To simplify testing I would like to allow computers on one router's LAN access
to computers on another router's LAN across the Wi-Fi mesh connection.

Having led a sheltered life with network engineers taking care of all these
details, my initial attempts haven't gone well.  I'm off to the library tomorrow
to stock up on Linux networking references!

I've looked at info on the OpenWRT Wiki and Forum, but always manage to lock
myself out of the LAN port totally and have to reflash.

I'm not concerned about security at this point.  Each router would have its LAN
in a unique subnet in 172.27.x.0/24.

Surely someone has done this already....

Steve, W3AHL

Steve,

Sounds good.  I have some of the Ubuiquiti radios and have not had time to test
them.

Please post any of your findings, limited time and money keep me from testing
all
the stuff I would like.  Also, any field experience you have with the
propogation
on the different bands, corrolated with the weather (rain for example) would be
interesting. 

There are tools that caluculate the theoritical propogation.  I would be
interested to
know chow closely the tools match field experience.

Much of the Wi-Fi related info posted to the Internet covers experience in
quickly
setting up a connection, but there is not much news of how the gear works under
differing conditions and for extended periods of time.

We have stayed with the WRT54GL during initial firmware development in that
it took all our resources to get some of the key features we wanted in.  We
hope
to cross port the firmware to other platforms as resources allow.

Discount electronics here in Austin sells a 1 watt 2.4GHz BDA.  One of our
HSMM SIG members runs a FCC RF compliance lab and tested the device.
It works fine and runs cool at 1 watt.  Unfortunately it runs on 6 VDC.  Not
too
andy for portable use.

It sells for $69.00.  I have a couple of them and they seem to work as
expected.

Keep us posted as to how the Bullet works.  I almost ordered one, but have too
much untested gear on  the bench already.

-Glenn
KD5MFW

--- On Thu, 11/19/09, Steve W3AHL <w3ahl@...> wrote:

From: Steve W3AHL <w3ahl@...>
Subject: [ntms-hsmm] Re: Using Ubiquiti Bullet for MESH Connection
To: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 8:05 PM







 









       Glen,



I would like to use the Bullet 2HP or 5HP in place of the WRT54's on-board radio
to connect to the mesh network.  It would plug into one of the LAN ports (it's
not a bi-amp, but a 29dBm/800mw 1-port AP for $80).



The 18dBm/60mw output of the WRT54's radio isn't enough for the project I'm
working on.  I have a fair amount of experience with an HSMM bridged network in
PA that used 400mw Senao cards and 14 dBi omni and 19dBi dish antennas and would
like to stay in that range, even if it costs a little more.  Ten miles across
typical terrain and foliage was fairly reliable (if you could get LOS) at 5 Mbps
rates.  Much further and the link would downgrade to 1 Mbps or drop usually.



I need enough S/N margin to withstand heavy rain and wet foliage (we have a lot
of trees here).  We have access to a 1000' platform on a tower for one node, but
the rest will be on 3-10 story commercial buildings in a two county area.



Radio Mobile coverage maps show that 600mw transmit power should work -- 60mw
won't cover the longer links with enough margin to keep the speed up and there
aren't good locations to put intermediate nodes to shorten the path.



Steve, W3AHL

--- In ntms-hsmm@yahoogrou ps.com, Glenn Currie <kd5mfw_7@.. .> wrote:

>

> You have some interesting pieces of hardware.  I am not sure I understand
what you

> are trying to do when you say "extend the range"  - range of what? - the
LAN side of

> the mesh connection?

>

> You mention wanting to add OLSR to the Ubiquity Bullet device - are you trying
to

> extend the range of the 54GL based mesh node you are plugged into?  That
is, extend

> the existing mesh network?  or set up another mesh network cross linked
with the

> mesh the 54GL is participating in?

>

> Are your trying to use the Bullet as a mesh node or a Bi-Directional- Amp for
the 54GL?

>

> With flat land and not much RF in the path, the WRT54GL based mesh nodes with

> a 11dB omni antenna,  connected to one antenna connector, 5 feet off the
ground - no amp, can link at a distance of over 7 miles.

>

> With gain directional antennas, and no amp we have made links of over 15 miles
across

> down town Austin.  At that point the curvature of the earth gets to be a
problem on

> flat land, and the time of flight of the signal becomes longer than the
expected ACK

> time for a packet on some equipment.

>

> I am interested in your testing, but am not clear of what you are trying to do
by attaching

> the Ubuiquiti Billet to the LAN side of a 54GL based mesh node.  There are
a number of

> different things you could do.

>

> -Glenn

> KD5MFW

>

>

>

> --- On Thu, 11/19/09, Steve W3AHL <w3ahl@...> wrote:

>

> From: Steve W3AHL <w3ahl@...>

> Subject: [ntms-hsmm] Using Ubiquiti Bullet for MESH Connection

> To: ntms-hsmm@yahoogrou ps.com

> Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 4:37 PM

>

>       I have the WRT54GL running the 0.3.1 mesh firmware and so does another
local ham, so we can get familiar with HSMM-MESH.



>

> And I have Ubuntu installed and am working through some issues with getting an
OpenWRT image builder environment working.

>

> The next step is to see if I can customize the firmware to use a Ubiquiti
Bullet connected to one of the WRT54GL's LAN ports for the mesh Wi-Fi connection
to extend the range.

>

> Has anyone else looked into the feasibility of this yet?

>

> I have a general idea of how to create another VLAN for the port the Bullet is
plugged into.  I haven't looked into what would need to be changed in OLSR.

>

> I'm trying to get a few demo units running for range testing and proof of
concept using the WRT54's, but would probably use something like a Mikrotik or
other embedded board for the main nodes eventually.

>

> If anyone knows of a major technical obstacle I'll encounter while pursuing
this, I would appreciate your insights in advance!

>

> Steve, W3AHL

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>

























[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Glen,

I would like to use the Bullet 2HP or 5HP in place of the WRT54's on-board radio
to connect to the mesh network.  It would plug into one of the LAN ports (it's
not a bi-amp, but a 29dBm/800mw 1-port AP for $80).

The 18dBm/60mw output of the WRT54's radio isn't enough for the project I'm
working on.  I have a fair amount of experience with an HSMM bridged network in
PA that used 400mw Senao cards and 14 dBi omni and 19dBi dish antennas and would
like to stay in that range, even if it costs a little more.  Ten miles across
typical terrain and foliage was fairly reliable (if you could get LOS) at 5 Mbps
rates.  Much further and the link would downgrade to 1 Mbps or drop usually.

I need enough S/N margin to withstand heavy rain and wet foliage (we have a lot
of trees here).  We have access to a 1000' platform on a tower for one node, but
the rest will be on 3-10 story commercial buildings in a two county area.

Radio Mobile coverage maps show that 600mw transmit power should work -- 60mw
won't cover the longer links with enough margin to keep the speed up and there
aren't good locations to put intermediate nodes to shorten the path.

