Howdy gang,

K7MT in Helena, Mt.  I received two nodes all set up with my call K7MT-100 and K7MT-101 thanks to Clayton.  I plugged them in and they appear to see each other but how do I set up my lap top to access the Linksys Router using the Web Browser IE 8 ?  Then I need to get access to the Ham Shack Linksys router plugged into my Net Gear Router...

I have one node on ether net to my portable laptop and the second node hooked via ether net to my Net Gear Router in my Ham Shack.  The Net Gear is link to 5.7GHZ internet Link to my IP and my other Lap top containing APRS Plus SA, Wx Station, BPQ32 Switch with BBS, Chat, and RMS Packet to Winlink.  It also controlls my ICOM 706MKIIG and SCS Pactor III HF Link for EMCOM.

My goal is to get these two working and set up access to my Ham Shack Computer for Internet access and Winlink via the Icom 706 for EMCOM. Once this is accomplished, there are plans to expand the MESH around the Valley for EMCOM..

I am looking forward to the adventure and learning from everyone.

Thanks  Bill K7MT

http://www.k7mt.com

On January 21, Volusia ARES will hold its monthly meeting at 3:00 p.m. at the Tiger Bay Fire Training Center.  The Central Florida D-Star Group will hold a workshop on D-Star Radio Communications.  The presentation on D-Star radio, DVAP, Dongle and D-RATS programming will be followed by separate sessions for Q & A and hands-on assistance to any ham needing help with their D-Star hardware. All hams are invited to attend.  For more information, please see the attached document.JAN-21-AGENDA http://volusiaares.org/

One hour prior to the meeting at 2:00, we're going to play around with HSMM-MESH nodes. We'll be playing with two HSMM-MESH nodes running with a webserver, a D-RATS Ratflector and FocusPhone P2P video chat.

All are welcome. Bring any WiFi capable device and you can play on the test MESH.

Volusia County Fire Training Center. 3889 Tiger Bay Rd., Daytona Beach, FL 32124

Talk in is 147.240 T123. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Mark KV4I

Thanks for the information about an Orlando MESH. I visited the links but it doesn't appear to be the HSMM-MESH variety of MESH and I couldn't find any Ham call signs associated with the project.

Is it an HSMM-MESH mesh? Do you know of any Ham radio operators involved in the project?

Thanks,

Mark KV4I

Try a Linksys NSLU2, aka SLUG.

http://www.nslu2-linux.org/

Check out the attached list of cable and install suggestions.

-Glenn

KD5MFW

For outdoor installations consider using the following modules / types of equipment: Antenna, with in line lightning protection. Example PolyPhaser LSXL-ME in -Line EM surge filter. If you use two antennas two feed lines, you could use two of these filters. A reality check is that the filters will cost more than the router used to make the mesh node. You may decide to simply keep a spare mesh node on hand. The CAT-5 type cable from the radio box at the top of the tower should have an outdoor “UV” rated sheath. You will probably benefit from having this cable be shielded as well. Normal CAT-5 type cable is not intended for outdoor use and the Ultraviolet rays of the sun will decay the plastic sheath quickly if it is not designed for outdoor use. Often this cable is “gel” filled to keep water out. This is good once installed, but is a mess to terminate with connectors as the gel gets on everything. Seal everything up with some sort of “coax sealer tape”. Check fab-corp.com and titanwireless.com for weatherproofing products. They also stock special feed through connectors for CAT-5 type cables to get them out of your weatherproof box. Consider having a second “quick connect” box below your main mesh node box. There are many ways to do this but the idea is to have things set up where a tower climber can open the quick cable disconnect box and easily get the mesh node weatherproof enclosure free to swap out. Without such an interface box, a tower climber will spend hours reworking the weatherproof cable entries into the mesh node weatherproof enclosure. Do it! Save your tower climbers time! Less time on the tower is safer! Now you are down to were you come into the building. At this point you will want to put in line with the CAT-5 type cables, a module to try to shunt over voltage (lightning) to ground before you enter the building. Example device: PolyPhaser NX2-05. This is uses a RJ-45 female for in and out and has a ground strap to go to a good ground. The PolyPhaser devices are good. The Austin developers use them. Note there are similar looking devices that claim to be some sort of surge blocker and are near useless. Use the good stuff. Do not be “the guys that brought lightning into the radio room” via your cables. Titanwireless.com and fab-corp.com have may useful modules and supplies for doing outdoor installs. When looking through catalogs, look at the Wireless Internet Service Supplier (WISP) type supplies. These folks do outdoor Wi-Fi type stuff so this is where the outdoor supplies are to be found in catalogs and in Internet searches. -Glenn KD5MFW

The goal I have is to place the router in waterproof box inside the top of a ROHN 25G tower.  What considerations have others taken in selection of CAT5 cable and weatherproofing it?

I have two CAT 5e cables now.  One for the WAN and one for the LAN ports.  I plan to use PoE cables to route power on and off the unused pairs.  is this a good way to do this and what are the best ways to weatherproof the cables?

Thanks!

Ronny

K4RJJ

Hello All,

Just was given a working Linksys WRT160n version 3 wireless router. I see on the software download area that there is a WRT150 listed but not the WRT160, anyone tried using the WRT160 in the HSMM-Mesh system? The serial numder is CSE41J if that helps at all.

Anyway, like I say it was just given to me from an upgraded system. Thought I'd give it a try and see what happens.

73's de Eric...KD4MZM...

Hello All,

Just wondering if there is any standard format for SSID's on the HSMM-Mesh node's? I remember back in the packet radio days we would assign certain -#'s to your call based on what it was for. I see on some of the pages that some user's are setting up as a -100 or some are just using a call. Looking for ideas or comments on this. I ask because at this time I've got about 10 users getting ready to setup their nodes here in the Sarasota Florida area and we would just like to be uniform somewhat in the ways others are programming their SSID's.

Thanks in advance for you input,

73's de Eric...KD4MZM...

Use some path planning software like Radio Mobile to add up antenna gains, coax loss etc to plan your path.

I get antennas form fab-corp.com and titanwireless.com

KD5MFW

Yes, we have have problems getting equipment set up on towers and rooftops.  That is a challenge if you use directional antennas as they usually need tweaking.  The Hawking amp is easier to use than the older Linksys unit in most situations.  The microwave systems can take more tweaking than a VHF radio.  Good luck and let us know how it goes.  We try to use similar gear at each site, but each one ends up being a bit custom and we learn things from each and every  install. KD5MFW