Hello,
I've just joined the community after an introduction from a K9CQB through the Loudoun Amateur Radio Club (http://www.k4lrg.org). My call sign is KN4AWT and I live in Leesburg in a non-HOA restricted neighborhood. I have a chimney I can attach to, but my roof's pitch is a little high, so I want to wait for better weather to get up there.
K9CQB flashed a MikroTik hAP router I have so I now have a Mesh node, but am isolated.
My initial goals are:
0.) Join the NOVA Mesh community
1.) Establish an IP tunnel connection into the Mesh network in the NOVA area to I can join the mesh until I can get RF online
2.) Establish at least 1 robust RF link to a strong RF node in the area
3.) Establish a short distance link To the North of my house to reach the monthly meeting site of the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group
4.) Connect a raspberry Pi to my node and offer some services
For item 1, I am hoping 1 or two nodes would be willing to peer with me via IP. I have a robust ISP at my home, but have a Dynamic Public IP. I have a Dynamic DNS client on my external router, so I have a DNS name I can provide which will always point to my public IP. If anyone in the area can provide a link, I would appreciate it.
For item 2, It looks like the nearest stations are 15-30 km away, I am looking for some guidance on equipment to try. I believe a few members of the local radio club have offered to try some of their high-gain dishes and equipment to see what I can reach from my QTH, so I will likely take them up on that. The nearest station with minimal elevated areas to deal with has two airports in the path, so I am not sure if that would be a problem to point high gain equipment through them.
For item 3, I am thinking a NanoStation M2 or NanoStation M5 will work. As I understand, these are directional and if possible, I'd like to face my node toward the hospital as well.
For number 4, My hamshack (and office) have significant battery power, I'd like to isolate a low power setup for AREDN activities.
I am really looking forward to getting involved. Let me know if you have any insight into any of these items. I'll be watching the boards. Thanks!
- Jim
KN4AWT
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Isolated Node and Goals for Leesburg
Tue, 01/22/2019 - 09:22
#1
Isolated Node and Goals for Leesburg
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Some idea of areas you could reach can be found from this:
https://www.heywhatsthat.com/?view=BX57WUMG
although a lot depends on the height of antenna at the other end. I put in 60 feet for your end - if you don't have that, you won't get over the typical suburban treetop, so that is kind of a minimum - unless you happen to have a ground-level view of something tall and you can put a node on that something.
Tunnels don't have areas - unless the users specifically have set that as a design objective. I would be happy to add you on to one I have connected here, but it has node-stations in Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific, etc., not just NoVA. It would, however, let you experiment with mesh chat, SIP telephones, web cams etc.
If we had enough people, we could start a new tunnel limited to NoVA. But it might be a bit lonely at first.
Airports are not a problem (except on 3 GHz).
Trees *are* a problem.
KE2N,
Thanks for the reply. I've not worked with www.heywhatsthat.com before. I've been playing with the tool and it seems pretty good. 60 feet might be a little too high for what I can do, but another HAM has offered to lend me some RF equipment to see what I can get. I am hoping to eventually attach a link to my chimney.
I'd appreciate if you could send me the information to establish a Tunnel to your node. I am fine with a tunnel that includes many other sites. As of now, I've not seen any sites (no RF and no internet, yet), so I don't even know what is out there. Let me know if you need my station information or my DNS for my public IP. I imagine your nodes are also peered with other local nodes in Reston and Chantilly.
As soon as I am online with the Mesh by either tunnel or RF, I'd be glad to host others through a tunnel.
Thanks for the advise on the airports. I wasn't too interested in 3 GHz anyway.
Thanks!
- Jim
KN4AWT
Ken:
References, please.
I have 4 NS-M3s with 2 deployed.
Chuck
Hams are co-secondary users of this band. Government is the primary user.
The attached image is what I see looking towards IAD (from the basement workshop, no less).
I believe the signal is this (or something related):
https://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/compendium/3500.00-3650.00_01MAR14.pdf
Their carrier is at 3510, apparently, but they have plenty of signal down to 3470. Some of what is displayed by ubnt airView may be internally-generated images, I can't be sure.
That is for 3 GHz.
For 5 GHz there is the DFS issue (weather radars which are regional, rather than airport-specific).
I was not referring to those.
Andre, K6AH
I'll put your location in my map tomorrow and see how it looks.
I have an M5 aimed in your direction running Ubiquiti WiFi firmware, not AREDN. It has a dtd to one or N2 AREDN nodes. It connects my QTH with N2LEE's.
That will give you an idea of the direction of the shot.
We're using 10 MHz channel because it cuts out hundreds on other users.
Lee is set up as the AP. I'm set as a Station.
The link works fairly well considering it's going over high-tension wires, a cell tower, through the trees at Lees' location and into the side of the dish.
Elevation at my end is about 105 ft above ground level. 500 ft or so above sea level.
R/Don
KM4DC
Jim,
I ran our locations through Google Pro and the GIS program I have and I believe we may be able to make a connection.
I don't think you'll see N2LEE, but my dish is over 500 feet elevation.
I can change the M5 to the AREDN load, or stay with the Ubiquiti WiFi. Whatever is easier for you.
The AREDN software may be a better bet given the WiFi congestion in this area.
I'm connected with 30 or so nodes around Reston, Front Royal, etc.
Assuming you can see part of Reston Town Center on a clear day, I would be on the "left" edge of Reston Town Center - Harrison Apts, Reston Parkway and Temporary Rd.
The attached may help.
R/Don
KM4DC