Steve, W3AHL
--- In ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com, Glenn Currie <kd5mfw_7@...> wrote:
>
> You have some interesting pieces of hardware.  I am not sure I understand
what you
> are trying to do when you say "extend the range"  - range of what? - the LAN
side of
> the mesh connection?
>
> You mention wanting to add OLSR to the Ubiquity Bullet device - are you trying
to
> extend the range of the 54GL based mesh node you are plugged into?  That is,
extend
> the existing mesh network?  or set up another mesh network cross linked with
the
> mesh the 54GL is participating in?
>
> Are your trying to use the Bullet as a mesh node or a Bi-Directional-Amp for
the 54GL?
>
> With flat land and not much RF in the path, the WRT54GL based mesh nodes with
> a 11dB omni antenna,  connected to one antenna connector, 5 feet off the
ground - no amp, can link at a distance of over 7 miles.
>
> With gain directional antennas, and no amp we have made links of over 15 miles
across
> down town Austin.  At that point the curvature of the earth gets to be a
problem on
> flat land, and the time of flight of the signal becomes longer than the
expected ACK
> time for a packet on some equipment.
>
> I am interested in your testing, but am not clear of what you are trying to do
by attaching
> the Ubuiquiti Billet to the LAN side of a 54GL based mesh node.  There are a
number of
> different things you could do.
>
> -Glenn
> KD5MFW
>
>
>
> --- On Thu, 11/19/09, Steve W3AHL <w3ahl@...> wrote:
>
> From: Steve W3AHL <w3ahl@...>
> Subject: [ntms-hsmm] Using Ubiquiti Bullet for MESH Connection
> To: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 4:37 PM
>
>       I have the WRT54GL running the 0.3.1 mesh firmware and so does another
local ham, so we can get familiar with HSMM-MESH.

>
> And I have Ubuntu installed and am working through some issues with getting an
OpenWRT image builder environment working.
>
> The next step is to see if I can customize the firmware to use a Ubiquiti
Bullet connected to one of the WRT54GL's LAN ports for the mesh Wi-Fi connection
to extend the range.
>
> Has anyone else looked into the feasibility of this yet?
>
> I have a general idea of how to create another VLAN for the port the Bullet is
plugged into.  I haven't looked into what would need to be changed in OLSR.
>
> I'm trying to get a few demo units running for range testing and proof of
concept using the WRT54's, but would probably use something like a Mikrotik or
other embedded board for the main nodes eventually.
>
> If anyone knows of a major technical obstacle I'll encounter while pursuing
this, I would appreciate your insights in advance!
>
> Steve, W3AHL
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Thanks John.  I had looked at OpenMesh, but didn't find their open source files
on the first pass.

The RouterStation looks like a good way to go.  I look forward to hearing more
as you get it running.

I sure wish I had stopped by some weekend to see your MCU project while I was
living in PA.  But I enjoy the web updates.

Steve, W3AHL

--- In ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com, "John K. Scoggin, Jr." <aat3bf@...> wrote:
>
> Steve --
>
> This should get you started:
>
http://wiki.ubnt.com/wiki/index.php/Bullet_Nano_mesh#How_to_configure_Ubiquiti_B\
ullet_2_or_Nano2.2FLoco_2_in_mesh_mode_.28BETA_firmware.29
>
> I've got the hardware, but I'm waiting for my USB cables to the RouterStation
end of the puzzle first (and I'm running the 3.4-GHz cards along with 900 MHz).
>
>
> So many toys, so little time.
>
> :)
>
>
> (On a ++ note, Analog Device's ADL5519 Evaluation Board arrived today for my
nascent 1 MHz to 10 GHz power meter project.  Neat little board, a lot fewer
support devices than I expected!  The 1.5 - 4 GHz 30dB directional coupler and
a handful of attenuators arrived, as well. I need some board-edge connectors and
assorted SMA and N cables to rig this puppy up along with a little ARM7 board,
serial LCD and keypad,  power supply and shielded enclosure.  Another virtual
trip to DigiKey and/or Mouser in the next few days.
>
> 73s,
>
> john
>
> Charter Member of Geeks Ubiquitus
>
> _____________________________________
>
>
snip...

You have some interesting pieces of hardware.  I am not sure I understand what
you
are trying to do when you say "extend the range"  - range of what? - the LAN
side of
the mesh connection?

You mention wanting to add OLSR to the Ubiquity Bullet device - are you trying
to
extend the range of the 54GL based mesh node you are plugged into?  That is,
extend
the existing mesh network?  or set up another mesh network cross linked with
the
mesh the 54GL is participating in?

Are your trying to use the Bullet as a mesh node or a Bi-Directional-Amp for the
54GL?

With flat land and not much RF in the path, the WRT54GL based mesh nodes with
a 11dB omni antenna,  connected to one antenna connector, 5 feet off the ground
- no amp, can link at a distance of over 7 miles.

With gain directional antennas, and no amp we have made links of over 15 miles
across
down town Austin.  At that point the curvature of the earth gets to be a
problem on
flat land, and the time of flight of the signal becomes longer than the expected
ACK
time for a packet on some equipment.

I am interested in your testing, but am not clear of what you are trying to do
by attaching
the Ubuiquiti Billet to the LAN side of a 54GL based mesh node.  There are a
number of
different things you could do.

-Glenn
KD5MFW



--- On Thu, 11/19/09, Steve W3AHL <w3ahl@...> wrote:

From: Steve W3AHL <w3ahl@...>
Subject: [ntms-hsmm] Using Ubiquiti Bullet for MESH Connection
To: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 4:37 PM







 









       I have the WRT54GL running the 0.3.1 mesh firmware and so does another
local ham, so we can get familiar with HSMM-MESH.



And I have Ubuntu installed and am working through some issues with getting an
OpenWRT image builder environment working.



The next step is to see if I can customize the firmware to use a Ubiquiti Bullet
connected to one of the WRT54GL's LAN ports for the mesh Wi-Fi connection to
extend the range.



Has anyone else looked into the feasibility of this yet?



I have a general idea of how to create another VLAN for the port the Bullet is
plugged into.  I haven't looked into what would need to be changed in OLSR.



I'm trying to get a few demo units running for range testing and proof of
concept using the WRT54's, but would probably use something like a Mikrotik or
other embedded board for the main nodes eventually.



If anyone knows of a major technical obstacle I'll encounter while pursuing
this, I would appreciate your insights in advance!



Steve, W3AHL

























[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Steve --



This should get you started:



http://wiki.ubnt.com/wiki/index.php/Bullet_Nano_mesh#How_to_configure_Ubiquiti_B\
ullet_2_or_Nano2.2FLoco_2_in_mesh_mode_.28BETA_firmware.29



I've got the hardware, but I'm waiting for my USB cables to the RouterStation
end of the puzzle first (and I'm running the 3.4-GHz cards along with 900 MHz).



So many toys, so little time.



:)


(On a ++ note, Analog Device's ADL5519 Evaluation Board arrived today for my
nascent 1 MHz to 10 GHz power meter project.  Neat little board, a lot fewer
support devices than I expected!  The 1.5 - 4 GHz 30dB directional coupler and
a handful of attenuators arrived, as well. I need some board-edge connectors and
assorted SMA and N cables to rig this puppy up along with a little ARM7 board,
serial LCD and keypad,  power supply and shielded enclosure.  Another virtual
trip to DigiKey and/or Mouser in the next few days.)





