[RIPE Atlas Ambassadors] power supplies

Thanks Gil for your insight. 
I live in high-multi-provider country (Ukraine) and only distributed probes to ISP employees and like - and yet some probes left unpowered.

As a geek I always have more hardware than I need, for for others it is not always a case.
For example, I don't know electrical power guidance for probe power supply - is 1A ok?
Sticking it to random 700 mA phone power supply may not be a good idea.

So, either a list of compatibles supplies, or even available at cost to ambassador is better (if that cost would be then split between each host.)

Of course we can ask RIPE NCC to stock supplies but I wonder if supply chain management and shipping is their strong suit.

-- dk@

> On 25 груд. 2015, at 22:48, Gil Bahat <gil at magisto.com> wrote:
> 
> 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
>> 
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