[Openbts-discuss] New to OpenBTS and assembly question

[Robin K. <ml...@ro...>]

Hi all!
OK, so I'm pretty new to this whole GSM networking / OpenBTS thing, and just starting to get into it really. I'd really like to build up my own OpenBTS network as a kind of hobby project as a first step just to get into the matter, and then decide where to go next once I've gotten a hands-on experience of what's possible with the hardware and software.
So, first thing I did was I had a look at the "OpenBTS for dummies" guide (had to search for it on Google, as the link on the Wiki appears to be broken). So far, it looked quite OK to me, and I guess I'll be able to wrap my brain around most of the things that need to be done. However, I'm a bit helpless concerning the clock which needs to be soldered onto the board in order to create a functioning GSM network. Personally, I'm an experienced computer user, I know about all hardware inside my PC and how to replace any of them. However, when it comes to things like soldering and all kinds of stuff like that, I am a total noob, and don't really feel like experimenting with these things on a $700 USRP. Very unfortunately, I also can't think of anyone within my social network who would have sufficient skills, so I'm not really sure how to proceed with this. Is there any place where I could buy a USRP that already comes with a more advanced onboard clock? I've had a look at the USRP development kit, but this seems to be a complete hardware / software solution, and I don't wanna spoil myself the fun of at least setting up the software side of things myself. So, is there any way for me of getting around this issue?
Thanks a lot for any suggestions!
Robin