73s,

john

Charter Member of Geeks Ubiquitus

_____________________________________


John K Scoggin, Jr. W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAA9SL

US Army Military Affiliate Radio System

Delaware Gateway Station AAB3DE

Special Consultant - Technology

Emergency Operations Officer – Delaware

“Old RADEF Officers never die, they simply decay exponentially…”



Chief Engineer

Mobile Communications Unit 37 (AAT3CAD/W3MCU)

http://www.armymars.net/ArmyMARS/MCU/index.html


ARRL Assistant Section Manager – Delaware

Email: aat3bf@...

Telephone: (302) 451-5000


 



(On a ++ note, Analog Device's ADL5519 Evaluation Board arrived today for my
nascent 1 MHz to 10 GHz power meter project.  Neat little board, a lot fewer
support devices than I expected!  The 1.5 - 4 GHz 30dB directional coupler and
a handful of attenuators arrived, as well. I need some board-edge connectors and
assorted SMA and N cables to rig this puppy up along with a little ARM7 board,
serial LCD and keypad,  power supply and shielded enclosure.  Another virtual
trip to DigiKey and/or Mouser in the next few days.)





73s,

john

Charter Member of Geeks Ubiquitus

_____________________________________


John K Scoggin, Jr. W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAA9SL

US Army Military Affiliate Radio System

Delaware Gateway Station AAB3DE

Special Consultant - Technology

Emergency Operations Officer – Delaware

“Old RADEF Officers never die, they simply decay exponentially…”



Chief Engineer

Mobile Communications Unit 37 (AAT3CAD/W3MCU)

http://www.armymars.net/ArmyMARS/MCU/index.html


ARRL Assistant Section Manager – Delaware

Email: aat3bf@...

Telephone: (302) 451-5000


 

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve W3AHL" <w3ahl@...>
To: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 5:37:04 PM
Subject: [ntms-hsmm] Using Ubiquiti Bullet for MESH Connection

 




I have the WRT54GL running the 0.3.1 mesh firmware and so does another local
ham, so we can get familiar with HSMM-MESH.

And I have Ubuntu installed and am working through some issues with getting an
OpenWRT image builder environment working.

The next step is to see if I can customize the firmware to use a Ubiquiti Bullet
connected to one of the WRT54GL's LAN ports for the mesh Wi-Fi connection to
extend the range.

Has anyone else looked into the feasibility of this yet?

I have a general idea of how to create another VLAN for the port the Bullet is
plugged into. I haven't looked into what would need to be changed in OLSR.

I'm trying to get a few demo units running for range testing and proof of
concept using the WRT54's, but would probably use something like a Mikrotik or
other embedded board for the main nodes eventually.

If anyone knows of a major technical obstacle I'll encounter while pursuing
this, I would appreciate your insights in advance!

Steve, W3AHL




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Steve W3AHL wrote:
     >Understood.  I'll just change the extension to .bin.   I can
     >download .bin files from OpenWRT.org without any problems.

OpenWrt.org website responds with a file type of
"application/octet-stream" for .bin files which is correct,
at least for these files for download into the access points.
David should tweak his server. :-)

--
    _____                Rusty Haddock  <=>  AE5AE
|\/   o \   o             Way out yonder in the
|   (  -<  O o      Van Alstyne (TX) Metropolitan Area
|/\__V__/       Math illiteracy affects 7 out of 5 people!

I have the WRT54GL running the 0.3.1 mesh firmware and so does another local
ham, so we can get familiar with HSMM-MESH.

And I have Ubuntu installed and am working through some issues with getting an
OpenWRT image builder environment working.

The next step is to see if I can customize the firmware to use a Ubiquiti Bullet
connected to one of the WRT54GL's LAN ports for the mesh Wi-Fi connection to
extend the range.

Has anyone else looked into the feasibility of this yet?

I have a general idea of how to create another VLAN for the port the Bullet is
plugged into.  I haven't looked into what would need to be changed in OLSR.

I'm trying to get a few demo units running for range testing and proof of
concept using the WRT54's, but would probably use something like a Mikrotik or
other embedded board for the main nodes eventually.

If anyone knows of a major technical obstacle I'll encounter while pursuing
this, I would appreciate your insights in advance!

Steve, W3AHL

Understood.  I'll just change the extension to .bin.   I can download .bin files
from OpenWRT.org without any problems.

Thanks,

Steve, W3AHL

--- In ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com, Rusty Haddock <rusty@...> wrote:
>
> Rusty Haddock wrote:
>     >Steve W3AHL wrote:
>     >    >Why do the firmware files on the AD5OO download page have a .sit
>     >    >extension, instead of .bin?
>     >
>     >The files do not have a .sit extension, at least on the
>     >server they don't.  Your browser maintains a MIME filetype
>     >of application/x-macbinary for files that end with .bin.
>
> My apologies.  The problem *IS* the web server.  When David's server
> delivers a .bin file it tells your browser this:
>
>     Content-Type: application/x-stuffit
>
> and thusly your browser is acting accordingly.  The server probably
> needs to receive an "attitude adjustment" with regards to these files. :-)
>
>     >It is your browser that is changing the .bin or adding
>     >the .sit file extension.
>
> This still holds true though but because the server told your browser
> the file type, application/x-stuffit.
>
>     >    >Are these Mac Stuffit files that I need to "unstuff"?
>     >
>     >These are NOT Mac Stuffit files so "unstuff" is not needed.
>
> This still hold true too.
>
>     >Either remove the MIME filetype entry from your browser or
>
> You should probably ignore this line.
>
>     >simply rename the downloaded file to end with .bin and you'll
>     >be ready to use said file as in the instructions.
>
> But this still holds true as well.
>
> I'm sorry I jumped the gun.  The problem does not necessarily appear to
> be with your browser, per se.
>
>  -Rusty-
> --
>    _____                Rusty Haddock  <=>  AE5AE
> |\/   o \   o             Way out yonder in the
> |   (  -<  O o      Van Alstyne (TX) Metropolitan Area
> |/\__V__/       Math illiteracy affects 7 out of 5 people!
>

Steve,

I had the same problem.  I used another computer and it saved it as a bin
file.

I dont know what it did it that way.

Jim, K8COP

Rusty Haddock wrote:
     >Steve W3AHL wrote:
     >    >Why do the firmware files on the AD5OO download page have a .sit
     >    >extension, instead of .bin?
     >
     >The files do not have a .sit extension, at least on the
     >server they don't.  Your browser maintains a MIME filetype
     >of application/x-macbinary for files that end with .bin.

My apologies.  The problem *IS* the web server.  When David's server
delivers a .bin file it tells your browser this:

     Content-Type: application/x-stuffit

and thusly your browser is acting accordingly.  The server probably
needs to receive an "attitude adjustment" with regards to these files. :-)

     >It is your browser that is changing the .bin or adding
     >the .sit file extension.

This still holds true though but because the server told your browser
the file type, application/x-stuffit.

     >    >Are these Mac Stuffit files that I need to "unstuff"?
     >
     >These are NOT Mac Stuffit files so "unstuff" is not needed.

This still hold true too.

     >Either remove the MIME filetype entry from your browser or

You should probably ignore this line.

     >simply rename the downloaded file to end with .bin and you'll
     >be ready to use said file as in the instructions.

But this still holds true as well.

