worth a look! |
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| Do you sell any Mikrotik stuff? |
| We don't sell any routerboards, RouterOS licences or other Mikrotik products. |
| You might be interested in our range of ALIX 2 and net5501 computers. |
| Please try Jimojo Pty Ltd, GoldenTek Distribution Pty Ltd or DuxTel Pty Ltd for other Mikrotik products. |
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Can't I get the same thing for less by buying direct from overseas?
The short answer? Maybe.
There are a number of issues associated with buying direct from overseas that you might want to consider first.
1. Exchange rates
The price you see on overseas websites may look cheaper because they are often in a different, stronger currency. The exchange rates also fluctuate daily but we want to offer price stability, so we choose a rate and base our prices on it. Long term, if the exchange rate goes up or down significantly, our prices will change to reflect this.
2. Export restrictions
Thanks to increased international security, some countries may refuse to ship goods to you internationally, especially electronic goods.
3. Shipping
Australia is truly the "bottom end of the world", which means it is expensive to ship things to and from here, especially for one or two items. It also can take a lot longer for your goods to arrive.
4. Importing costs
Firstly, there's GST, payable if the value of your goods exceeds $1000. Of course, if you're in business, you get to claim the GST back.
Secondly, there are costs associated with clearance through customs, from $50 to more than $200 depending on who clears it for you, once again applicable for shipments over $1000 in value.
5. Local regulations
Australian regulations are often more strict than they are overseas, which may mean that you can't use your items successfully in Australia. In addition, if you supply the items to someone else and they don't comply with the regulations, you may be breaking the law.
6. Warranties and returns
Things do go wrong sometimes, and it can be a right pain in the neck trying to deal with an overseas supplier, and expensive to ship goods back to them.
So why buy from us?
We believe that we offer value in a number of ways that more than matches any advantage of buying direct from overseas, including:
- No headaches dealing with Customs and freight companies
- No hidden charges
- Known, fixed costs
- Guaranteed compliance with Australian regulations
- Local no-nonsense warranty
- Cheaper shipping costs
- Super fast delivery, including same day shipping on many orders because we hold stock in our own warehouse
- An easy to use website, packed with useful information and resources
- A straightforward shopping and checkout process, with no requirement to register
- A wide range of secure payment options, including credit card, direct deposit and cheque
- An exclusive range of custom designed cases and accessories
- Outstanding customer service, including great communication with real people by phone and email
If you don't see the value in what we offer, then you'll probably be happier buying direct from overseas. Otherwise, please give us a go.
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| Can I get a discount for buying in bulk? |
| Yes, you can. Our quantity pricing starts at 5, and we're also happy to discuss your particular needs. Please contact us for more information or a quote. |
| We also offer reseller and OEM pricing, so if you'd like to offer our products to your customers, or use our products in yours, please let us know and we'll see what we can arrange for you. |
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| Can you sell me a board without the case? |
| Yes, we can. Please see our range of boards in the catalogue. |
| Please note that if you buy a board without a case, it will need to be housed in a suitable metal enclosure, in order to comply with Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) emissions regulations. |
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| What is C-Tick compliance? |
| Anyone who imports equipment into Australia is considered to be the manufacturer by the ACMA and is therefore responsible for ensuring that the equipment complies with the relevant Australian standards for electromagnetic interference (EMI). |
| We are registered with the ACMA as an importer/manufacturer of equipment and all our ALIX, net, fit-PC2 and miniPCI products come with the required C-Tick labelling to indicate compliance with Australian regulations. Our ACMA supplier code, as listed beside the C-Tick logo on our products, is N14401. |
| It is illegal for us to sell equipment that does not bear a C-Tick label, and it is also illegal for us to C-Tick label equipment that has not been tested against the applicable standards. |
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| What's the difference between an unregulated and a regulated power supply? |
Basically, the output voltage of a regulated power supply stays very close to its nominated level (e.g. 12V) over a wide range of current loads. In other words, no matter what you plug into it, provided you don't overload it, it will deliver the specified voltage.
