Difference between revisions of "Mesh Networking"

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==Introduction==
 
==Introduction==
−
Amateur radio mesh networking uses off the shelf commercial wifi hardware strategically located and loaded with special firmware.  Each mesh “node” automatically configures to route traffic to its destination by the most direct series of nodes.  If a node goes off the air or a new node appears, the system automatically adjusts.  There is no central hub or controller and no need to manually configure routes.
+
*Portions of the ISM bands including 2.4GHz and 5GHz, commonly used for Wifi, overlap with ham bands. 
−
The mesh itself is only a network. Applications for this network are virtually unlimited and include:
+
*Smart folks have created custom firmware for commercial wifi/wisp hardware that allows them to act as "nodes" in an automatically-configuring fault-tolerant mesh network.   
−
*IP phones
+
*It started with the then very common Linksys WRT54G routers but has since moved up to some seriously robust outdoor-rated equipment made by Ubiquity.   
−
*Video feeds
+
*You can do anything with it that you could do over an ordinary LAN - as long as you conform to the Ham regs.   
−
*Text chat
+
*Hams can use
 +
**More power
 +
**Higher gain
 +
**Some frequencies not available to the general public.
 +
 
 +
See this brochure for a good overview:
 +
[https://www.arednmesh.org/aredn-advantage The AREDN Advantage]
 +
 
 +
==Applications and Services==
 +
*IP phones http://www.trevorsbench.com/portable-mesh-node-with-voip-and-wifi/
 +
*IP Camera Video feeds
 +
**Weather/Smoke spotting
 +
*Text chat http://www.trevorsbench.com/meshchat-messaging-for-mesh-networks/
 
*File transfer
 
*File transfer
 
*Hosting intra-net web sites
 
*Hosting intra-net web sites
−
Capabilities such as these could prove invaluable to emergency services in a situation where, for instance, the internet, cell phones and land lines are not available.
+
*Public event coverage
 +
**http://orange-arrl.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/The-Orange-Report-June-2015-V4.pdf (starts on page 15)
 +
*Field-deployable nodes
 +
**http://www.trevorsbench.com/portable-mesh-node-with-voip-and-wifi/
 +
**Temporary nodes can easily be deployed to provide a video feeds along a parade or marathon route, for instance.
 +
 
 +
Capabilities such as these could prove invaluable to emergency services in a situation where, for instance, the internet, cell phones and land lines are not available.
 +
 
 +
==Initial Objectives==
 +
It was proposed that providing IP phone service connecting multiple fire stations would be well-received.
 +
 
 +
==Node Sites==
 +
 
 +
[https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1KYPxJhXX45McCodg6ZuRD0ZT6Mg&hl=en&usp=sharing Google map of potential sites and links]
 +
 
 +
[http://usercontent.arednmesh.org/K/5/K5DLQ/livemap2.html?lat=40.761042&lon=-74.986557&z=13 Warren County view of official AREDN live map]
 +
 
 +
===Current Sites===
 +
*83 Fire Washington Boro '''Complete 12/10/2016'''
 +
*WC Tech roof
 +
**Nanostations facing East & West
 +
*KD2EVR QTH (Washington Boro)
 +
*K2FN QTH ?
 +
 
 +
===Prospective Sites===
 +
*76 Fire Washington Twp.
 +
**Pleasant Valley Rd.
 +
**Washburn Ave
 +
*Montana Moutain Tower
 +
**Omni antenna w/ Rocket radio
 +
*23 Fire Harmony
 +
**KC2VGY Kyle?
 +
**KC2WCQ Robert Mohr
 +
**KC2SJU Brain Unangst
 +
*21 Rescue Belvidere
 +
**KC2SJT Michael Unangst
 +
**KC2SJU Brian Unangst
 +
*Lopatcong FD #2
 +
 
  
−
Temporary nodes can easily be deployed to provide a video feeds along a parade or marathon route, for instance. 
 