I'm sorry I jumped the gun.  The problem does not necessarily appear to
be with your browser, per se.

	 -Rusty-
--
    _____                Rusty Haddock  <=>  AE5AE
|\/   o \   o             Way out yonder in the
|   (  -<  O o      Van Alstyne (TX) Metropolitan Area
|/\__V__/       Math illiteracy affects 7 out of 5 people!

Steve W3AHL wrote:
     >Why do the firmware files on the AD5OO download page have a .sit
     >extension, instead of .bin?

The files do not have a .sit extension, at least on the
server they don't.  Your browser maintains a MIME filetype
of application/x-macbinary for files that end with .bin.
It is your browser that is changing the .bin or adding
the .sit file extension.

     >Are these Mac Stuffit files that I need to "unstuff"?

These are NOT Mac Stuffit files so "unstuff" is not needed.
Either remove the MIME filetype entry from your browser or
simply rename the downloaded file to end with .bin and you'll
be ready to use said file as in the instructions.

	 -Rusty-
--

    _____                Rusty Haddock  <=>  AE5AE
|\/   o \   o             Way out yonder in the
|   (  -<  O o      Van Alstyne (TX) Metropolitan Area
|/\__V__/       Math illiteracy affects 7 out of 5 people!

Why do the firmware files on the AD5OO download page have a .sit extension,
instead of .bin?

Are these Mac Stuffit files that I need to "unstuff"?


Steve, W3AHL

>
Be interesting (though probably not realistic) to see if you can link into a
commercial airliner with WiFi as part of its IFE (In-Flight Entertainment)! The
last American Airlines flights I was on last week was offering WiFi on it's
older MD-80s.
73,
kevin
kc6pob

> Comment from user:
> We want to send "ham wifi" up on our next balloon launch - BLT-26.
>
>










[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Interesting High Performance Networking Videos:

Tactical Targeting Network Technology (DARPA Video):
http://www.darpa.mil/ipto/Programs/ttnt/docs/TTNT.wmv

P5 Combat Training System (Cubic, Inc Video):
http://www.cubic.com/corp1/media/May_09/1269.4_P5Short.wmv

When interacting with people in the Defense/Military Radio community, a
term that is seen more often than MESH is MANET.  HSMM networking is often
MANET in its behavior.

Definition:

MANET stands for "Mobile Ad Hoc Network." A MANET is a type of ad hoc
network that can change locations and configure itself on the fly. Because
MANETS are mobile, they use wireless connections to connect to various
networks. This can be a standard Wi-Fi connection, or another medium, such
as a cellular or satellite transmission. [ from
http://www.techterms.com/definition/manet]



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Kip on 9/23/09 you wrote

YOUR AUGUST PRESENTATION PPT WAS LINKED HERE help with your
presentation.

Kip

On Wed, 2009-09-23 at 12:32 +0000, whwallacemo1 wrote:
> Group:
> FYI I have a presentation to the Boeing Employees Radio Club here in St.
Louis in November on HSMM-MESH. Should be fun.. It is great that I could
pull a lot of good PowerPoint slides off the Wiki and customize them. I have
been working on a general "What is HSMM for a week or so prior to asking to
give the presentation to them. There will be several aerospace engineers,
mostly electronics. Maybe someone will turn up to help the project. No one
knew what HSMM was when I asked at the last meeting on Monday, so I asked if
I could do a presentation.
>
> Bill W

Presentation was last Monday and I generated a lot of interest.  Since
Boeing is a high tech military prime contractor, principally military
fighter aircraft, the members of the club are all high tech engineers and
they had a lot of great questions that showed they understood what I was
saying and that they we interested in learning more and experimenting with
the MESH technology.

Thanks for you help

Bill Wallace



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Yahoo! Groups Notification wrote:
> Hello,
>
> The following person would like to join the ntms-hsmm group:
> Email address: w5acm <andrew.macallister@...>
>
> Comment from user:
> We want to send "ham wifi" up on our next balloon launch - BLT-26. John
> K8OCL gave an excellent talk on high-speed ham comms during the QCWA
> 2009 Cruise.
>
>

I work on our HSMM-MESH code, which uses OpenWRT as a base,
using Ubuntu Linux. 

One of the key differences between the different
distributions of Linux, is what directories they keep things in.  If you have
been away from Linux for 8 years, you probably will not be troubled where
you "remember" key system files are kept. 

That being said, any of the new distributions could be made to work.
You want to focus on a particular project, using Linux as a tool - not
recompiling the Linux kernel every day.  So consider using a distribution
that lets you focus on your project, not the OS.

I find Ubuntu easy to load and maintain, and it runs all the tools I want
to use, just fine.

Ubuntu has a utility that will build you a bootable USB stick with room to
save files on a special partition on the USB stick.  I use a 16GB USB stick
to run Ubuntu Linux on several of my machines that are new enough to boot
off a USB stick.  It works like a champ.

I have no advice on a VM. 
I would be interested in in what advice you get on a VM.
I don't need one now, but I also highly value the field
experience of other hams.  You can read specs forever and
still not be sure what you are getting.  Actual experience with
a tool is priceless and can save a lot of time and headaches.

Good luck with your project.

-Glenn
KD5MFW




--- On Fri, 11/13/09, Steve W3AHL <w3ahl@...> wrote:

From: Steve W3AHL <w3ahl@...>
Subject: [ntms-hsmm] Development Environment Suggestions
To: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, November 13, 2009, 6:36 PM







 









       I would like to set up an OpenWRT image builder system, but have been away
from Linux for about 8 years.  Any suggestions on which Linux flavor to use or
avoid?  I would prefer a VM so I can use my laptop.  Any guidance on VirtualBox
versus VMware?



This will be a steep re-learning curve for me (too many years in management!)



I looked at the OpenWRT Wiki and forum topics related to this, but always value
fellow hams' input....



Steve, W3AHL

























[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Steve:

I will answer what might be a slightly different question than what you
asked.  We do 100% of our development & delivery against Red Hat Enterprise
Linux (currently version 5.4) & have found it to be extremely stable as an OS
(we have workstations & servers in our development lab that have been running
continuously throughout the more than 3 years that we have been working the
current project !!).  Our project consists of three parts: an embedded
PC-conpatible component, a client/server socket-based controller (with no gui,
just sockets to connect to), & a GUI-based user interface.  All three of them
include a collection of common functional code that we developed, as well as
their unique portions & all are built under & targeted to run on PC hardware
running linux.  We have been very successful so far & continue to deliver
enhancements, as well as newly developed functionality enhancements.

The reason I say that I may not be answering your direct question is that I do
not currently have any experience with OpenWRT.  That kind of activity is on my
wish list for the day when things get a little more sane at work & I might
actually have some free time to tinker a bit !!  I purchased a couple of
WRT54GL routers a couple of years ago, but I have not even had time to take them
out of the box, let alone load up new firmware & play !!

On a related note, I have setup dual-boot lpatop & desktop systems with several
varieties of Windows (Win2K, WinXP, & Win7) & RHEL5.  Install your Windows
first, then install the linux & the grub boot-loader automatically supports
selectively booting both OS's & RHEL5 lives very amicably with Windows !!

Good luck & have fun !!