In contrast, the output voltage of an unregulated power supply can vary widely, depending on the current load. In particular, for low current loads, it may output a voltage that is significantly higher than its nominal value, which can be bad for sensitive electronic equipment.
Most of our SBC motherboards can cope with a range of voltages, typically around 10-18V, so using an unregulated power supply should not generally be a problem (please check the specifications for your particular board).
Because the circuitry of regulated power supplies is more complex, they tend to be more expensive than unregulated power supplies, although they are often lighter and smaller. Regulated power supplies also tend to output better quality (smoother) DC than unregulated power supplies.
In the case of our power supplies, our 12V 1.5A and 18V 1A regulated power supplies can fit side-by-side in a powerboard, unlike our unregulated power supply, which can be important when space is at a premium. Our regulated power supplies also happen to output 18W, compared with the 12W of our unregulated power supply, so they are a better option when more power is required, such as with Power over Ethernet (PoE).
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| Can I use the CM9 miniPCI wireless card in my laptop? |
| The CM9 is a miniPCI type 3B wireless card and should fit into any laptop with a miniPCI slot. Please check with your laptop's manufacturer for compatibility with your particular laptop and to obtain the necessary drivers. |
| For a list of laptops that should be compatible with the CM9, you can also click here. |
fit-PC2
How do I install software onto my fit-PC2?
You have a few options for installing new software onto your fit-PC2 or fit-PC2i.
You can get yourself an external USB DVD drive, like we sell with our fit-PC2 bundles.
Or you can you can put your install files onto a USB thumb drive, or install over the network, from another computer.
Can I put Windows XP Pro onto my fit-PC2?
Yes.
We can't sell you an XP Pro licence, due to licensing restrictions from Microsoft.
But if you have a spare XP Pro licence lying around, you're more than welcome to install it, and it should work just fine.
Can I install XXXX operating system onto my fit-PC2?
The short answer is, we don't know.
The fit-PC2 is currently available with Windows XP, Windows 7 and Ubuntu Linux 9.10.
Probably the simplest way to find out is to give it a go.
We can't give you any guarantees, but it's worth a try.
You could also post a question on the fit-PC2 users forum, or try the fit-PC2 wiki.
Can I install a larger hard drive in my fit-PC2?
2.5" hard drives come in two thicknesses - 9.5mm and 12mm - and the fit-PC2 only has space for a 9.5mm drive.
We currently offer the fit-PC2 with a 160GB 2.5" 9.5mm SATA hard drive.
You can source larger hard drives elsewhere, but you will need to make sure that you get a 9.5mm drive.
The largest available 9.5mm drives are currently around the 750GB mark.
Note: The Windows 7 units include a recovery disk that allows you to reinstall onto a larger hard drive.
Where can I find the latest drivers for the fit-PC2?
The latest available drivers for the fit-PC2 are available on the 'Download' page on the fit-PC2 wiki.
What's wrong with my display on my Windows 7 / Windows XP fit-PC2?
If you're having trouble with the display on your Windows fit-PC2, there are a couple of things to try.
Firstly, make sure you have the latest video drivers for Windows on your fit-PC2.
If you're using a VGA adapter on a Windows XP unit, you'll need to use the IEGD display driver, not the GMA500 driver that comes with it by default.
You might also want to check that your unit is not in 'multi-monitor' mode. This can prevent you from accessing the stated maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080. This can be changed via the display settings in Windows 7.
