Hi Everyone!
I'm new to AREDN and am in the north Dallas area. I'm currently getting back in to radio after having a 5 year hiatus from all of it and this is part of my interests for the area as well.
KE5YZP
I'm new to AREDN and am in the north Dallas area. I'm currently getting back in to radio after having a 5 year hiatus from all of it and this is part of my interests for the area as well.
KE5YZP
Perhaps you are also new to the AREDN Map?
;-)
73, Chuck
Thanks!
Miranda
See if you can contact some of the node owners around Dallas (check this map: https://arednmap.xojs.org/ ). See if any of them are registered on the forums here (just search for their callsign). If so you can contact them through this web site. They can give you some insight as to what your chances are for an RF link. Alternatively for now you can tunnel to one of the across the Internet.
Orv W6BI
Many people new to mesh insist they have to have rf in their own shack which is usually difficult unless the system is very well built out for you. Absolutely, first step is to contact the folks in your area and ask them what frequencies, what bands, and where their rf is actually pointed to. Most devices are quite directional, so even if you are 1/4 mile away if you are in the wrong direction you cannot connect.
I'd get a current model easy to use NanoStationM5 or a CPE510 which are not a lot of money. Find a way to either convert battery power to 24VDC or have a power inverter with you ... you have to inject 24VDC into the node in the field. Tape or zip tie it to a stick, and go out in your car to see what you can connect to. I have zero rf at my home, ALL of my AREDN rf is field kits and doing maintenance at larger regional sites.
The map shows a lot of 2.4 devices, these could be hAP lites with the mesh rf on which you will NOT be able to hit even thru a wall. Find out what the folks in your area are doing for actual rf and what direction it is pointing in.
Good luck. Do this with a local mentor.
Ed
73
Orv W6BI
My suggestions were for a lower cost and easy to use entry point node someone can learn with in the field. Many of the devices on your list are expensive, high power, and narrow beam. My go to starter recommendation is the CPE510 ... what would be a equivalent to that in the new ac devices? Especially if down the road the CPE510 becomes unavailable or is dropped from AREDN support?
Ed
Mikrotik SXTsq HP - ~$65 - 802.11n
ubiquiti litebeam ac gen2 - $65 - 802.11ac, gigabit port, faster CPU, more RAM & Flash, and a more sensitive receiver. This would future-proof a station. And it's come down 10 bucks in the last few months.
Hope that helps.
73
Orv W6BI
I can afford a little more. Would this be worth the extra money? (not a big fan of Ubiquity)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0794V489Z/?coliid=IMG2A5JNVNZ8A&colid=3KBLNLZ...
Bob
KG5GTE
I prefer the Mikrotik over the Ubiquiti gear.
I easily found the XL version of the LHG in your link for $10 less from another vendor.
Shop around.
I have several/many LHGs and SXTs in service and am pleased.
I am not yet a fan of the new ac devices from Mikrotik as I am not seeing the link speed I expect.
I found 1 Ubiquiti device exhibiting a reduced speed...27 TxMbps@10 MHz band width.
I have a SXTsq-5ac and a LHGg-5ac and neither will link faster than 54 TxMbps@20MHz on my property.
:-(
I am getting 78-130 TxMbps @ 20 MHz band width at 10-13 miles on my Mikrotik HP5nD gear.
Iperfspeed results follow displayed TxMbps values.
YMMV.
73, Chuck
There is a huge difference between what someone would want for a portable kit that can quickly be deployed and connected to mesh, and something higher power but narrower beam so less easy to deploy on the go.
My suggestions were for the first case. Our friend in TX is starting from a mesh map that doesn't give him any actual detail what is or is not possible. With a more forgiving wider angle antenna he can quicly learn how to find signals in the field. The narrow beam higher power I would only recommend for later, once he knows what he is going to try to connect to for a fixed installation.
But what do I know.
Folks here (in OR) tend to buy the most expensive, powerful, long distance node they can afford then wonder why they cannot easily connect. I'm suggesting folks new to mesh should start with close in signal hunting, and later try for longer distance. IMHO the newer devices with more memory and less noise floor aren't relevant for a field kit, certainly yes for a fixed installation where you are going to dial in the aiming and perhaps host some services.
Ed
PS ... sorry folks. Looks like I'm repeating myself. I'm done posting on this thread then.
I suggest contacting the folks found on the AREDN Map and
Obtaining assistance from local ham radio clubs by asking
for a small 'personal' listing in their newsletter:
"Interested in high speed IP multi-media using software modified Wi-Fi routers?
Contact Ed at 555-1212"
I think there is a greater chance of success if you query the folks that have
installed the existing AREDN network.
73, Chuck
OK, I lied. Re the Ubiquity AC devices ... has the problem with wifi scan been solved? For signal hunting this would be an issue. OK I hope I am done.
73
Bob
KG5GTE