I am having a blast with this. All sorts of potential. I wish there were one or two hams here to test with. That said, with the tunnel option the system becomes global.
@@Commsprepper now there's some context :-) I was confused by a message some weeks ago. This puts it in perspective. It's nice to hear and see that passion in you with this. 👍👍👍
Very cool Hank ! I have been using Ubiquiti AirMax for primary internet connectivity for over a year now and it has proven to be very robust ( I can't even get T1 here). Incorporating that PBX functionality really does make it a game changer in a stand alone system. Thanks for sharing !
Another great ARDEN video...don't stop ! Your first one motivated me to check out what was going on with ARDEN in my area at an ARDEN luncheon sponsored by my local repeater group. Turns out quite a bit ! Fixed infrastructure being turned on collocated at repeater sites with a lot of the discussion/demonstration of Go Kits (very similar to yours ) with linphone being demonstrated. Tunneling already in place to the Red Cross and expanding throughout the West to other ARDEN groups. Time to make an ARDEN Go Kit to go along with the HF one ! de KM6TRZ
Outstanding demo. The voicemail connection was a little choppy, but as you noted that's understandable given the mis-alignment of the two nodes. I'll bet it would be perfect with a better-aligned point to point. Approximately how many miles away were you from your home AP?
WOW, Dude you're a GOLD MINE! The box contents @ 1:52 is a major nugget! (dc-dc converter + 12v-24v poe) I use a TP-Link AC750 Wi-Fi Travel Router TL-WR902AC for the access point on my nanobeam. It's 5v/2A powered. I have a raspberry pi 3B (no apps just yet) but am thinking a pi zero w might be better from a power consumption side if the processor can handle the work load for a given app. I don't think the single core would be up to raspbx, but maybe others (meshchat?). The TL-WR902AC also has a USB port which I'm thinking of drafting into service as storage for an FTP server which is already part of the TL-WR902AC. (A nice electronic library for grid-down?)
@@Commsprepper I think you have anice set up. Working without the 12-24 converter, I grabbed a 140w inverter and then used the poe injector supplied by ubiquiti. Not efficient, but I had it on hand. Not sure whether I like having 120 AC available or keep it all at dc moving forward. I picked up the access point for < $25 USD and the 5v power is what got my attention, most off-the-shelf routers are 12v with fairly high current. I'm loving this series!! Thanks for your efforts!
So going from solar to NanoStation, you have the panel -> the charge controller with step-up power supply and PoE adapter -> battery -> NanoStation? Would it work having panel -> Charge controller -> Battery -> Step-up power supply/PoE adapter -> NanoStation? That way the battery provides the power and the solar keeps the battery charged? Or am I missing something? We're looking at implementing some AREDN nodes throughout my county, and this would work for power consumption. It would also help with getting people to let us install them if they didn't think we were using their electricity.
I don't follow your question. The solar panel feeds the charge controller. The step-up power for the passive POE injector and five volt power supply for AP are connected to the charge controller's load terminals.
@@Commsprepper Like I said, I might be missing something. At the 1:20 mark, you say "the radio up front. Got about 25' of cat-5 cable to a portable battery. Into a weatherproof box..." That made me think that the panel fed the charge controller, and the PoE fed the battery. Then the battery fed the Ubiquiti.
Forgive me for being thick here, as I'm just getting interested in MESH. There really is no radio involved, it's just the frequency the "wifi" uses to connect to other nodes, right? It's interesting because phone companies give you routers with 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz for personal use and no ham license is required. Is it because of the way it's used that would require the license?
WiFi is radio. It uses a receiver and transmitter. The license requirements are based on the specific frequencies and uses. In the case of AREDN MESH radio, the equipment's software is changed to make the units operate at 2.3g vice the factory 2.4g. The 2.3g freqs used are assigned to the amateur radio service. At 2.4g the radios are operating in the license free ISM band.
@@Commsprepper I was interested in what you were using for power, i.e. battery and the boost converter to get to 24v. Also list the radio hardware, which any Ham would be interested in. I know you mentioned it by name, but people don't want to watch a video multiple times just to find out the hardware again. THANKS!
The radio is a NanoStation M2 that has been re-flashed with AREDEN firmware, the 24v power supply for POE is from Amazon 12 to 24 DC step-up unit, the 12v to 5v power unit is from Amazon, The best place to start learning about AREDN is their website www.arednmesh.org
Who knows, altitude, sitting on butt too much, etc. It's clearing up now. On blood thinners now for awhile. I'm ready to get back the mountains of West Virginia.
Hello CP. Seems like an interesting solution for off grid communities providing and taking control of their own local voice Communications.
I am having a blast with this. All sorts of potential. I wish there were one or two hams here to test with. That said, with the tunnel option the system becomes global.
@@Commsprepper now there's some context :-) I was confused by a message some weeks ago. This puts it in perspective.
It's nice to hear and see that passion in you with this. 👍👍👍
Very cool Hank ! I have been using Ubiquiti AirMax for primary internet connectivity for over a year now and it has proven to be very robust ( I can't even get T1 here). Incorporating that PBX functionality really does make it a game changer in a stand alone system. Thanks for sharing !
I have some new videos on how to install RasPBX on a PI. It does not take much.
If you have Julian subed all you need is Gil The RadioPrepper. Last vid from the south of France and Italian border at elevation. Good stuff, miss WV?