Mark J Culross
KD5RXT

 



________________________________
From: Steve W3AHL <w3ahl@...>
To: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, November 13, 2009 6:36:28 PM
Subject: [ntms-hsmm] Development Environment Suggestions

 
I would like to set up an OpenWRT image builder system, but have been away from
Linux for about 8 years. Any suggestions on which Linux flavor to use or avoid?
I would prefer a VM so I can use my laptop. Any guidance on VirtualBox versus
VMware?

This will be a steep re-learning curve for me (too many years in management!)

I looked at the OpenWRT Wiki and forum topics related to this, but always value
fellow hams' input....

Steve, W3AHL




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I would like to set up an OpenWRT image builder system, but have been away from
Linux for about 8 years.  Any suggestions on which Linux flavor to use or avoid?
I would prefer a VM so I can use my laptop.  Any guidance on VirtualBox versus
VMware?

This will be a steep re-learning curve for me (too many years in management!)

I looked at the OpenWRT Wiki and forum topics related to this, but always value
fellow hams' input....

Steve, W3AHL

You are correct.  I have not spotted a T/R switch anywhere on the amp.  There is
a tiny T/R switch buried somewhere in the metal can surrounding the XR-3 RF
card.  I'm hoping that Ubiquiti will help identify a suitable pin on the
Mini-PCI interface so that I can assert the changeover in the proper order.  I'm
going to need pretty good isolation to avoid smoking the receiver, for sure.

Before I go poking around on the interior, I'm going to have to get them working
without the amplifiers and any changes...

OpenWRT is a remarkable little piece of code!  I'm still reading the docs.

73s,
john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAA9SL

--- In ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com, "kb9mwr" <kb9mwr@...> wrote:
>
> As I mentioned privately before;
> The PTT most likely will have to be tapped off the RF portion of
> the circuit for the fastest reaction time.
>
> Those amps look really nice, but it doesn't look like they have any
> internal TX/RX switching.  And that's going to be a problem at those
> high frequencies and power levels.
>

As I mentioned privately before;
The PTT most likely will have to be tapped off the RF portion of
the circuit for the fastest reaction time.

Those amps look really nice, but it doesn't look like they have any
internal TX/RX switching.  And that's going to be a problem at those
high frequencies and power levels.

Downeast.  Thanks for the reminder, I had forgotten that design from W1GHZ.  I
found just the thing for another part of my " Project Truck " while I was on
their site a moment ago (I had been looking for a 10 MHz distribution amp
yesterday and they have one already assembled for $75!).



Well, I am only going to have the amplifier on one end of the link, most likely,
so I was looking for something that gave me a good forward and reverse power
reading in real-time and will be a permanent part of the system. 



I bought two amps, one for the Mobile Communications Unit and the other for a
potential 9 cm access point at a tower in North Wilmington.  It will be a "poor
man's D-Star" -- but I can buy two complete sets of equipment on 9 cm for less
than what I paid for my ID-1, much less the price of an Icom repeater and
controller!  Granted there aren't any 3.4 GHz data systems in Delaware, but
there aren't any D-Star repeaters either, on any band. 


Anyway, thanks for the suggestion.  It solved one (unrelated) problem and is
now tucked away in my brain to rattle around for a bit.  It might be a really
good solution for the low-power (approx 500-600 mW) remote units which I'm
planning -- the W1GHZ relative power meter is good enough to know if your
reverse power is less than your forward power.



#-o




73s,

john

Charter Member of Geeks Ubiquitus

_____________________________________


John K Scoggin, Jr. W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAA9SL

US Army Military Affiliate Radio System

Delaware Gateway Station AAB3DE

Special Consultant - Technology

Emergency Operations Officer – Delaware

“Old RADEF Officers never die, they simply decay exponentially…”



Chief Engineer

Mobile Communications Unit 37 (AAT3CAD/W3MCU)

http://www.armymars.net/ArmyMARS/MCU/index.html


ARRL Assistant Section Manager – Delaware

Email: aat3bf@...

Telephone: (302) 451-5000


 



Anyway, thanks for the suggestion.  It solved one (unrelated) problem and is
now tucked away in my brain to rattle around for a bit.  It might be a really
good solution for the low-power (approx 500-600 mW) remote units which I'm
planning -- the W1GHZ relative power meter is good enough to know if your
reverse power is less than your forward power.



#-o




73s,

john

Charter Member of Geeks Ubiquitus

_____________________________________


John K Scoggin, Jr. W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAA9SL

US Army Military Affiliate Radio System

Delaware Gateway Station AAB3DE

Special Consultant - Technology

Emergency Operations Officer – Delaware

“Old RADEF Officers never die, they simply decay exponentially…”



Chief Engineer

Mobile Communications Unit 37 (AAT3CAD/W3MCU)

http://www.armymars.net/ArmyMARS/MCU/index.html


ARRL Assistant Section Manager – Delaware

Email: aat3bf@...

Telephone: (302) 451-5000


 

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay Nugent" <jjn@...>
To: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 3:59:12 PM
Subject: Re: [ntms-hsmm] The Eagle Has Landed (adventures on 9cm)

 




Greetings,

On Wed, 11 Nov 2009, jks19714 wrote:

>
> In the meantime, I have managed to EBay a 2-4 GHz 30dB directional
> coupler and an assortment of coaxial attenuators to do some testing.
>
> Is anyone aware of a reasonably effective power meter kit suitable for
> this band?
>
> I'm looking at buying an Analog Devices ADL5519 Evaluation Board for
> $150 to handle this task. It has TWO logarithmic detectors with 62dB of
> range which are rated from 1 MHz to 10 GHz, which is pretty amazing.
> Is anyone aware of anything simpler/easier/more cost-effective? The
> fact that this IC can measure such a nice range of frequencies and
> amplitudes (up to around -5 dBm, hence the attenuators) and both forward
> and reflected power simultaneously for less than an MFJ-269.... Wow.

Down East Microwave ( http://www.downeastmicrowave.com ) sells a small
microwave power meter for about $60 (as a kit) called the "ABPM". It's
good from 10KHz through 10 GHz. This device gives a "relative" power
output reading, not an exact wattage. So it's good for tuning for
greatest smoke kinda work. But check their catalog as they have a lot of
good stuff and may have something better suited to your needs.

Enjoy!
--- Jay WB8TKL
o Chair, ARRL Michigan Section "Digital Radio Group" (DRG)
[www.MI-DRG.org]

Train how you will Operate, and you will Operate how you were Trained.
+----------------------------------------------------------+
| Jay Nugent jjn@... (734)484-5105 (734)649-0850/Cell |
| Nugent Telecommunications [www.nuge.com] |
| Internet Consulting/Linux SysAdmin/Engineering & Design/ISP Reseller |
| ISP Monitoring [www.ispmonitor.org] ISP & Modem Performance Monitoring |
| Web-Pegasus [www.webpegasus.com] Web Hosting/DNS Hosting/Shell Accts|
+----------------------------------------------------------+
3:01pm up 11 days, 42 min, 3 users, load average: 0.03, 0.17, 0.32




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Greetings,

On Wed, 11 Nov 2009, jks19714 wrote:

>
> In the meantime, I have managed to EBay a 2-4 GHz 30dB directional
> coupler and an assortment of coaxial attenuators to do some testing.
>
> Is anyone aware of a reasonably effective power meter kit suitable for
> this band?
>
> I'm looking at buying an Analog Devices ADL5519 Evaluation Board for
> $150 to handle this task.  It has TWO logarithmic detectors with 62dB of
> range which are rated from 1 MHz to 10 GHz, which is pretty amazing.
> Is anyone aware of anything simpler/easier/more cost-effective?  The
> fact that this IC can measure such a nice range of frequencies and
> amplitudes (up to around -5 dBm, hence the attenuators) and both forward
> and reflected power simultaneously for less than an MFJ-269....  Wow.

