Complete Overview of MESH for Amateur Radio (Updated Nov. 2014)

HSMM MESH Networking (BBHN) Considerations for Amateur Radio

November 2014

Brian VA3BCO

Web: www.va3bco.com Twitter: @VA3BCO

What You’ll Learn Today

MESH HSMM HIGH SPEED MULTI-MEDIA •  MICROWAVE FREQUENCIES •  AMATEUR PRIVILEGES FOR INCREASED

TRANSMIT POWER / ANTENNA GAIN •  MASSIVE SPEED / CAPACITY

ADVANTAGE OVER TRADITIONAL DIGITAL MODES

MESH NETWORKING •  P2P ARCHITECTURE •  HIGHLY RESILIENT / FLEXIBLE •  UNIQUELY SUITED TO AD HOC

DEPLOYMENTS

Overview

1.  Quick Comparison to Traditional Digital Modes

2.  Introduction to “HSMM” and “MESH”

3.  Practical Advice on Getting Started: ¤  Router Review & Comparison

¤  BBHN Firmware Selection & Configuration

¤  Antenna Considerations

4.  Now What: Applications for ARES & Beyond

Quick Comparison to Traditional Digital Modes Hardware & Soundcard Based Digital Modes

Digital Considerations

When evaluating digital modes, what should we consider?

How much bandwidth is

available or how much do we need for

the digital mode?

BANDWIDTH

How fast is the mode able to transfer

information?

SPEED

What is the need for accuracy and does

the mode utilize error correction

techniques?

ACCURACY

How specialized or expensive is the

equipment?

EQUIPMENT

Hardware TNCs & Modems

¤  Generally specialized / expensive equipment

¤  Not all modes available to amateurs

http://www.kantronics.com/products/kamxl.html

Kantronics KAM-XL All-Mode Wireless Modem •  Packet 300 / 1200 / 9600 •  PSK / RTTY / and more •  ~ $400

http://www.p4dragon.com/en/Home.html

SCS P4dragon DR-7800 HF Modem •  Pactor 4… max 10,500 bps •  Backwards compatible with Pactor I/II/III •  ~ $1800

Soundcard Based Modes

http://www.k7ea.com/pask232r.html

http://www.arrl.org/images/view/News/nms_24.jpgSelection http://www.k7ea.com/pask232r.html

PSK 31 MT63

PACKET

http://www.soundcardpacket.org/3voltuneaid.htm http://www.arrl.org/news/rms-express-with-winmor-now-available-for-winlink-2000

WINMOR

¤  Generally low speeds and data capacity

Massive Speed Difference

PSK / RTTY /

HF Packet

~ 30 to 300 bps

Pactor III

Pactor IV

~ 3 to 10 kbps

D-STAR

High Speed Data

128 kbps

HSMM

54 Mbps +

Takeaways: Traditional Digital Modes

STRENGTHS

¤  Narrow bandwidth makes many of these modes suitable for long distance communication (HF)

¤  Flexibility of peer to peer architecture for ad hoc communication

¤  Even slow digital modes can be more accurate (and more private) than voice communication

WEAKNESSES

¤  Low speeds prevent using multimedia content which is highly prevalent today

¤  Hardware is highly specialized and expensive

¤  In the context of ARES, – Specialized operator skillsets and equipment may hinder availability (Knowledge of RMS, Fldigi, etc.)

¤  Poor compatibility with contemporary software that is commonly used

HSMM MESH Opportunity

¤  What if we had high speed capacity / bandwidth?

¤  What if we had something that allowed users to easily leverage common software where high familiarity exists?

¤  What if this could be deployed easily without any significant pre-planning / architecture?

¤  What if this could be done relatively cheaply using COTS (consumer off the shelf) hardware?

Intro to “HSMM” & “MESH” Key Principles & Application to Amateur Radio

Network Topology Comparison

Hub & Spoke Key Attributes •  Access points & nodes •  Generally require pre-planning &

permanent infrastructure •  Susceptible to single point of failure •  Internet reliant on AP connectivity

Typical Hub & Spoke Topology

MESH Key Attributes •  Peer to peer organic structure •  Self finding / organizing •  Multi-path data routing •  Fault tolerant •  Internet “from the edges”

MESH Topology Internet

MESH Example 1 2012 Hurricane Sandy

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/21/us/us-promotes-network-to-foil-digital-spying.html?_r=2

•  Red Hook MESH •  FEMA Uplink

http://oti.newamerica.net/blogposts/2013/case_study_red_hook_initiative_wifi_tidepools-78575

MESH Example 2 2014 Hong Kong

Photo: http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1611322/grid-messaging-application-firechat-continues-ride-occupy-boost

Source: http://mashable.com/2014/09/29/hong-kong-cell-network-chat/

Risk of cellular and/or wifi shutdown

http://descrier.co.uk/technology/mesh-networks-like-firechat-used-hong-kong-protesters-make-switching-internet-much-harder/

¤  70 meters…bluetooth MESH

¤  No wifi / cellular connections are needed

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2014/09/29/firechat-prepares-encryption-feature-as-it-drives-hong-kong-protests/

¤  100,000 downloads in 24 hours

¤  5.1 million chat sessions

¤  37,000 used app simultaneously

What About Amateur Radio?

