Welcome to the KD5LWU
Cortez, Colorado
CURRENT NODES 11-19, 2012
hsmm-mesh NODE #1 – KD5LWU Downtown Cortez, CO
hsmm-mesh NODE #2 – WD5FIE Washington Street Cortez, CO
hsmm-mesh NODE #3 – Mesa Verde National Park David Nighteagle
More to come soon
To donate linksys Routers to project Click here kd5lwu@beyondbb.com
WHAT IS hsmm-mesh?
HSMM, or High Speed Multimedia, is the name of an ARRL sponsored technical project to introduce high speed data radio (56 kbps & higher) to amateur radio.
HSMM generally provides a link for standard internet protocols. Regular applications such as web, ftp, email and other applications can run over it without modification. The popular license free 802.11a/b/g services operate on bands that overlap amateur frequency allocations, giving us cheap hardware that can be used in in part 97 operation… but with complications. HSMM is intended more for operational networks rather than contesting, though distance contests are common. Persons interested more in experimentation will have plenty of room for fun.
Is it “Ham Radio”?
We’re connecting ham stations
We are using radios
We are using the ham bands
We are pushing traffic of interest to hams
So yes, it is. We need it
Amateur radio continues to develop more internet compatible services IRLP, Echolink, Winlink, APRS We need to emplace those systems where it makes sense from an engineering standpoint, not where internet connections are available This lets us put internet connections where the radio equipment should be
It is good for us
It helps us sharpen our technical skills on current subjects
It lets us provide more, better, faster services
Technology marches on
Widely available, broadband data will become even more engrained in everyday life
802.16, data delivered by cell phone
Attractions for new hams decrease if the things we can do are more restrictive than what is commonly available to the consumer
HSMM is in its’ infancy But the technology is common in commercial use
We are behind in this area
How does HSMM work
HSMM is generally intended to connect computer networks
But not always…
Uses packet techniques
Standard TCP/IP is prevalent
Can use larger than normal bandwidths
up to 25 MHz
Down to 10 KHz
Uses various modulation schemes
ODFM
BPSK
QPSK
Etc…
Equipment can often dynamically switch modulations to get the lowest bit error rate rate for current conditions
To get the wide bandwidths necessary, HSMM equipment often operates in the UHF and above bands.
QRP operation is typical, with xmit powers from 20mw and higher
Relevant FCC Rules
97.301 Authorized frequency bands
97.305 Authorized emission types
SS, data on all bands 70cm and higher
97.331 SS emission types
100W max tx pwr
Must use automatic power control if over 1W
So what can we do with it?
We can connect up existing amateur digital services
Connect existing Echolink, IRLP, APRS, Winlink nodes
Put those nodes where RF coverage is best, not just where internet service is available
Provide geographical redundancy in the event of a land line internet failure
Let clubs, operators share the cost of an internet connection
Also, to an extent, we can provide internet connections to remote locations where land lines do not exist
Space Shuttle recovery event
Field Day
Special events
2mi - 5mi hops easy, 15mi - 20mi hops possible
Terrain dependent
Possible Uses (More to come as we advance technology)