    Down East Microwave (http://www.downeastmicrowave.com) sells a small
microwave power meter for about $60 (as a kit) called the "ABPM".  It's
good from 10KHz through 10 GHz.  This device gives a "relative" power
output reading, not an exact wattage.  So it's good for tuning for
greatest smoke kinda work.  But check their catalog as they have a lot of
good stuff and may have something better suited to your needs.

    Enjoy!
       --- Jay  WB8TKL
           o Chair, ARRL Michigan Section "Digital Radio Group" (DRG)
             [www.MI-DRG.org]

Train how you will Operate, and you will Operate how you were Trained.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Jay Nugent   jjn@...    (734)484-5105    (734)649-0850/Cell       |
|   Nugent Telecommunications  [www.nuge.com]                            |
|   Internet Consulting/Linux SysAdmin/Engineering & Design/ISP Reseller |
| ISP Monitoring [www.ispmonitor.org] ISP & Modem Performance Monitoring |
| Web-Pegasus    [www.webpegasus.com] Web Hosting/DNS Hosting/Shell Accts|
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   3:01pm  up 11 days, 42 min,  3 users,  load average: 0.03, 0.17, 0.32

The White Truck (Postal Service, as opposed to the famous Brown Truck) arrived
with presents from far lands today.  A pair of Ubiquiti XR-3 modems (presumably
from China by way of California) and a pair of Ionica 9cm 15-watt amplifiers
from the UK came to my workbench this morning.

One thing that I was rather surprised by -- the back of the Ionica amplifiers is
covered in lead (as in Pb) foil!  I suppose it is due to the fact that it is
ductile and a reasonably good heat conductor, but I found myself immediately
reaching for a pair of gloves.  Not so much to keep my hands clean, but that Pb
is not the most human-friendly element to get in your system - especially right
before lunch.  I guess it's the old nuke in me.

I suppose it could be worse -- at least it wasn't beryllium dust.

Anyway, just a note to anyone else considering the purchase of one of these 3400
MHz Ionica amps that they may come with a lead backing.

I have found some reasonably priced 3.4 GHz grid antennas at Streakwave Wireless
(< $60 ea.) FYI.  My challenge for the moment is loading the host processors in
the two outdoor enclosures (Ubiquiti RouterStations) with OpenWRT.  I have a few
documents to read tonight before I brick, er, load these devices over the USB
ports with their new firmware (although I don't know if I would have named a
release of software "Kamakazi").

In the meantime, I have managed to EBay a 2-4 GHz 30dB directional coupler and
an assortment of coaxial attenuators to do some testing.

Is anyone aware of a reasonably effective power meter kit suitable for this
band?

I'm looking at buying an Analog Devices ADL5519 Evaluation Board for $150 to
handle this task.  It has TWO logarithmic detectors with 62dB of range which are
rated from 1 MHz to 10 GHz, which is pretty amazing.  Is anyone aware of
anything simpler/easier/more cost-effective?  The fact that this IC can measure
such a nice range of frequencies and amplitudes (up to around -5 dBm, hence the
attenuators) and both forward and reflected power simultaneously for less than
an MFJ-269....  Wow.

Thanks for any insights or advice before I spend any more $$.  I'm thinking of a
QEX or QST article if this all (or even some) works.

:-)


73s,
john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAA9SL

On Nov 5, 2009, at 8:44 PM, Ron Cole wrote:

> OK I'll bite, who makes LAN gear for 3400Mhz ?

Ubiquiti networks:
    http://www.ubnt.com/products/xr3.php

The above is for a mini pci card for use in things like the
routerstation (ubiquiti) and pcengines' alix boards.

fyi,
   robert


>
> Ron
>
>
> --- On Thu, 11/5/09, jks19714 <aat3bf@...> wrote:
>
>> From: jks19714 <aat3bf@...>
>> Subject: [ntms-hsmm] Re: Lasers
>> To: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
>> Date: Thursday, November 5, 2009, 7:47 AM
>> From what I could find online, I got
>> the impression that low-bandwidth messaging was practical
>> using signal processing on non-Line-of-Sight paths.  I
>> have not seen any great use of optical systems other than
>> point-to-point laser-based LOS systems, though.
>>
>> Right now, I'm concentrating on the new 9 cm wireless LAN
>> equipment, as I believe that it will provide immediate
>> results on a band we don't utilize very well.  Use it
>> or lose it!
>>
>> 73s,
>> john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAA9SL
>>
>> --- In ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com,
>> "Dave" <dave@...> wrote:
>>>
>>> Yeah, it's too bad that the ARRL articles are
>> typically old, like you said.
>>> Thank you for writing; I couldn't find even this
>> stuff! Don't know if it has
>>> any value -maybe not- but if it could be tamed for use
>> as a high-speed link
>>> backbone the door gets wider.
>>>
>>> Dave
>>> DM78qg // KA0SWT
>>> /++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++/
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
>> [mailto:ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com]
>> On Behalf
>>> Of jks19714
>>> Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 07:59
>>> To: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
>>> Subject: [ntms-hsmm] Re: Lasers
>>>
>>>
>>> The San Bernadino Microwave Society has apparently
>> done some work on optical
>>> communications within the past year:
>>>
>>> http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms/sd/opticalprojindx.htm
>>> <http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms/sd/opticalprojindx.htm>
>>>
>>> K3PGP has been tinkering with optical communications
>> for quite some
>>> time:
>>>
>>> http://www.k3pgp.org/laser.htm <http://www.k3pgp.org/laser.htm>
>>>
>>> The information on the ARRL's Technical Information
>> Service is very, very
>>> old (as seems usual for those pages, unfortunately).
>>>
>>> 73s
>>>
>>> john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAA9SL
>>>
>>>
>>> --- In ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com,
>> "davemynatt" <dave@> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Any one doing any work with laser as opposed to
>> wireless routers? Just
>>> wondering if we have any experience.
>>>>
>>>> Dave
>>>> KA0SWT
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------
>>>
>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>    ----------
>>>
>>>
>>> No virus found in this outgoing message.
>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>> Version: 8.5.424 / Virus Database: 270.14.49/2480 -
>> Release Date: 11/04/09 07:37:00
>>>
>>>
>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>     ntms-hsmm-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

OK I'll bite, who makes LAN gear for 3400Mhz ?