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| ALIX / net5501 |
| What size Compact Flash card should I use with the OpenBSD / Voyage / m0n0wall / pfSense image? |
| Well, that depends on which operating system image you're using, and whether you're downloading it from our OS images page, or getting it preinstalled by us. |
| Operating system | Downloaded image | Preinstalled image |
| m0n0wall |
Doesn't allow you to write to the CF card, so choose the smallest card that will fit the image size i.e. 64MB (or 32MB if you have one) |
| pfSense |
Doesn't allow you to write to the CF card, so choose the smallest card that will fit the image size i.e. 64MB |
| Voyage Linux |
Has been created on a specific size CF card, so choose a CF card to match i.e. 256MB
Note: there will be space left on the CF card for writing files |
Can be installed on any CF card that is at least as big as the image size i.e. 256MB or larger
Note: there will be space left on the CF card for writing files |
| OpenBSD |
Has been created on a specific size CF card, so choose a CF card to match i.e. 64MB
Note: there will be space left on the CF card for writing files |
Can be installed on any CF card that is at least as big as the image size i.e. 64MB or larger
Note: there will be space left on the CF card for writing files |
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| You can find more information on image sizes on our OS images page. |
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| How do I access the image on my CF card? |
You can access the image on your CF card in a number of different ways, for configuration and/or file transfer:
- Via the web interface in m0n0wall and pfSense
- By connecting to the console with a null modem cable
- Using a CF card reader
To access the image on your CF card via the console you'll need a null modem cable and a terminal emulator program such as CU or tip in Unix, or Hyperterminal or Tera Term (Pro) in Windows.
Steps
1. Connect a null modem cable to the console port on your box and the other end to a serial port on the computer running your terminal emulator software.
2. Start your terminal emulator software.
The various settings you'll need can be found in the readme.txt file under the appropriate image on our OS images page.
Windows
In your terminal software, select the appropriate com port (i.e. Com 1, 2, 3, or 4) and set your connection speed, data bits, stop bits and parity.
Click connect/start/go in your software.
Unix
The terminal software is generally run from the command line, with all of the settings provided as switches.
For example, typing
cu -l /dev/ttys0 -s 9600
in OpenBSD will use cu to connect you on ttys0 (first serial port) at a speed of 9600 baud.
3. Apply power to your box.
You should see readable text appear on the screen of your terminal emulator software. If you see garbage, your settings may be wrong. If you see nothing, check your settings, the power supply or your cable.
4. Start playing!
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| Why do I get garbage when I connect to the serial console? |
| The short answer is, your terminal settings need to be changed. |
| Now for the long answer. |
| The factory default terminal speed is 38400 baud for the ALIX board, 19200 baud for the net4801 and net5501 boards and 115200 baud for the nuxV boards. |
| In addition, each operating system image has a particular terminal speed built into the kernel. In the case of OpenBSD, Voyage Linux and monowall, the default terminal speeds should match the factory default settings for the ALIX and net boards. However, some operating system images, including pfSense, have a default terminal speed of 9600 baud. |
| If the terminal speeds of your terminal emulator, your board or your operating system image don't match, then you'll see garbage on the console when you power up. |
| What you need to do to fix it, depends on where you see the garbage. |
A. If you get garbage immediately on power-up, you'll need to do the following:
- Set your terminal emulator speed to match the factory default setting for the board
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| If you're using hyperterminal, you actually need to close the connection to change terminal speeds, even if it tells you otherwise (learned that one the hard way). |
| If you still get garbage, it's possible that someone has already changed the terminal speed on the board, so you'll have to figure out the correct terminal speed by trial and error. |
| Unfortunately with the ALIX, net4801 and net5501, pretty much any standard speed is possible. Happy hunting! |
B. If you get garbage after the BIOS self-test, then your emulator is set to the correct board terminal speed but not to the same as the operating system kernel. To fix this:
- Change the board terminal speed in the BIOS to match the operating system terminal speed
- Set your terminal emulator speed to match the operating system terminal speed
- Reboot the machine
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| C. Garbage at other times might be caused by inconsistent terminal settings within your operating system image, which generally doesn't occur in practice, or by other problems with your software. |
| D. If you get nothing at all when you connect to the console, it's worth checking that your null modem cable is working properly, by plugging it into something else that has a console, such as another ALIX or net board, a router, or a PC on which you've configured a console. |
| E. If you get garbage on our website, well then it's just your lucky day! |
| 999V75!/n/kZi^[)ZScSNJcjb{v;=Jz_v}n@@bCJ9%5jjVj1e7R-^e-oBfV-^Z-sCRVjr5CR r
