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Land Ops - The Off Road, Navigation and Amateur Radio Search Club
This forum is for the discussion of MESH Networking technically named Broadband-Hamnet. Information on this relatively new Amateur Radio communication was first presented to us during a Meetup in South Orange County in conjunction with a SOARA Field day event earlier in 2014. It was subsequently presented to us in further detail by John W6CYS (Thanks John!). We are planning to use this system in future Ops. It is easy and inexpensive to setup and use and can provide us with a new level of communication and documentation of our Ops. Information needed to get started can be found at www.broadband-hamnet.org Start by going to the left side of the page and clicking on "Just Starting? Read This".
Please use this forum to ask questions about setup, use, equipment, suppliers, Etc.
Please note that using this communication protocol requires you to have an Amateur Radio License of any class.
Here's another video for how to select the right Linksys system that will work; http://youtu.be/pryc8jIl6Xo
I checked out the video, seems simple. Has anyone one done any shopping for the WRT54G? Is so where? What version for our application is preferred, 54GS, 54G or 54GL? I don't recall what John was using?
Dale: What you were seeing at the PowWow were mesh nodes flashed from both WRT54G and WRT54GL - they use the same firmware to create the mesh nodes.
Chris: Changing the channel ought to work - as long as we're all on the same channel. Another method to accomplish this would be to change the SSID - for the network to function all SSIDs must be exactly the same. I have not tried either of these methods so we should experiment before we attempt this on an Op.
Here's some of the mesh stuff I have acquired. this is not really a recommendation, it's just gear that is working for me.
This week I purchased one of these Linksys routers and flashed it tonight and it works great:
http://amazon.com/Linksys-Wireless-G-Broadband--Certified-Refurbished/dp/B00LV89BEG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1413870352&sr=8-2&keywords=wrt54gl Also, keep in mind that if you have two nodes you can set up your own little mesh network and experiment will kinds of things. And for that, the stock antennas will work fine - since, if you're like me, you're only going across the room. As to antennas: This is the yagi (the short one) that I had at the PowWow: http://amazon.com/gp/product/B008Z4DNFC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 And this is the omni that I have ordered and should be arriving Wednesday: http://amazon.com/gp/product/B000VIA4CA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 And this is the 2-foot coax that goes from the antenna (N-male connector on the coax) to the Linksys node (RP-TNC male, do not get the RP-SMA, it won't work - I know because I learned the hard way): http://amazon.com/gp/product/B004EHUUM8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The camera I got is by Foscam (has a lot of features for $65): http://amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZPWS4U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
John, This is great. Thank you for posting the urls. I will look to set up my own two point mesh to practice before the op. As get it set up and begin experimenting I will post my findings here.
By the way, Heiko said to say hi. I saw him last night at the SOARA meeting where Jim and I did a 45 minute Land Ops presentation.
I used John's links and have two routers, two cables, two antennas, a yagi, the other Omni directional. The Foscam camera is on it's way. Now for the programing. I'll let you know how it goes. BTW, Thank you John for the posts here and emails to me.
Dale, I understand the firmware all has to be the same in order for the system to work with John's and mine. Be sure to download the same firmware.
John and I over the phone got both nodes 1 & 2 up and communicating. As we are finishing, the camera show up at the front door, I unpack it and hook it up while John is still on the line. We got the system to send video across the network! Many thanx to John!!!
I'm waiting for the cables and antennas.
John and I were discussing going someplace local to do a dress rehearsal. Any ideas or comments?