Ron


--- On Thu, 11/5/09, jks19714 <aat3bf@...> wrote:

> From: jks19714 <aat3bf@...>
> Subject: [ntms-hsmm] Re: Lasers
> To: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, November 5, 2009, 7:47 AM
> From what I could find online, I got
> the impression that low-bandwidth messaging was practical
> using signal processing on non-Line-of-Sight paths.� I
> have not seen any great use of optical systems other than
> point-to-point laser-based LOS systems, though.
>
> Right now, I'm concentrating on the new 9 cm wireless LAN
> equipment, as I believe that it will provide immediate
> results on a band we don't utilize very well.� Use it
> or lose it!�
>
> 73s,
> john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAA9SL
>
> --- In ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com,
> "Dave" <dave@...> wrote:
> >
> > Yeah, it's too bad that the ARRL articles are
> typically old, like you said.
> > Thank you for writing; I couldn't find even this
> stuff! Don't know if it has
> > any value -maybe not- but if it could be tamed for use
> as a high-speed link
> > backbone the door gets wider.
> >
> > Dave
> > DM78qg // KA0SWT
> > /++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++/
> >�
> >�
> >�
> >�
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com]
> On Behalf
> > Of jks19714
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 07:59
> > To: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [ntms-hsmm] Re: Lasers
> >
> >
> > The San Bernadino Microwave Society has apparently
> done some work on optical
> > communications within the past year:
> >
> > http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms/sd/opticalprojindx.htm
> > <http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms/sd/opticalprojindx.htm>
> >
> > K3PGP has been tinkering with optical communications
> for quite some
> > time:
> >
> > http://www.k3pgp.org/laser.htm <http://www.k3pgp.org/laser.htm>
> >
> > The information on the ARRL's Technical Information
> Service is very, very
> > old (as seems usual for those pages, unfortunately).
> >
> > 73s
> >
> > john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAA9SL
> >
> >
> > --- In ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com,
> "davemynatt" <dave@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Any one doing any work with laser as opposed to
> wireless routers? Just
> > wondering if we have any experience.
> > >
> > > Dave
> > > KA0SWT
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >���----------
> >
> >
> > No virus found in this outgoing message.
> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> > Version: 8.5.424 / Virus Database: 270.14.49/2480 -
> Release Date: 11/04/09 07:37:00
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
> � � ntms-hsmm-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>

Yes, the tower site will (hopefully) be connected to the Internet. It will be
connected via a 900-MHz Ubiquiti Networks XR9 to my station here at work (I work
for PEPCO Holdings in Newark DE as a communications engineer) and possibly
through a ham's WiFi connection who lives right next door to the tower.
Fortunately, the XR2, XR3, and XR9 modems can be plugged into the same
RouterStation board and powered over a local Ethernet cable to the hut at the
bottom of the tower (with lightning protection!).

Users would be primarily fixed stations, with a few mobile or transportable
stations. Antenna polarization will be horizontal, so that needs to be taken
into consideration by mobile users. The tower already supports a very
sophisticated Amateur TV repeater on 70 cm. with 23 and 13 cm video links to
Philadelphia and Baltimore. My hope is to add an audio/video codec (MPEG-2) at
the tower site (it uses an Intuitive Circuits ATV Controller, as does my mobile
comm unit) and a VideoLan server at my station to provide IP Multicast-based ATV
access over the 9cm network.

A lot of this is also being done within the Mobile Communications Unit which is
under construction behind my office right now. Once I beat the bugs out of these
systems, I hope to replicate them up at the tower site in North Wilmington as a
start. We have some access to additional tower sites, but I would most likely
attempt to convince the County EMA to fund them through DHS funding.

This 9cm equipment is a lot faster than 23cm D-Star if we can somehow solve the
issues of relatively low power on the bare XR3 platform. I highly recommend the
Radio Society of Great Britain's International Microwave Handbook as a source of
information. It is much more complete and current than any of the ARRL
publications that I have found. QEX has some good material occasionally, as does
Funk Amateur (in German).




73s,

john

Charter Member of Geeks Ubiquitus

_____________________________________


John K Scoggin, Jr. W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAA9SL

US Army Military Affiliate Radio System

Delaware Gateway Station AAB3DE

Special Consultant - Technology

Emergency Operations Officer – Delaware

“Old RADEF Officers never die, they simply decay exponentially…”



Chief Engineer

Mobile Communications Unit 37 (AAT3CAD/W3MCU)

http://www.armymars.net/ArmyMARS/MCU/index.html


ARRL Assistant Section Manager – Delaware

Email: aat3bf@...

Telephone: (302) 451-5000




----- Original Message -----
From: "John Spoonhower" <jpspoonhower@...>
To: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, November 5, 2009 12:36:02 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [ntms-hsmm] Ubiquiti XR-series Mini-PCI modems and External Power
Amplifiers






So the basic idea is to provide a hub arrangement with the tower at the center
of the hub. The remotes would access the tower radio on 3.5 Ghz. Are the remotes
mobile? Is the internet being made availble at the tower or elsewhere? If so,
how will this be accomplished.
Sorry for all the questions...I am just trying to learn. Please correct me if my
assumptions are wrong.
73,
KC2DU

John Spoonhower

--- On Wed, 11/4/09, John K. Scoggin < aat3bf@... > wrote:

From: John K. Scoggin < aat3bf@... >
Subject: Re: [ntms-hsmm] Ubiquiti XR-series Mini-PCI modems and External Power
Amplifiers
To: "John Spoonhower" < jpspoonhower@... >
Cc: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 8:12 AM



I picked up both the XR3 (1/2-price) and the Ionica 15 watt amps off of EBay
yesterday. Since Ionica was a UK company, that is where I am finding the amps.
The XR3 was from a fellow here in the States.

My potential applications are primarily emcomm-related . One is a possible
Internet access system atop an old Western Union microwave tower/hut in North
Wilmington (near the "highest point" in Delaware, which isn't saying much). The
other is a mobile communications unit I'm building ( http://www.armymars
.net/ArmyMARS/ MCU/index. html ). In both cases, I was looking at feeding either
omnidirectional slot or 180 degree sector antennas with the amplified units and
then using some "barefoot" XR3's with directional antennas for the remote nodes.

73s,

john

Charter Member of Geeks Ubiquitus

____________ _________ _________ _______

John K Scoggin, Jr. W3JKS/AAT3BF/ AAM3EDE/AAA9SL

US Army Military Affiliate Radio System

Delaware Gateway Station AAB3DE

Special Consultant - Technology

Emergency Operations Officer – Delaware

“Old RADEF Officers never die, they simply decay exponentially…”

Chief Engineer

Mobile Communications Unit 37 (AAT3CAD/W3MCU)

http://www.armymars .net/ArmyMARS/ MCU/index. html

ARRL Assistant Section Manager – Delaware

Email: aat3bf@armymars. net

Telephone: (302) 451-5000



73s,

john

Charter Member of Geeks Ubiquitus

____________ _________ _________ _______

John K Scoggin, Jr. W3JKS/AAT3BF/ AAM3EDE/AAA9SL

US Army Military Affiliate Radio System

Delaware Gateway Station AAB3DE

Special Consultant - Technology

Emergency Operations Officer – Delaware

“Old RADEF Officers never die, they simply decay exponentially…”

Chief Engineer

Mobile Communications Unit 37 (AAT3CAD/W3MCU)

http://www.armymars .net/ArmyMARS/ MCU/index. html

ARRL Assistant Section Manager – Delaware

Email: aat3bf@armymars. net

Telephone: (302) 451-5000



----- Original Message -----

From: "John Spoonhower" <jpspoonhower@ yahoo.com>

To: aat3bf@armymars. net

Sent: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 7:28:00 AM

Subject: Re: [ntms-hsmm] Ubiquiti XR-series Mini-PCI modems and External Power
Amplifiers

John,

I too have looked at this hardware and considered such a project. What
particular radios are you considering? What is your source for the amp? What is
your vision for the end application; how will the system be used?

