I gave a presentation at the ARRL "state" convention in Puerto Rico.  It was well attended and we're hoping that mesh will gain traction in Puerto Rico.

73 > Fred, NP2X / K9VV

We have now increased this distance to 47.5 miles, barefoot (50mW) node to barefoot (50 mW) node.  Reliability is low without PAs.  With a PA / BDA on one side reliability is about 80%.  When we put 2w PAs on both side, the link should be good enough for our emcomm purposes. 

Mesh on!

73,
Fred, NP2X

Usually I use 1 node at each station/laptop to make it easy. Since they are cheap and plentiful..

Since the LAN is initially setup as a Class C network (255.255.255.0), and with 172.27.0.0, .1, and .255 unusable, I think 252 would be the max without changing the subnet range.

Sorry, Im a smart@$$ sometimes :-)

Jim

K5KTF

How many logging  laptops can be connected to one router in a Field Day setup.

My first node (AC2IE-N01) is up and running in Clifton Park, NY (42.884538,-73.789016). I am just using the stock 54G antennas so far because there is nothing yet to connect. Let me know if you think you can link to me and I will install a yagi.

Tom, ac2ie at arrl dot net

I understand that 54GL routers have the best power consumption, although they may not be better than 54Gv4 routers.

Unfortunately, I don't have numbers handy. 

For those in the metro Phoenix area, check out http://www.phxmesh.com

We have several users actively trying to establish links, we have a neat map of the local nodes, and I am trying to actively collect links to useful information and gear. I've also been keeping a blog of our testing.  Today we were able to do a weak 9.6 mile link. Unfortunately one side was not someones house but on top of a hill.  But we are actively making headway.

-Mike

What is the typical current draw of the WRT54GL router. Nominal and Peak values would be good to know since I am working on battery power with solar charging for a number of nodes here in NE Ohio

I need to size both batteries and solar panels

tnx and 73

de Andy WA8ZLK

Consumer wifi antenna gains are usually rated by the manufacturer with a Mark I Fantasometer.   i.e. the numbers are often fantasy, if not outright fraud.

Also propagation in a cluttered environment through walls, etc. is very variable.  Think of old style TV rabbit ears and how you had to just tinker.

If you can get another HSMM router and experiment with it in an open space somewhere, you might get much more meaningful results. 

Also, do some of the routers dynamically increase or decrease their radiated power based on the signal strength?

I’ve done a little testing with 2 inexpensive omnidirectional antennas purchased via eBay.  One is 37 inches long and is encased in white fiberglass.  It is advertised as 12dBi.  See http://www.ebay.com/itm/321100508704?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649.  I connected it to the mesh node with an 18 inch pigtail made from RFC 195 cable.  The other antenna is 15 inches long and black; it looks like a thicker, longer version of the Linksys stock antennas.  It is advertised as 15dBi.  See http://www.ebay.com/itm/160524130348?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649.  It connects directly to the Linksys antenna jack just like the stock antennas.

I don’t have any fancy test equipment.  My test procedure was:

1. Attach the antenna to the right side antenna connector.  Turn the node on and wait for it to finish its startup sequence.
2. Set the mesh node to transmit and receive on the right antenna only.
3. Go to the WiFi Scan page and turn on Auto mode.
4. Watch for 2 minutes and record the best reading for each of several WiFi access points in the neighborhood.  There are no other mesh nodes within range of these antennas, so I could only look at signals from regular WiFi access points.

My results were mixed.  The white antenna provided the best results for some access points, and the black antenna provided the best results for others.  Neither was more than 3 db better than the stock antenna.  I suspect my test method was flawed.  Any suggestions on how I could perform some more meaningful tests without any expensive equipment?

First of all, my thanks to Dave KM2O for championing this technology in the Albany area.  There are so many possibilities available for experimenting, public service, and EMCOMMS, and at a ham-friendly price.  Some of you may already have the equipment needed and others are into antenna building and repurposing non-traditional equipment, but if all else failed, getting into a great new aspect of the "hobby of a thousand hobbies" can be done for under $100.

I am VERY interested in HSMM-Mesh.  While in the Dallas area for a year and a half, I had the opportunity to hang out with the Dallas Area Wireless Group (DAWG) and attended the 2011 Plano Hamfest where HSMM-Mesh was featured.  I attended several of the DAWG meetings and got to meet Rusty Haddock KD4WLZ and Zip Moravec AE5IB, as well as some of the Austin group members.  I am a long-time Linux user and am comfortable accessing these devices at an advanced level as well as configuring services and other devices for use on the mesh.

I am anxious to connect with others in the area that would like to explore the possibilities of rolling-out mesh networks in our area.  With currently one flashed mesh node, my location really limits the possibility of using it locally in the foreseeable future, so I am open to making it available for demonstrations at other clubs in the area.  I would also be interested in being a member of a "Broadband User Group" if there is interest in creating such a beast.

Thank you for you interest!  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

73 de Jeff KC2SDS

jjarchambeault at gmail dot com

As we start implementing HSMM-MESH in Eastern New York, the moderators of this site have kindly provided this as a meeting point.  While the knowledge base in these forums will get most of the nuts and bolts questions handled, let's use this area to coordinate our efforts and keep each other in the loop.

Thanks!

Dave Galletly KM2O

ENY SEC

Here is a site running WebSDR under HTML5 & no Java needed for the Waterfall or Audio ... perhaps some ideas? http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/

I have the Walmart Grid ant it is a TP-Link. Yes you can change the polarization of the Driven element (but it needs to be a certain way according to the dish) so you should actually change the mount point to make it go horizontal. The cable is about 18 inches exposed from the back of the grid. Looks to be LMR 400/600 range cable. I am picking up a standard Wifi (Dunkin Donuts)indoor Vertically polarized 2.2 miles away while I am horizontal. I live in an open area so this may be optimum conditions. My avatar shows the Walmart grid in set up for horizontal.