  
−
==Initial Ideas==
+
===Most wanted list===
−
*It was proposed that providing IP phones service connecting multiple fire stations would be well-received.
+
Hams w/ favorable QTH - need introductions
−
*W2SJT VHF repeater site
+
*NJ
−
**LOS to most other potential sites
+
** N2WVW William Kober - Kobers Truck Parts edge of Montana Mountain
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**Save it for when we have more experience?
+
*** Interesting guy: http://www.arrl.org/soapbox/view/5777
−
*Belvidere Ambulance Squad to Harmony Firehouse (to WC3T in Nazareth PA?)
+
**KC2VGS Charles Nyland - Cemetery Hill Rd. w/ view to South
−
*Roof or Warren Tech to Washington Boro Firehouse and/or K2FN
+
*PA
 +
**Paxinosa Rd. Easton
 +
***KB3MXP Schwartzman, Daniel M - email on QRZ
 +
***K3HKZ ADAMS, CHARLES F
 +
***N3TAN CIACCIO, RAYMOND V
 +
***W0RSJ Murphy, William T
 +
***W3DKV CARRON JR, LAWRENCE P
 +
***KB2WFR LOKEY, PAUL E
 +
**N3LWY FRANKENFIELD, DAVID J Morgan Hill, Easton
 +
 
 +
==Logistics==
 +
===Wish List===
 +
*More Nodes
 +
*Grounding wire
 +
*Lightening arrestors
 +
**[https://dl.ubnt.com/guides/ETH-SP/ETH-SP_QSG.pdf ETH-SP]https://amzn.com/B00R20OIAY
 +
*POE Injectors (with and without AC power supply)
 +
**https://amzn.com/B00SU9DNDY
 +
**https://amzn.com/B00NTTHLRO
 +
**https://amzn.com/B00HXT8LPW
 +
*CAT5 Patch Cords
 +
*Managed and Unmanaged network switches for linking multiple nodes at the same site
 +
*IP Phones
 +
**https://amzn.com/dp/B015YNST1O
 +
**https://amzn.com/B00KNU2TRE
 +
*IP Cameras
 +
**https://amzn.com/B01HTYW2Q4
 +
*Gel-cells for temporary nodes
 +
*Battery Chargers
 +
**https://amzn.com/B0051D3MP6
 +
*Solar charger controllers
 +
*Site Access!
  
−
==Phase One==
+
==Background/Reference==
−
We've already experimented with nodes that are relatively near each other so the next step could be to temporarily create a more complex network over longer range where some nodes can not see all the other nodes. 
+
===LOS Link Checking Tools===
−
==Phase Two==
+
*https://airlink.ubnt.com/
−
Semi-permanent installation at a few of the sites above.
+
*http://www.heywhatsthat.com/
−
==Site Requirements==
+
===Site Requirements===
 
*Strictly line-of-sight
 
*Strictly line-of-sight
 
**Even tree leaves can attenuate the signal
 
**Even tree leaves can attenuate the signal
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***Float charged backup
 
***Float charged backup
 
***Solar/Wind/etc.
 
***Solar/Wind/etc.
−
*Multiple nodes one one site
+
*Multiple nodes at one site
 
**Probably need to be on different channels
 
**Probably need to be on different channels
−
**Two nodes can be linked ethernet port to ethernet port
+
***http://tim-yvonne.com/ham/mesh/array/index.htm
 +
**Two nodes can be linked directly ethernet port to ethernet port
 
**More than two need a network switch
 
**More than two need a network switch
 +
***http://www.aredn.org/content/device-device-linking-dtdlink
 +
***https://www.scc-ares-races.org/mesh/doc/D2D_Linking_BBHN_Ubiquiti_v150504.pdf
 +
*HF/VHF radios on site not likely to be a problem
 +
**scroll down http://www.tim-yvonne.com/ham/mesh/
  
−
==Hardware Inventory==
+
===Hardware Types===
−
Courtesy of KD2EVR
+
*All started with Linksys WRT54G router
−
*4x Nanostation M2
+
*Mostly superseded by Ubiquiti outdoor-rated units
−
*5x Nanobridge M2
+
**Dual-chain devices are preferred
−
*3x AC-input POE Injectors
+
***Nanostation - 60 degree beam width
−
==Wish List==
+
***Nanobridge - narrow beam
−
*Outdoor shielded CAT5 cable
+
***Rocket - up to 120 degree sector antenna or Omni
−
*Shielded Connectors
+
**Single chain
−
*Grounding wire
+
***Bullet
−
*Lightening arrestors
+
***Airgrid
−
*More Nodes
+
*Compatibility
−
*POE Injectors (with and without AC power supply)
+
**WARNING - Ubiquiti devices with V5.6 or later factory firmware must first be downgraded to V5.5 before flashing mesh firmware
−
*CAT5 Patch Cords
+
**WARNING - The "M" in the Ubiquity nomenclature is important.  For instance, a "Nanostation 2" is an older device and not usable - you want a "Nanostation M2"
−
*Managed and Unmanaged network switches for linking multiple nodes at the same site
+
**http://broadband-hamnet.com/which-hardware-to-use.html
−
*Gel-cells for temporary nodes
+
**http://www.arednmesh.org/content/supported-platform-matrix
−
*Site Access!
+
*[http://ae5ca.com/?p=74 Your first BBHN node should be a NanoStationM2]
 +
 