Miss West Virginia everyday!
Cool, Nice to have high places like that!
Would be nice to have a bit more air.
Another great ARDEN video...don't stop ! Your first one motivated me to check out what was going on with ARDEN in my area at an ARDEN luncheon sponsored by my local repeater group. Turns out quite a bit ! Fixed infrastructure being turned on collocated at repeater sites with a lot of the discussion/demonstration of Go Kits (very similar to yours ) with linphone being demonstrated. Tunneling already in place to the Red Cross and expanding throughout the West to other ARDEN groups. Time to make an ARDEN Go Kit to go along with the HF one ! de KM6TRZ
Thanks for the feedback and channel support.
Nice vídeo! Hi from Brazil!
Thank you and hello from La Paz.
That is a nifty set-up. Could be very useful.
It's has allot of prepper potential. I am just scratching the surface on this.
Thanks for NOT showing how you put the antenna so close to the edge Hank. I think I just became afraid of heights. Yikes! Awesome video!!!! 73
My neighbor placed it. I did not have courage.
Outstanding demo. The voicemail connection was a little choppy, but as you noted that's understandable given the mis-alignment of the two nodes. I'll bet it would be perfect with a better-aligned point to point. Approximately how many miles away were you from your home AP?
it was maybe 5 miles.
Nice portable setup! de KM4ACK
Thank you.
WOW, Dude you're a GOLD MINE! The box contents @ 1:52 is a major nugget! (dc-dc converter + 12v-24v poe)
I use a TP-Link AC750 Wi-Fi Travel Router TL-WR902AC for the access point on my nanobeam. It's 5v/2A powered. I have a raspberry pi 3B (no apps just yet) but am thinking a pi zero w might be better from a power consumption side if the processor can handle the work load for a given app. I don't think the single core would be up to raspbx, but maybe others (meshchat?). The TL-WR902AC also has a USB port which I'm thinking of drafting into service as storage for an FTP server which is already part of the TL-WR902AC. (A nice electronic library for grid-down?)
I plan to rebuild the box when I get back to the States with a proper waterproof box. It's hard to find parts here in Bolivia.
@@Commsprepper I think you have anice set up. Working without the 12-24 converter, I grabbed a 140w inverter and then used the poe injector supplied by ubiquiti. Not efficient, but I had it on hand. Not sure whether I like having 120 AC available or keep it all at dc moving forward. I picked up the access point for < $25 USD and the 5v power is what got my attention, most off-the-shelf routers are 12v with fairly high current.
I'm loving this series!! Thanks for your efforts!
Hello CP. What is that tiny access point you're using?
Thanks - John K7TY
one of the GL.iNET travel routers.
So going from solar to NanoStation, you have the panel -> the charge controller with step-up power supply and PoE adapter -> battery -> NanoStation? Would it work having panel -> Charge controller -> Battery -> Step-up power supply/PoE adapter -> NanoStation? That way the battery provides the power and the solar keeps the battery charged? Or am I missing something?
We're looking at implementing some AREDN nodes throughout my county, and this would work for power consumption. It would also help with getting people to let us install them if they didn't think we were using their electricity.
I don't follow your question. The solar panel feeds the charge controller. The step-up power for the passive POE injector and five volt power supply for AP are connected to the charge controller's load terminals.
@@Commsprepper Like I said, I might be missing something. At the 1:20 mark, you say "the radio up front. Got about 25' of cat-5 cable to a portable battery. Into a weatherproof box..." That made me think that the panel fed the charge controller, and the PoE fed the battery. Then the battery fed the Ubiquiti.
Forgive me for being thick here, as I'm just getting interested in MESH. There really is no radio involved, it's just the frequency the "wifi" uses to connect to other nodes, right? It's interesting because phone companies give you routers with 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz for personal use and no ham license is required. Is it because of the way it's used that would require the license?
WiFi is radio. It uses a receiver and transmitter. The license requirements are based on the specific frequencies and uses. In the case of AREDN MESH radio, the equipment's software is changed to make the units operate at 2.3g vice the factory 2.4g. The 2.3g freqs used are assigned to the amateur radio service. At 2.4g the radios are operating in the license free ISM band.
Can you add the hardware description to the video description? Thanks!
Which hardware?
@@Commsprepper I was interested in what you were using for power, i.e. battery and the boost converter to get to 24v. Also list the radio hardware, which any Ham would be interested in. I know you mentioned it by name, but people don't want to watch a video multiple times just to find out the hardware again. THANKS!
The radio is a NanoStation M2 that has been re-flashed with AREDEN firmware, the 24v power supply for POE is from Amazon 12 to 24 DC step-up unit, the 12v to 5v power unit is from Amazon, The best place to start learning about AREDN is their website www.arednmesh.org
What kind of prepper uses proprietary hardware?
I don't understand your question. What is proprietary here?
@@Commsprepper your eye phone for once :)
OK talked to ya on TR chat whats up with the blood clot bro !
Who knows, altitude, sitting on butt too much, etc. It's clearing up now. On blood thinners now for awhile. I'm ready to get back the mountains of West Virginia.
Nice video but an iPhone eeww. But good video
It's a hand-me-down. I hate cell phones.
Nice Hank, 73 kk4zuu
Thanks.