Greetings, I would love to get some feedback as to what I should do.
I set up a MikroTik hAP ac lite (RB952Ui-5ac2nD-US), only to find out there is NO ONE and NOTHING to connect to around my grid square (FN57ti).
Since I am here all by my lonesome, should I set up a node, a supernode, or ?
Guidance please. :)
73
J. Darius Redmond - WW1ZRD
I set up a MikroTik hAP ac lite (RB952Ui-5ac2nD-US), only to find out there is NO ONE and NOTHING to connect to around my grid square (FN57ti).
Since I am here all by my lonesome, should I set up a node, a supernode, or ?
Guidance please. :)
73
J. Darius Redmond - WW1ZRD
I suggest
73, Chuck
73
J.D.R. - WW1ZRD
Welcome to AREDN. A few observations for you.
1. Your hAP ac lite will probably not support a Supernode. Not enough memory.
2. You do not need to be a Supernode. Supernodes link only to other Supernodes and to dedicated gateway nodes.
3. It is probably best to use 5 GHz radios, not 2.4 GHz, for AREDN RF links. More RFs, better technology (AC), less interference.
4. RF links need antennas well above tree tops that provide optical line-of-sight paths between the nodes. This point is not emphasized enough.
5. You do not need anyone "around" you to have an AREDN mesh. WireGuard tunnels work just fine. Our local (North Texas) mesh island has over 20 nodes (mostly hAP ac lites, but others as well) connected by tunnels. Nearest nodes are co-located, most distant is over 1600 miles away. One node has 11 active tunnels. We have links to three Supernode gateways. You can see us on the New AREDN World Map. I think it is easier to set up a tunnel than it is to put a radio on a tower.
6. Make acquaintances of other AREDN enthusiasts. You can find them in the AREDN World Map. Decide who is going to serve the tunnel and who will be the client, then make it happen. Takes only minutes with the New UI. One of my nodes is a client on four links and the server on three.
Start communicating. Learn the technology. See what others have done. Look for ways to expand you mesh. Consider ways to grow your capabilities for public service and EMCOMM.
--Tim K5RA
I started with my head loaded with the "mesh" concept that's analogous to the overlapping cell phone service areas. Then I read the AREDN network guide documentation and examined the AREDN world map. I'm slowly coming to realize that there are many islands connected by (public Internet) tunnel and not so many actual RF meshes. It seems more like the existing worldwide network of Internet connected DMR repeaters/hotspots, but faster and with more digital services.
That does give our local club (K5SRC) an easier path to get started but also sidesteps some of the challenge in building an RF mesh network as well as relying heavily on public infrastructure. I'm not complaining, BTW, just trying get my head around what a sensible approach looks like.
I'll keep reading and working on our local plan.
But I don't consider them disaster proof or even particularly reliable during widespread, extended emergencies. It seems redundant to build amateur emergency networks with (arguably) less resilience than the commercial ones except for fun. No problem with fun, I'll be setting up ARFunDN nodes myself regardless.
It sounds like my local club's first effort should be a couple of Internet connected, well placed nodes. But I should cede this thread back to its topic starter.
Thanks!
You have probably seen the AREDN activity in OKC on the AREDN World Map. The KI5VMF Supernode (SN) has about 30 WG tunnels linking nodes to its OKLAHOMA gateway. KP4DJT is very active in OKC if you want a contact who could help you.
Even if you do not connect to the SN you could be the hub for a mesh island in the Stillwater area.
Vy 73,
-Tim
KP4DJT contacted me shortly after I opened a Github issue to add support for the 60 Aruba APs I have (I've got firmware working for those now, I just need to prepare a pull request). He's been great so far in providing advice, but I've been too keen to get up to speed on things myself to lean on him properly. He's offered to give a presentation at our monthly meeting on Nov 5, but we're not even sure we'll meet - that being election day.
I do have always-on Internet at my QTH and I have a Ubiquit LAP-120 that, if I can get it up high enough, may be able to cover the NE corner of SWO.