Maybe I can be of some help with some aspects of the project.

73, John, KC2DU

John Spoonhower

--- On Tue, 11/3/09, jks19714 <aat3bf@armymars. net> wrote:

From: jks19714 <aat3bf@armymars. net>

Subject: [ntms-hsmm] Ubiquiti XR-series Mini-PCI modems and External Power
Amplifiers

To: ntms-hsmm@yahoogrou ps.com

Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 3:13 PM



All --

I am embarking on a project involving interfacing a Ubiquiti Networks
RouterStation, XR-3 Mini-PCI modem (9 cm OFDM) and an Ionica 15-watt solid state
amplifier. I hope to interface this with a slot antenna to create a useful
Internet access system locally and on-board my Mobile Communications Unit (see
www.armymars. net for more info).

I plan to use DD-WRT software on the RouterBoard. Does anyone on the group know
if

a) this is possible?

b) it has been tried before? or

c) how to assert a voltage to the sequencer when T/R switching is required?

Many thanks. If I am successful, I will certainly document the effort on my
website (and perhaps to QST or QEX, for that matter).

73s,

john

Charter Member of Geeks Ubiquitus

____________ _________ _________ _______

John K Scoggin, Jr. W3JKS/AAT3BF/ AAM3EDE/AAA9SL

US Army Military Affiliate Radio System

Delaware Gateway Station AAB3DE

Special Consultant - Technology

Emergency Operations Officer – Delaware

"Old RADEF Officers never die, they simply decay exponentially… "

Chief Engineer

Mobile Communications Unit 37 (AAT3CAD/W3MCU)

http://www.armymars .net/ArmyMARS/ MCU/index. html

ARRL Assistant Section Manager – Delaware

Email: aat3bf@armymars. net

Telephone: (302) 451-5000

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]











[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

So the basic idea is to provide a hub arrangement with the tower at the center
of the hub. The remotes would access the tower radio on 3.5 Ghz. Are the remotes
mobile? Is the internet being made availble at the tower or elsewhere? If so,
how will this be accomplished.
Sorry for all the questions...I am just trying to learn. Please correct me if my
assumptions are wrong.
73,
KC2DU

John Spoonhower

--- On Wed, 11/4/09, John K. Scoggin <aat3bf@...> wrote:

From: John K. Scoggin <aat3bf@...>
Subject: Re: [ntms-hsmm] Ubiquiti XR-series Mini-PCI modems and External Power
Amplifiers
To: "John Spoonhower" <jpspoonhower@...>
Cc: ntms-hsmm@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 8:12 AM






 









I picked up both the XR3 (1/2-price) and the Ionica 15 watt amps off of EBay
yesterday.  Since Ionica was a UK company, that is where I am finding the
amps.  The XR3 was from a fellow here in the States.



My potential applications are primarily emcomm-related .  One is a possible
Internet access system atop an old Western Union microwave tower/hut in North
Wilmington (near the "highest point" in Delaware, which isn't saying much). 
The other is a mobile communications unit I'm building ( http://www.armymars
.net/ArmyMARS/ MCU/index. html ).  In both cases, I was looking at feeding
either omnidirectional slot or 180 degree sector antennas with the amplified
units and then using some "barefoot" XR3's with directional antennas for the
remote nodes.



73s,



john



Charter Member of Geeks Ubiquitus



____________ _________ _________ _______



John K Scoggin, Jr. W3JKS/AAT3BF/ AAM3EDE/AAA9SL



US Army Military Affiliate Radio System



Delaware Gateway Station AAB3DE



Special Consultant - Technology



Emergency Operations Officer – Delaware



“Old RADEF Officers never die, they simply decay exponentially…”



Chief Engineer



Mobile Communications Unit 37 (AAT3CAD/W3MCU)



http://www.armymars .net/ArmyMARS/ MCU/index. html



ARRL Assistant Section Manager – Delaware



Email: aat3bf@armymars. net



Telephone: (302) 451-5000



 



73s,



john



Charter Member of Geeks Ubiquitus



____________ _________ _________ _______



John K Scoggin, Jr. W3JKS/AAT3BF/ AAM3EDE/AAA9SL



US Army Military Affiliate Radio System



Delaware Gateway Station AAB3DE



Special Consultant - Technology



Emergency Operations Officer – Delaware



“Old RADEF Officers never die, they simply decay exponentially…”



Chief Engineer



Mobile Communications Unit 37 (AAT3CAD/W3MCU)



http://www.armymars .net/ArmyMARS/ MCU/index. html



ARRL Assistant Section Manager – Delaware



Email: aat3bf@armymars. net



Telephone: (302) 451-5000



 



----- Original Message -----

From: "John Spoonhower" <jpspoonhower@ yahoo.com>

To: aat3bf@armymars. net

Sent: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 7:28:00 AM

Subject: Re: [ntms-hsmm] Ubiquiti XR-series Mini-PCI modems and External Power
Amplifiers



John,

I too have looked at this hardware and considered such a project. What
particular radios are you considering? What is your source for the amp? What is
your vision for the end application; how will the system be used?

Maybe I can be of some help with some aspects of the project.

73, John, KC2DU



John Spoonhower



--- On Tue, 11/3/09, jks19714 <aat3bf@armymars. net> wrote:



From: jks19714 <aat3bf@armymars. net>

Subject: [ntms-hsmm] Ubiquiti XR-series Mini-PCI modems and External Power
Amplifiers

To: ntms-hsmm@yahoogrou ps.com

Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 3:13 PM



 



All --



I am embarking on a project involving interfacing a Ubiquiti Networks
RouterStation, XR-3 Mini-PCI modem (9 cm OFDM) and an Ionica 15-watt solid state
amplifier. I hope to interface this with a slot antenna to create a useful
Internet access system locally and on-board my Mobile Communications Unit (see
www.armymars. net for more info).



I plan to use DD-WRT software on the RouterBoard. Does anyone on the group know
if



a) this is possible?

b) it has been tried before? or

c) how to assert a voltage to the sequencer when T/R switching is required?



Many thanks. If I am successful, I will certainly document the effort on my
website (and perhaps to QST or QEX, for that matter).



73s,

john

Charter Member of Geeks Ubiquitus

____________ _________ _________ _______

John K Scoggin, Jr. W3JKS/AAT3BF/ AAM3EDE/AAA9SL

US Army Military Affiliate Radio System

Delaware Gateway Station AAB3DE

Special Consultant - Technology

Emergency Operations Officer – Delaware

"Old RADEF Officers never die, they simply decay exponentially… "



Chief Engineer

Mobile Communications Unit 37 (AAT3CAD/W3MCU)

http://www.armymars .net/ArmyMARS/ MCU/index. html



ARRL Assistant Section Manager – Delaware

Email: aat3bf@armymars. net

Telephone: (302) 451-5000



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]































[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]