MESH HSMM Commercial off the shelf (COTS)

WIFI routers Customized firmware based on OpenWRT

4 W EIRP

What About Amateur Radio?

15OO W PEP** + 22 dBi Antenna

237.7 kW EIRP

Part 97 Licensed Part 15 Unlicensed

30dBm (1W) 6 dBi Antenna

** For comparative example only…keep in mind RF maximum exposure limits (MPE).

Licensed amateurs don’t have the same

power / antenna gain restrictions which

makes things more interesting!

Part 97 & Part 15 Overlap

¤  13cm amateur band overlaps common wifi channels: 2.

390

PART 97 LICENSED

PART 15 UNLICENSED OVERLAP

CH

-1

CH

0

CH

1

CH

2

CH

3

CH

4

CH

5

CH

6

CH

7

CH

8

CH

9

CH

10

CH

11

2.40

0

2.45

0

2.50

0

Part 97 Licensed •  Allows equipment

modifications •  1500 W PEP •  No EIRP limit •  High gain antennas •  Amps allowed •  Interference protection •  Usual stuff: call sign, no

encryption, etc.

Part 15 Unlicensed •  Approved equipment

with no modifications •  Max 1W (30dBm)

transmitter output power

•  Max 4W EIRP (considering transmit power and antenna gain combination)

•  Slightly higher EIRP for directional point to point applications

Not just 2.4GHz

¤  Overlap in both 13cm and 5cm bands…

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_multimedia_radio

20/40 MHz width

8 overlapping ch.

OFDM

1500W PEP

20 MHz width

8 overlapping ch.

OFDM

1500W PEP

22 MHz width

8 overlapping ch.

DSSS

10W PEP

Channels & Power

802.11a

5.650 – 5.925 GHz

54 Mbps

802.11b

2.390 – 2.400 GHz

11 Mbps

20 MHz width

12 non-overlapping ch.

OFDM

1500W PEP


OFDM: Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing DSSS: Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum

802.11g

2.390 – 2.400 GHz

54 Mbps

802.11n

2.390 – 2.400 GHz

300 Mbps

5cm 13cm

Broadband Hamnet CH.1

Reference: dBm / Watts Conversion


dBm Watts dBm Watts dBm Watts 0 1.0 mW 16 40 mW 32 1.6 W 1 1.3 mW 17 50 mW 33 2.0 W 2 1.6 mW 18 63 mW 34 2.5 W 3 2.0 mW 19 79 mW 35 3.2 W 4 2.5 mW 20 100 mW 36 4.0 W 5 3.2 mW 21 126 mW 37 5.0 W 6 4 mW 22 158 mW 38 6.3 W 7 5 mW 23 200 mW 39 8.0 W 8 6 mW 24 250 mW 40 10 W 9 8 mW 25 316 mW 41 13 W

10 10 mW 26 398 mW 42 16 W 11 13 mW 27 500 mW 43 20 W 12 16 mW 28 630 mW 44 25 W 13 20 mW 29 800 mW 45 32 W 14 25 mW 30 1.0 W 46 40 W 15 32 mW 31 1.3 W 47 50 W

Getting Started with HSMM MESH (BBHN) for Licensed Amateurs Linksys or Ubiquiti Routers with HSMM-MESH Firmware

HSMM – MESH in One Slide

Here’s a simplified summary:

1.  Obtain a supported router (only specific models work)

2.  Download the correct HSMM-MESH firmware

3.  Reflash the router (and use the proper SSID)

4.  Minor setup in software (ie. Call Sign)

5.  Other people with HSMM-MESH enabled routers using the same SSID and within range will automatically become part of the network

What Can I do With it?

¤  Whatever software applications you would have used on a computer network, you can pretty much use on a MESH network:

File Sharing

IRC Chat

Web Browser

VOIP Phone

IP Cameras

More Detailed Explanation

The following sections will provide more detail:

Part 1 - Choosing a Router

Part 2 – Downloading & Installing the Firmware

Part 3 – Antenna Placement & Considerations

Part 4 – Operating with HSMM-MESH Software

Part 1 – Choosing a Router Linksys or Ubiquiti Routers

Getting Started: Hardware

¤  Typically a Linksys router…but only certain ones…be sure to check the list:

¤  http://www.broadband-hamnet.org/section-blog/37-hardware-faqs/101-supported-hardware.html

Which Linksys Router?