 +
===Node Software===
 +
*Broadband-hammnet (BBHN)
 +
**originally named High Speed Multi-Media (HSMM) http://broadband-hamnet.com/
 +
**Still supports WRT54G router
 +
*Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (AREDN) https://arednmesh.org/
 +
**Spun off from BBHN
 +
**More active development
 +
**More descriptive and "professional" sounding name when approaching agencies
 +
**Dropped support of WRT54G
 +
*HSMM-Pi https://github.com/urlgrey/hsmm-pi
 +
**Install script for Raspberry Pi
 +
**Probably works on other Linux PC's as well
 +
Good news as that all current versions still interoperate so far.

Latest revision as of 22:14, 22 March 2020

Introduction

  • Portions of the ISM bands including 2.4GHz and 5GHz, commonly used for Wifi, overlap with ham bands.
  • Smart folks have created custom firmware for commercial wifi/wisp hardware that allows them to act as "nodes" in an automatically-configuring fault-tolerant mesh network.
  • It started with the then very common Linksys WRT54G routers but has since moved up to some seriously robust outdoor-rated equipment made by Ubiquity.
  • You can do anything with it that you could do over an ordinary LAN - as long as you conform to the Ham regs.
  • Hams can use
    • More power
    • Higher gain
    • Some frequencies not available to the general public.

See this brochure for a good overview: The AREDN Advantage

Applications and Services

Capabilities such as these could prove invaluable to emergency services in a situation where, for instance, the internet, cell phones and land lines are not available.

Initial Objectives

It was proposed that providing IP phone service connecting multiple fire stations would be well-received.

Node Sites

Google map of potential sites and links

Warren County view of official AREDN live map

Current Sites

  • 83 Fire Washington Boro Complete 12/10/2016
  • WC Tech roof
    • Nanostations facing East & West
  • KD2EVR QTH (Washington Boro)
  • K2FN QTH ?

Prospective Sites

  • 76 Fire Washington Twp.
    • Pleasant Valley Rd.
    • Washburn Ave
  • Montana Moutain Tower
    • Omni antenna w/ Rocket radio
  • 23 Fire Harmony
    • KC2VGY Kyle?
    • KC2WCQ Robert Mohr
    • KC2SJU Brain Unangst
  • 21 Rescue Belvidere
    • KC2SJT Michael Unangst
    • KC2SJU Brian Unangst
  • Lopatcong FD #2


Most wanted list

Hams w/ favorable QTH - need introductions

  • NJ
  • PA
    • Paxinosa Rd. Easton
      • KB3MXP Schwartzman, Daniel M - email on QRZ
      • K3HKZ ADAMS, CHARLES F
      • N3TAN CIACCIO, RAYMOND V
      • W0RSJ Murphy, William T
      • W3DKV CARRON JR, LAWRENCE P
      • KB2WFR LOKEY, PAUL E
    • N3LWY FRANKENFIELD, DAVID J Morgan Hill, Easton

Logistics

Wish List

Background/Reference

LOS Link Checking Tools

Site Requirements

Hardware Types

Node Software

  • Broadband-hammnet (BBHN)
  • Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (AREDN) https://arednmesh.org/
    • Spun off from BBHN
    • More active development
    • More descriptive and "professional" sounding name when approaching agencies
    • Dropped support of WRT54G
  • HSMM-Pi https://github.com/urlgrey/hsmm-pi
    • Install script for Raspberry Pi
    • Probably works on other Linux PC's as well

Good news as that all current versions still interoperate so far.

Retrieved from "http://wc2fd.com/index.php?title=Mesh_Networking&oldid=2043"