¤  Find older Linksys routers (version 4 and below)

¤  Upon version 5, Linksys switched from a linux based firmware to VxWorks OS and reduced flash memory / RAM

YES

WRT54G 1.0 – 4.0

WRT54GS 1.0 – 4.0

WRT54GL 1.0 – 1.1

Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linksys_WRT54G_series

NO

WRT54G 5.0+

WRT54GS 5.0+

Linksys: Antenna Connections

Antenna Connections

¤  Most models have 2x reverse polarity TNC connectors

Source: http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/linksys/wrt54g Source: http://www.hotarc.org/images/connectors.jpg

Caution: Line Loss

10MHz

0.6dB loss / 100’

(RG-213)

2.4GHz

15.2dB loss / 100’

(RG-213)

Short feedline runs are critical

¤  Feedlines should be short possible since signal loss is much higher at microwave frequencies (even when using LMR-400)

Linksys: Power

Power Connections

¤  Accepts 4v – 16v

¤  Use AC power adapter or solder connections for USB or PowerPoles

Source: http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/linksys/wrt54g

W5MAE RooTenna

19 dBi Panel Antenna ($100 - $150 in materials)

Instructions from W5MAE http://bit.ly/1y8MnxE

Laird 2.4GHz 19dBi RooTenna: http://bit.ly/1tgCCt3

Linksys Support Will End Soon

Linksys vs. Ubiquiti

630 mW 79mW

BBHN Support for Ubiquiti

Source: http://fleetnetwork.ca/collections/airmax

Integrated Radio & Antenna Standalone Radio

Ubiquiti Product Comparison

Name NanoStation M2 NanoStation Loco M2 AirGrid M2 HP Bullet M2 HP Rocket M2 Model NSM2 LOCOM2 AG-HP-2G20 M2 M2 Frequency 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz Op Freq Range 2412 - 2462 MHz 2412 - 2462 MHz 2412 - 2462 MHz 2412 - 2462 MHz 2402 - 2462 MHz Thoroughput 150+ Mbps 150+ Mbps 100+ Mbps 100+ Mbps 150+ Mbps Range 13+km 5+km 20 +km n/a n/a Power Supply 24V, 0.5A POE 24V, 0.5A POE 24V, 0.5A POE Upto 24V 24V, 1A POE POE Included? Yes Yes Yes No Yes Max Power Consumption 5.5 Watts 8 Watts 3 Watts 7 Watts 6.5 Watts Transmit Power (dBm) 28 dBm 23 dBm 28 dBm 28 dBm 28 dBm Transmit Power (Watts) 630mW 200mW 630mW 630mW 630mW Polarization Dual Linear Dual Linear V or H n/a n/a Antenna Gain 11.2 dBi 8.5 dBi 20 dBi n/a n/a Max Potential EIRP 39.2 dBm 31.5 dBm 48 dBm n/a n/a RF Connector n/a n/a n/a N Male 2 RP SMA Appx. Price (CDN) $100 $60 $80 $90 $105

Source: http://www.ubnt.com/products/

Ubiquiti Videos

http://youtu.be/zRmOpFtIrwE

“Ham Radio HSMM Using Ubiquiti Equipment” Mark Rodgers KC8GRQ

http://youtu.be/V94Afsfv8-E

NanoStation M2 (11.2dBi)


NanoStation Loco M2 (8.5dBi)


AirGrid M2 HP (20 dBi)


PoE (Power Over Ethernet)

¤  Most Ubiquiti devices come with 24v PoE adapters

¤  Consider voltage drop over distance

Source: http://www.ubnt.com/accessories/poe-adapters/

PoE (Power Over Ethernet)

¤  Ubiquiti devices will also operate on 12v (10.5v min) so you can use solar / battery if desired (note…keep CAT 5 distance shorter to prevent excessive voltage drop)

¤  Be sure to confirm your passive POE injector uses +4/5 and -7/8 on the CAT 5 cable

Source: http://www.amazon.com/Passive-injector-Power-over-Ethernet/dp/B00EBCGJVW/

Part 2 – BBHN Firmware Selection, Installing, & Configuration

Software Overview

¤  BBHN (broadband hamnet) is a modified version of OpenWRT designed to run as an OS on embedded devices

¤  Software version matters – not currently backwards compatible

¤  Once your router has the new firmware, it will no longer function as a “wifi hotspot”

¤  Your computer must plug directly into the router (via ethernet) or another unmodified wifi router should be used as an access point

¤  Your connected computer will use a web browser to configure the BBHN software

Download the Right Software

¤  Go to http://www.broadband-hamnet.org/software-download.html

¤  Choose the appropriate version of software for your router and situation and be sure to read any updates on the home page

Installation / Config Instructions

¤  Three good options for direction and support:

http://bit.ly/1Ak3S3r

1. BBHN Wesbite 3. YouTube Videos 2. Search BBHN / Router

http://youtu.be/pryc8jIl6Xo http://bit.ly/1E6e6B9

Antenna Placement Understanding the Fresnel Zone

Line of Sight

“Microwaves can go 15 miles or

through one tree”

Line of Sight: Fresnel Zone

¤  Microwaves aren’t really a narrow beam so much as they are an ellipse.

¤  Elliptical zone between transmit / receive points is called the fresnel zone.

¤  Image Source: http://www.tp-link.com/en/support/calculator/#1


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_zone

¤  Distance (and path obstacles) will influence the required height needed for optimal transmission.


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_zone

¤  As a rule of thumb, the typical maximum obstruction allowable in the Fresnel zone is 40%, but the recommended obstruction is 20% or less.

Part 4 – Operating with BBHN Application Software & Usage Scenarios

Potential BBHN Usage Scenarios

Tinkering ARES 1.  Emergency Site Network 2.  Bridging Internet Connectivity 3.  Video Monitoring / GPS / Drone

1.  Remote Rig Control 2.  Repeater Linking / Bridging 3.  Local Club Network


ARES 1.  Emergency Site Network 2.  Bridging Internet Connectivity 3.  Video Monitoring / GPS / Drone

1: Emergency Site Network

Traditional Approach •  Paper files •  Slow data (if at all) •  HT Voice

Today’s World •  Microsoft Office / File Sharing •  VOIP & Videoconferencing •  Social Media, Chatting, etc.

1: Emergency Site Network

20km Point to Point

Site A

Site B Extended

¤  A variety of BBHN enabled equipment can be used to link various sites together to create a closed high speed network that can handle a full suite of data applications

Impacted zone with disrupted communications / power

Site B

2: Bridging Internet Connectivity

MESH Topology Internet

¤  Times have changed with internet access and social media becoming critical communications tools during emergencies:

Online – First Stop for Information

¤  Whenever a situation arises, the internet is the first stop for critical information:

Google Crisis

Google Public Alerts

Google Person Finder

Twitter Alerts

Facebook Safety Check

2: Bridging Internet Connectivity

20km Point to Point

Site A

Site B Extended

¤  BBHN could be used to provide MESH nodes with internet access from “beyond the edge” (although there may be some regulatory considerations to be aware of)


Site B

Normal Zone Internet

3: Video Survey of Damage

Source: http://s.imwx.com/common/articles/images/ice-storm-springdale-patpie_650x366.jpg

¤  What if a drone with a live video feed could be used to survey and assess damaged / inaccessible areas?

3: Video Survey of Damage

Realtime video or file upload

Site A

¤  What if a drone with live video feed could be used to survey and assess damaged / inaccessible areas?


Site B

Site C

Video From Drone


Tinkering 1.  Remote Rig Control 2.  Repeater Linking / Bridging 3.  Local Club Network

1: Remote Rig Control

Common Challenges

¤  Noise Level

¤  Neighbors

¤  Antenna Height

¤  Property Aesthetics

¤  Etc.

1: Remote Rig Control

¤  Opportunity to find superior antenna space at a more remote location without DSL / cable internet access

20km Point to Point (or link through multiple nodes)

Site B Photo: http://www.dr1a.com/media/station/towers/DR1A_Tower4_2010.jpg

2: Repeater Linking / Bridging

Common Challenges

¤  Service costs of Internet / phone

¤  Physical access limitations

¤  Etc.

Photo: http://www.soara.org/dstar/repeater_pics/dstar-photos.html

2: Repeater Linking / Bridging

¤  If cost or physical access issues are a concern, BBHN could be used to link sites or layer in internet access

20km Point to Point (or link through multiple nodes)

Site B Photo: http://www.soara.org/dstar/repeater_pics/dstar-photos.html

Internet

3: Local Club Network(s)

Opportunity

¤  Organic growth and critical mass can help overcome line of sight issues and make less powerful equipment more effective

3: Local Club Network(s)

Green active Blue and “F” dots future Red not likely

Thank You www.va3bco.com @VA3BCO

Technology

Complete Overview of MESH for Amateur Radio (Updated Nov. 2014)